next »

[wingbingwoo]

During a debate about the need for more community colleges we came across the question: Can we stimulate the economy by providing a more educated workforce, or is a lack of jobs for educated people the real problem?

Answers appear to have regional implications. For example, there are some clear statistics in Idaho, including:

61% of Idaho jobs will require post-secondary degrees, when only 42% of our high school graduates currently go on to get such a degree -- and when college budgets are being cut. http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/idaho.pdf

Further, a recent story in the Idaho Statesman recently told of a Boise area high-tech company that has ten (10) open positions that it can't fill. They simply are not getting qualified applicants.

How does this dynamic play out in your area?

[pigou]

I'd look at it long term: where's the trend going? I think betting on more education will continue to pay off. The more specialized your skill set, the harder it is to replace you, and the more bargaining power you have on the job market.

[prufrock]

There was an interesting piece in the New York Times last week on this topic.

[creativeintelligence]

My sister received her Doctorate in English from the University of Arizona in 2005.  She works at a public library, making $40k a year.  My brother, right out of high school, joined the Army.  He is an E-8, making close to $60k.  Education has nothing to do with income.  I think degree programs that translate into a lack of employment should vanish.

[zharkov]

My sister received her Doctorate in English from the University of Arizona in 2005.  She works at a public library, making $40k a year.  My brother, right out of high school, joined the Army.  He is an E-8, making close to $60k.  Education has nothing to do with income.  I think degree programs that translate into a lack of employment should vanish.

But on the other hand, it probably took your brother twice as long to make master sergeant than it took your sister to complete her PhD.

[pigou]

My sister received her Doctorate in English from the University of Arizona in 2005.  She works at a public library, making $40k a year.  My brother, right out of high school, joined the Army.  He is an E-8, making close to $60k.  Education has nothing to do with income.  I think degree programs that translate into a lack of employment should vanish.

n=2 and all that. Overall, education continues to pay off - see the much lower unemployment rate of people with college degrees, compared to HS graduates, for example. You'll always find people who are successful without a college degree (hi Bill Gates!), but on the whole, it's just not how it works.

As for abolishing programs that don't guarantee employment... umm, no. What would universities be without the humanities? As John Adams put it:

I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematicks and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematicks and Philosophy, Geography, natural History, Naval Architecture, navigation, Commerce and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry and Porcelaine.

Source

[octoprof]

My sister received her Doctorate in English from the University of Arizona in 2005.  She works at a public library, making $40k a year.  My brother, right out of high school, joined the Army.  He is an E-8, making close to $60k.  Education has nothing to do with income.  I think degree programs that translate into a lack of employment should vanish.

The implication here is that it's all about the money. Perhaps the sister is a much happier person with her $20,000 fewer bucks. Who knows?

She's employed, though.

The OP was more about lack of employment v. lack of education, which is a different story.

I think degree programs that translate into a lack of employment should vanish.

Why? What does it hurt you (or anyone) for someone to study esoteric subject x?  I think the sadder thing is faculty who do not educate students truthfully on the realities of employment with BA in esoteric subject. It's all about having choices.