For generations, our families and communities have rewarded and privileged those children who received a college education. We grew up with the prejudice that higher education is the key to success in work, cultural and social life.
But for decades this has not been the case. Numerous professions that millions of students complete by investing their best years are no longer in demand on the labor market. As a result, their wages are low, opportunities are few, and career prospects are minimal.
This leads to long periods of unemployment, difficulty paying off student debt, and a messy and fruitless job search.
Meanwhile, the cost of college education continues to rise.
This means that those who reach higher income professions come from wealthier families and that Isocial mobility is difficult.
According to a recent survey ziprecruiter, almost half of college graduates regret their career decision. 87% are journalists, followed by those who have studied sociology, humanities such as literature, philosophy, mathematics or social sciences; communications, education, political science and English and general studies.
This contrasts with graduates in Computer Science, Engineering, Criminology, Nursing, Public Health and Business Administration, who expressed satisfaction with their choice.
But many of the most common college majors, such as sociology or history, often don’t lead to employment.
Therefore, a cultural correction is needed that encourages those who do not plan for an academic future. That is why the decisions of various states on this matter are important and positive.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has opened 92% of those jobs — about 65,000 — to people without college degrees. Maryland’s Larry Hogan and Utah’s Spencer Cox, both Republicans, have eliminated the four-year college education requirement for thousands of government positions by 2022.
A similar opening can be seen in the private sector, which is starting to expand its repertoire based on skills rather than diplomas. At IBM, for example, half of the job postings no longer require a four-year education.
Thus, for a college degree, the decision cannot be reduced to which school accepted the application or the amount of the scholarship; the future of work is critical. And the alternatives no longer have to be academic. There are many career paths that only require an AA degree, which takes two years to complete, or vocational high schools and specialized courses that are in demand and pay well.
Governments should also invest in the development of education for professions in demand in the labor market, taking over the payment of tariffs and professional guidance.
Realizing this will lead to a life that is more in line with our plans and dreams, with less frustration and more job satisfaction.
Source: La Opinion
David Ortiz is an opinionated and well-versed author, known for his thought-provoking and persuasive writing on various matters. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he shares his insight and perspective on today’s most pressing issues. David’s unique voice and writing style make his articles a must-read for those seeking a different point of view.