Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state education leaders pledged their commitment Tuesday to significantly boost the number of adults earning college degrees in the islands over the next decade.

The move is seen as key to preparing the state’s workforce for competitive jobs.

The nonprofit Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education set a goal back in 2007 to have 55 percent of the working population holding two- or four-year college degrees by 2025.

"Hawaii as a state is doing better in college attainment, but the growth is too slow," said Karen Lee, executive director of Hawaii P-20, a statewide coalition led by the Executive Office on Early Learning, Department of Education and University of Hawaii system. ("P-20" refers to the educational pipeline from preschool through college.)

Lee said that as of 2012 less than 42 percent of Hawaii’s adults held an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. She said the rate is especially alarming in light of a recent report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce showing that 65 percent of jobs here will require some college by 2018.

"We need to prepare our students to be ready for those jobs," she said. "Our educators are doing a great job, but they can’t work in a vacuum. We need families, business leaders, community groups and the general public to pledge their support to help Hawaii’s keiki and students to strive higher."

At a news conference Tuesday, Lee’s group announced the launch of its 55 by ’25 campaign, which aims to increase public awareness and support for the initiative.

Hawaii Pacific Health has signed on as the lead sponsor for the campaign, with Hawaiian Telcom, Hawaiian Airlines, First Insurance and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation also supporting the cause.

John La Forgia, senior vice president for Hawaii Pacific Health, said the hospital operator is the largest private employer in the state and recognizes a real need for educated college graduates to fill health care jobs.

"The entry point is the associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. It’s really the essential ticket," he said.

Abercrombie stressed the importance of the preschool component in the education pipeline. He’s been advocating for publicly funded universal preschool.

"I know for a fact, an objective fact, that if we do focus on preschool as part and parcel, as an integral part of this package, that we’re going to succeed, that we’ll hit that mark," Abercrombie said. "We want them at the age of 5 on their way to succeeding."