This report focuses on the 15 states of the West (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming), their ability to educate minorities, and the resulting impact on their workforces and economies. The foundation of the Western U.S. economy rests on a workforce that is becoming increasingly diverse, as residents of European descent are growing older and making up an ever-smaller proportion of the workforce, and the economy demands more upward mobility among Hispanic, Black non-Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations. The following questions are addressed in this the report: (1) What are the current education gaps between minorities and White non-Hispanics? (2) How well are certain minorities prepared for high-skill, high-wage jobs? (3) What is their status in the workforce as a result? (4) Has their status in the workforce improved for recent generations? and (5) What would be the impact if we improved our ability to educate these disadvantaged populations? The report does not provide solutions: it is intended to expand understanding of the impact of racial and ethnic inequality on the Western United States' ability to compete educationally and economically with countries around the world that have gained ground with respect to educational attainment, and to add some insight into efforts to address the challenges that minority populations face. (Contains 7 endnotes and 37 figures.)