In the last 20 years, job growth has constantly gone up – but only for those with education after high school. According to a recent study* by the Georgetown Center of Education and the Workforce (see chart below), even during recessions (the gray years on the chart), persons with a college education have had access to jobs. People with only high school diplomas have suffered ongoing and dramatic job declines – especially since the recession beginning in 2008. Even NOW, job growth is limited to those with college degrees … and not just 4-year degrees. Jobs are also on the rise for those with AA Degrees (i.e., two-year degrees); in fact, jobs that require AA Degrees have grown by 300% compared to jobs that only require a high school diploma.
A corresponding fact that can be found on the website for the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) is that people without college degrees are twice as likely to be unemployed than people with college degrees.** Only 4 percent to 5 percent of people with a BA Degree are unemployed. That means the vast majority of the unemployed are people that only have high school diplomas, or they dropped out of high school. (NOTE: this doesn’t even include those persons who consider themselves “underemployed.” Underemployed means that you’re smarter than the job you’re currently doing – and should be getting paid more.)
Requesting information about online degrees could be the first step to a brighter future.
* http://cew.georgetown.edu/collegeadvantage/
** http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm