Various newspapers and televisions have been running programs and segments about the high number of recent college graduates unable to find work after school. What is often being left out is that young people without a college education are having an even tougher time. The total number of youths willing to work yet unable to find employment has rocketed up to a recent record of 24% among 16 to 19 year olds. This doesn’t even count the people who would like to find a job but have given up the search out of a sense of frustration.
Some Degrees Still In Demand
I know I’ve harped on it before, but its important to remember that not all college degrees are going to offer the same kind of employability. Liberal arts degrees are notoriously difficult to convert into a career, but students specializing in health, science, and education majors are well positioned to find a job despite the general unemployment picture. Maybe you wouldn’t expect to find a job in a field you’re really passionate about – but there may still be work available teaching those subjects until the industries recover or evolve into a new business model and start hiring again. A few extra courses in education theory and policy can go a long way toward a solid job after school.
Recovery May be Delayed
Despite spending trillions of dollars on recoveries, bailouts, and stimulus, the government may not be able to directly fix the problems causing job losses and asset deflation. Many businesses and even entire industries are in a position where they’re forced to re-evaluate their business plans and create new strategies to become profitable again. There is a big pile of debt out there that Americans are responsible for, and the rate that it is growing suggests the economy may just continue to get worse for a while longer. It could be years before employment gets back to where it was just a few months ago.
For prospective and current students, the best bet is to avoid the debt traps of student loans and credit cards by reducing costs as possible and applying to as many scholarships and grants as you can. And of course, if you can find work, be sure to take it. Its a rare opportunity these days!
July 28th, 2009 at 1:26 am
i really passionate about – but there may still be work available teaching those subjects until the industries recover or evolve into a new business model and start hiring again. A few extra courses in education theory and policy can go a long way toward a solid job after school.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:48 am
To add to the author’s point that some degrees are still in demand, a recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that healthcare and education were the only sectors that saw a positive growth in employment in October 2009. It goes without saying that certain college degree programs continue to have high market value even during recession. Check out some of the in-demand degree programs offered by California College San Diego in fields such as healthcare, business and computers. I found the curriculum of these courses to be quite comprehensive.
April 29th, 2010 at 2:56 am
I agree with your point of view and as a student I faced similar problems with my college authorities unable to provide campus placement due to recession.. But I have read some where that it is a prime agenda of Sir Barack Obama to create employment and I hope things will better soon..
May 5th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Over the last decade or so I’ve seen shift people’s idea of the purpose of college is supposed to be in the first place, many people seeming to think that getting a college degree is “job-insurance”, and nothing more. This has always seemed a shame to me, the main reason that people should go to college is to learn, right? And, on top of that, the people that complain that they are not getting their “money’s worth” from going to college if they find themselves having a hard time getting a job are indeed forgetting how much HARDER it could be if they hadn’t gone to college at all.
August 12th, 2010 at 1:21 am
Well said man i total agree with your post
December 15th, 2010 at 11:59 am
There’s some good information here. I’d also encourage students to try their best to get internships during college. This will definitely increase their changes of getting a full-time job in their field after college. Also, try to avoid those loans (as you mentioned) at all costs. The worst thing for a college student would be to have a ton of debt after college and no job to pay it back.
January 15th, 2012 at 12:50 am
It makes sense for students to focus more other qualities like communication and interpersonal skills. I do find that most of the students out of college are not employable without formal training.