Higher-educated, higher-skilled workers, on average, earn higher wages, suffer less unemployment, have higher lifetime earnings and enjoy a number of more qualitative advantages over less educated workers. Although these advantages increase steadily as education rises, employees can achieve big gains with even modest levels of education over a secondary degree. While Associate Degrees offer the greatest of these gains, even certifications if apprenticeships—if they are in the right fields—can yield big returns.
Read the articleConvergence of the U.S.’s Mid-Market and Low-Skill Work Forces
August 26th, 2012
The Great Recession, combined with the forces of globalization (offshoring) and technology (i.e., automation) are fundamentally transforming the U.S. labor market. Large swatches of mid-skill/mid-income jobs are disappearing, and being replaced by a much smaller number of higher-skill jobs. The remaining traditionally mid-skill workers are being placed into competition with less-educated, lower-skill workers for low-paying jobs-displacing these workers and driving wages down for all.
Read the articleBifurcation of the U.S. Job Market
August 2nd, 2012
The U.S.’s traditional three-tier jobs market, which was divided among: 1) high-skill/high-pay managerial, executive and professional jobs; 2) relatively solid and relatively well-paying and secure blue-collar and white-collar middle-skill/middle-pay jobs; and 3) low-skill/low-pay “commodity” jobs that typically employ lesser-educated workers. The rapid disappearance of middle-skill/middle-pay jobs is undermining the foundation of the middle-class economy and according to some, bifurcating not only the country’s labor market, but also our entire society.
Read the articleBuilding a Career That Gives You Control of Your Own Life
June 26th, 2012
Those that plan and manage their careers, will increasingly be able to define their jobs around their own interests and passions and build careers that enable, rather than limit their lifestyles.
Read the articleThe Skills Employers are Looking for in College Grads
May 28th, 2012
Although employers are looking for many of the same skills they looked for in the past, a few—especially building professional relationships, analyzing and interpreting information; and engaging in continuous learning—are becoming increasingly important. The biggest change—employers are now looking for recruits to bring much higher level skills to their jobs and to deliver demonstrable business results much more quickly.
Read the articleThe Job Skills of the Future, and of the Past
March 25th, 2012
As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, it becomes capable of performing more and more tasks that previously could only be performed by humans. As of now, only three types of jobs still defy automation—specific forms of non-routine tasks (both manual and cognitive) and complex communications. Technology, however, is now beginning to make inroads even into these.
Read the articleSolutions to STEM Skills Mismatch
February 25th, 2012
Regardless of whether one believed there is a STEM skills mismatch, and what its causes are, it is in the interest of individuals, companies and society to ensure that people are prepared for the jobs that are most likely to be available. Although some of the efforts needed to do so will require huge investments, many others can be achieved relatively easily, and at modest cost.
Read the articleLessons For and From Cuba’s Educational System
January 31st, 2012
I just returned from a tour of Cuba that focused on examining the country’s educational system. Although the country’s commitment to and, and many of its successes in education are clearly admirable, the country’s educational agenda—and its role in enabling the economy—appear to be hampered by political agendas and the country’s severe economic vulnerability.
Read the articleExpanding the Ranks of STEM Professionals
December 26th, 2011
While there is a near universal agreement that not enough STEM graduates end up in STEM jobs, there is disagreement as to why this is, what should be done about it, and who must take the lead in addressing these problems.
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