The State of College and Careers

The postsecondary landscape has never been more complex than it is today, and it continues to change at a rapid pace. The number of occupations in the US more than tripled from 1950 to 2010, and postsecondary programs of study in US colleges and universities have grown more than five-fold since 1980.

This complexity makes it incredibly difficult for students to fully understand theirpostsecondary options and the long-term consequences of the college and careerdecisions they are making at a relatively young age.

It used to be sufficient to advise students to study hard, get good grades, get a degree,and then get a job. However, students today need better guidance systems to helpthem make smart decisions about their futures.

Our newest research provides a road map for district leaders looking to help their students make sense of their post-high school life. It delves into what type of guidance leaders should give their students, what the job market looks like for workers with different educational backgrounds, how to prepare students for jobs of the future, and more.

Is a bachelor’s degree still a worthwhile investment?

It seems nearly impossible to read the news today without seeing headlines andarticles questioning the value of a college degree.

Explore this section to get the facts on a college education, including who is most likely to incur student loan debt, how common ‘underemployment’ is, and how a college degree translates to lifetime earnings.

What does the job market look like based on educational attainment?

One of the reasons the wage differential is so great between bachelor’s degree and high school diploma holders is that job prospects are dwindling for those with only a high school degree. By 2020, 65% of all jobs will require education and training beyond high school.

Explore this section to learn more about the job market for varying levels of educational attainment, how that should affect your career program offerings—and the best ways to educate and orient students to a more informed decision.

How do we prepare students for jobs of the future?

Supporting workforce development and determining how to best guide students’ post secondary choices requires school leaders to understand the types of jobs that will be likely available long after students graduate high school.

It seems that our economy overall will continue to shift toward services, but technology will still continue to shape, and potentially disrupt, the economy in ways that are difficult to anticipate. The role that automation will play in the development of the economy in the near future is also a hot topic of debate—from talk of driver less cars to packages delivered by drones.

Explore this section to see what this means for students—and what enduring job skills they should cultivate.