There are some facts about colleges that deans of higher education would prefer that you not know.
In addition to the fact that half of all college students drop out before graduation, there’s the reality that most of the high-growth jobs of the future do not require a college degree.
This flies in the face of the common wisdom of the past 50 years that said you must have a college degree in order to get a decent job. That’s true in some career fields (who wants to be the patient of a neurosurgeon who hasn’t gone through college and medical school?) but it’s certainly not true for all fields.
The U.S. government makes projections about the growth (or lack of growth) in different career areas. You can find those numbers at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) website. Here’s the latest BLS projection of above average growth and above average wage occupations. It’s an interesting document. Note that the projected increases in job growth are for a ten-year period (2006-2016).
When reading it, keep in mind that a high percentage increase in a given career field doesn’t necessarily translate into a lot of jobs. Check the “Employment” column on the left side of the page for actual numbers (in the thousands).
For example, on the first page you’ll see that the rate of increase for “aircraft cargo handling supervisors” is a healthy 23.3%. But that only equals 1,000 new jobs over the next ten years. Not exactly a booming career field in a country of over 300 million people.
On the other hand, note that while the BLS projects there will only be 10.4% more truck drivers needed over the next ten years, that’s the equivalent of 193,000 new jobs.
Once you become familiar with the chart layout, note the “source of training” column on the right side of the page. Most of the jobs on the first few pages do not require a bachelor’s degree. As you go through the document, you’ll find more jobs that do require at least a four-year degree. There are quite a few.
However, only a few of them show the highest growth potential in both percentages and numbers. They include a variety of tech careers, social workers, jobs in education, and accountants. For those willing to earn more than just a bachelor’s degree, a career as a pharmacist, physician or surgeon would certainly be a growth area to consider.
Still, most of the above average growth jobs that require bachelor’s degrees don’t equal many jobs. For example, only 100 jobs per year nationwide are expected to open up for archivists, anthropologists and archaeologists, marine engineers and naval architects, and atmospheric and space scientists. So unless your child passionately desires to become one of those professionals, you might want to gently point him or her in another direction.
Since many of the degree-required careers have such low projected job numbers, today’s parents have to think seriously about whether a degree is even worth it, particularly if their children’s interests and abilities don’t necessarily fit with the jobs with the most openings and growth in the future.
Again, colleges and universities will not tell you that the degrees they offer do not necessarily translate into good jobs, especially in the working world of the 21st century. This is one area where parents and their teens really have to do the homework for themselves.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the great resource. I have one son, out of highschool for three years, just now going to college because he wants to be more than a construction worker. I think it’s totally unnecessary (in light of his skills), but he’s listening to the world. My second son, this his first year out of high school, is leaving for a year-long commitment to the mission field but has no clue what he will do when he returns. I have a daughter, highschool senior, who does not want to go to college per se, but wants to be prepared lest Mr. Right tarries. I will have them both check out this site. And I will, too, as I have three more coming up. Thanks again for your efforts.
Blessings,
Carol
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for sharing this and shedding light on this topic. Will have to check out the link.
Bill Gates did ok as a college dropout.
Isn’t it fascinating that he’s pushing universal preschool and college for all now? Amazing what a whole lot of money and some misguided intentions can do to public policy.
Carol, it’s hard to go against the flow when it comes to college because so many people push kids toward it long and hard! They hear this message from the time they’re small. I think that will change before long, though.
Karen, thanks for stopping by!
Susan, it is weird, isn’t it? Guess Gates thinks he’s the exception to the rule. As long as college tuition keeps increasing far faster than the rate of inflation, more and more people will learn to survive without a college education.
babs while i’m generally in agreeance with your sentiment that a college education isn’t necessary to have a good career, i think that the greater populace pursuing higher education is an absolute must. using your neurosurgeon argument, i’d feel much safer knowing that a neurosurgeon is the best of 100 people vying for his position rather than the best of 10.
ps gates is the exception to the rule. look up statistics on average salary related to level of education.
Anonymous poster d, very few people have both the aptitude and intelligence to successfully jump through all the hoops required to become a neurosurgeon, regardless of the size of the (currently enormous) college student pool, so I wouldn’t worry if I were you.
As for the stats on salary related to education, they’re changing. Find some current stats. Don’t forget to balance average salary with average college debt load in order to see the true picture.
This modern obsession with getting a college degree boils down to a status symbol to get people’s hopes up and keep them on a narrow path to corporate servitude. We’re taught that it will be the guaranteed path to good jobs, secure financial future, good citizenship, etc…. But I think a lot of recent graduates are going to be sorely disappointed (as I am continually reminded in my own precarious employment situation) when they find this is not the case.
So your article rings quite true for me personally; it reminds me of comments I made in a recent article for Strike the Root: http://www.strike-the-root.com/92/votlucka/votlucka1.html
Best,
Marcel