In his State of the Union 2011 address, the President spoke plainly about what America must do to compete in the 21st Century. “We need to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world,” he noted, and also that “Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education.”
What does this mean for today’s college students?
Earning Your Degree is Essential
First and foremost, it means that you must finish school. The days when college dropouts could fall back on a factory job are gone; almost all secure positions that pay enough to live on now require a degree or certificate.
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To prepare for entry-level positions in growing fields such as nursing and web design, you need to earn, at minimum, an undergraduate certificate. Such credentials allow you to start making money and gaining workplace experience in a relatively short period of time – ideal if you have to retrain in a hurry. Graduate and professional certificate programs teach you the specialized skills you’ll need to compete against top professionals from all over the world. Certificates in prominent business disciplines like project management and Six Sigma are excellent examples.
In many of today’s most in-demand fields, including healthcare and technology, undergraduate degrees like associate’s and bachelor’s are considered the start of professional practice. Holding one typically means a dramatic increase in job security; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released earlier this month shows that workers who have at least a bachelor’s degree are less than half as likely to experience unemployment as those who have only a high school diploma.
Pursuing a graduate degree – such as an MBA or doctorate – is one of the best ways to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Such programs can prepare you for top-level positions in high-paying fields such as business and engineering, as well as critical work in education, government and medicine.
Study Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
“This is our generations Sputnik moment,” the President remarked in his address. “We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.”
He also noted that “We want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in science and technology and engineering and math.” These subjects are collectively known as STEM, and studying them is critical if you want to enter the fields that the President plans to have the nation invest in. NASA has even started the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) program for students pursuing degrees in STEM-related fields.
Earning a biomedical science degree, perfect for starting a career in biomedical research, requires coursework in biology, cytology, pathology and other STEM subjects. The BLS estimates that employment for medical scientists – including biomedical scientists – is expected to grow by an amazing 40% though 2018*. This is one of the fastest growth rates among all professions.
Completing an environmental engineering degree – which will require studying STEM subjects like math and physics – is ideal if you want to take part in developing clean energy technology. BLS data indicates that environmental engineers will see about 31% job growth through 2018*, which is almost three times the average rate for all other occupations.
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Science, technology, engineering and math might not be the easiest subjects to pursue. But a nation investing in areas such as biomedical research, information technology, and clean energy technology will have work – and plenty of it – for college students who take the time to learn them.
Rise to the Challenge
Competing in the 21st Century economy means that many, if not most, of America’s workers will need to become college students before they become professionals. This might require you to spend a year or two at a community college, or you might find it necessary to invest four, six or more years at a major university. But the rewards your education can provide you with – such as greater job security, larger paychecks and a lasting sense of personal achievement – make your college education worth the time and effort you invest. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you did your part to meet the challenge the President has set – that “by the end of the decade, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.”
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*Employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition