The Jobs You’ve Forgotten
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the shortcomings of a college degree in the current job market. However, while a four-year bachelor’s degree may not guarantee a high-paying job, it is still widely considered as one of the prerequisites of what most people consider a successful life.
What people often forget is that there are many more paths to success, and college is not the only, or at times even the best, option. Middle-skill jobs, for example, constitute an important and usually well-paid section of labor. For those that cannot afford college, or who would rather do practical work than academic, middle-skills jobs, especially tech or healthcare related jobs, provide a strong alternative that tends to be overlooked.
In fact, in recent years, as the Baby Boomer generation moves into retirement, the job market will likely experience an inadequate supply of middle-skill workers. With the economical and technical growth we are experiencing, there is an upward shift in the level of skill demanded of middle-skill workers, and yet the most skilled workers are now retiring. Most middle-skill jobs provide necessary support for the high-skill jobs that people typically value. A lack of middle-skill workers can lead to slower growth of employment and output in the economy, and may also result in increased reliance on outsourcing and automation, two of the biggest concerns for the laborers that are still struggling to get by.
One of the core issues lies in the need for occupation-specific training. Corporate training is so important that it has grown into a $70B industry. Since traditional college education does not usually provide the training needed to work professionally, employees need to gain the knowledge, experience and skills elsewhere. However, this kind of training is often seen as an unfavorable alternative, something conceded to only when college is no longer an option. As a result, there are less and less workers that are qualified for these jobs.
On the flipside, employers have a hard time determining whether applicants are capable, because there are few widely accepted standards or credentials for these many of these in-between skillsets. Consequently, more employers are relying on degrees as a measure of competence, and the percentage of middle-skill workers with college degrees has risen. But a college degree does not guarantee the right skills for the job, and many more skilled workers may be overlooked in such a system.
At a time like this, many have stepped up to fill the gap. Community and technical colleges are enrolling young adults who dropped out of a four-year college or can’t find a job after graduation. Companies like Udacity and General Assembly provide great online resources to learn the necessary skills for many technical jobs, among others, and they also provide the credentials and job opportunities as necessary follow-up. And startups like Smart Professions are working to turn interests and specialties into careers through affordable personal mentorship, starting with audio production.
The future need and potential for personalized, skill-specific learning cannot be overlooked. As the economy and technology continue to grow, there will be more demand for skilled workers and more desire for lifelong learning. The prospects of career-building education are brighter than ever.
What professions do you see being overlooked? How can we be more aware of and better trained for these jobs?
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Smart Professions is an education startup focused on hyper-personalized career training for jobs that don’t require a college degree. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Youtube to stay connected.
