Should Everyone Go to College?

Only a few of the jobs with the largest projected increases in employment require a college education, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics publication, Tomorrow's Jobs. Hardly any require mathematics and science proficiency or skill at using computers.

Does BLS survey of businesses undermine the frequently encountered assertion that in order to compete in the 21st century every American must go to college or develop advanced mathematics and science skills? Do low wage folks and future low skill occupation employees need or more education or simply higher wages?

Higher Ed Watch's argues it's both. Yes, low wage and low skill occupation employees need higher wages achieved through a rise in the minimum wage, collective bargaining, or increased social wage support.

But what the Bureau of Labor Statistics' surveys of business and international finance analysis really indicate, as Stephen Kosack has pointed out, is that globalization will lead increasingly to a bifurcation of the American workforce. At one end, will be workers who are highly skilled in the right fields. At the other end, will be workers who are unskilled or who are highly skilled in the wrong fields.

The right fields are jobs that cant easily be shipped overseas, such as nursing and teaching, especially college teaching. The other right fields to be in are those that the global economy puts in high demand, such as management and computer engineers. Of the ten occupations that the Labor Department expects to add the most jobs by 2014, the three that pay well all require post-secondary education - management, post-secondary teachers, and registered nurses.

There will be plenty of jobs at the other end of the spectrum (i.e. the wrong fields). Seven of the ten fastest growing occupations between now and 2014 will require low skills and have low wages. Fast growing jobs include cashiers, retail sales, janitors, and those in food preparation. None of these jobs require post-secondary education, and if anything, wages in them face still greater downward pressure in light of: (1) underemployment of high skill workers in low growth fields, and (2) legal and illegal immigration.

The challenge for America and specifically American higher education is to consolidate current advantages in areas where supply cannot be shipped overseas and to spur innovation and application in high growth fields by nurturing those with a bent or proven capacity toward innovation and preparing a broad labor force capable of adapting to and working in these as of yet unknown high growth fields.

A quality education, a quality post-secondary education, will be necessary for folks to adapt to and work in these as of yet unknown high growth fields. At the very least, everyone should have access to an affordable college education. If they choose not to go, that's on them. If they can't go because our K-12 system hasn't adequately prepared them or because they can't afford it, then that's on us.