There is no doubt that the stagnant economic conditions felt across Los Angeles, California and the nation as a whole are putting a strain on many families.

With double-digit unemployment, one wonders if this recession will ever end.

Precedent tells us it will.

The question is: Will we be able to embrace and take full advantage of a sound economy when the need for a skilled and educated work force will be acute as Los Angeles and California position themselves to compete in the global economy?

The answer may surprise you, and that is: We need to invest in early childhood education. If L.A. and California are to become effective players in the global arena, then we must consider the dire need for high-quality preschool for our youngest learners.

It is very clear that in coming years, the Los Angeles region, more than ever, will need an educated and skilled local work force to meet the intense demands of a world economy, which will show little forgiveness for the unprepared. Today, we are seeing early warning signs that are causing distress in the business community.

In the 2006-07 school year, the city’s high schools graduated 13,174 students, which amounted to one graduate for every dropout, according to the California Dropout Research Project. And one in four students in L.A. dropped out of high school in the 2007-08 school year.

It is clear this is not a trend that will bring prosperity to the residents of Los Angeles. Because studies show that children who attend preschool are more likely to graduate from high school and seek higher education, it makes sense to invest more in early childhood education programs.

The lack of affordability and accessibility to quality preschools is today a major concern in L.A. County, where less than half of more than 150,000 4-year-olds are currently enrolled. That rate is even lower among children in the lower socio-economic strata. Unfortunately, the children who need preschool the most are left out and are ill prepared for kindergarten and beyond.

According to studies, early childhood education is a sound investment. In fact, a RAND Corp. study showed that for every $1 invested in a high-quality preschool education, society receives a $2.62 return. Other studies show an even higher rate of return.

Furthermore, the early care and education industry is vital to L.A. County’s economy. It generates about $1.9 billion annually and provides more than 65,000 full-time equivalent jobs. It is also projected to generate the sixth-highest number of jobs by 2016 of all industries in L.A. County, according to a RAND Corp. study.

The study concluded early care and education “lays the groundwork for Los Angeles County’s future economic success by preparing the next generation for effective participation in the economy and attracting business to Los Angeles County.”

A quality preschool education has also been shown to help bridge the achievement gap in school by ensuring that all children start kindergarten well prepared to learn. That is important because children who start kindergarten behind often stay behind throughout the K-12 educational system. And that has costly repercussions.

California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said it right when he recently stated: “Closing California’s achievement gap begins with ensuring all of our children start kindergarten well prepared to learn. High-quality preschool provides the foundation for children to succeed in school and in our increasingly competitive global economy.”

The economic challenges we are facing are clear. But so are the steps we need to take to ensure our future economic prosperity.

If L.A. and California want to remain economically competitive, the call for a home-grown educated and skilled work force must be heeded. That means investing in early childhood education for our future generation is one solution we can’t afford not to pursue.

Gary Mangiofico, Ph.D., is chief executive officer of Los Angeles Universal Preschool