No matter where you turn these days, there is distinct evidence of this tough economy. But while recent job reports show that the United States economy added 11.6 million jobs since the beginning of this Recession, that restoration has not been equal among all workers. Quite shockingly, the reports say that the vast majority—about 8.4 million—of these jobs went to workers with a Bachelor’s degree (or higher). That leaves only about 80,000 jobs going to workers with only a high school diploma or less.
In the new report—entitled America’s Divided Recovery: College Haves and Have-Nots—researchers from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce say, “The modern economy continues to leave Americans without a college education behind.”
This dramatic shift point in labor dynamics have emerged in the recent post-recession years to, perhaps, further exacerbate the increasing disparity between the haves and the have-nots in America. Indeed, college-educated workers are finding it easier to not only find work but also to find jobs with solid pay; this, of course, pushes those without an education to the outskirts of the work force.
Looking more closely, it appears that Americans with a graduate degree managed to gain 3.8 million jobs, while those holding a bachelor’s degrees were able to gain 4.6 million jobs. Those with an associate’s degree improved by about 3 million jobs, and, again, only about 80,000 jobs created went to workers with only a high school diploma (or less).
In the report, the researchers note: “The two industries that traditionally hired large numbers of workers without a college degree — construction and manufacturing — are shifting toward workers with more education than a high school diploma. Most telling is the manufacturing sector: of the 1.7 million jobs that have been gained since the onset of the recovery, only 214,000 (or 12 percent) have gone to workers with a high school diploma or less.”
While not related, other reports also show that the cost of college continues to skyrocket and this is challenging previous conceptions that a college degree is necessary for a happy and successful life. Of course, if college is too expensive it is definitely going to deter applicants as many will question the return on investment; with employment often requiring higher educational achievement, this could spell disaster for the middle class.
Haijalishi unageuka wapi siku hizi, kuna ushahidi dhahiri wa uchumi huu mgumu. Ripoti za hivi karibuni za ajira zinaonyesha kuwa uchumi wa Marekani umeongeza kazi milioni 11.6 tangu mwanzo wa Mshuko huu, lakini kurudishwa huko hakukuwa sawa kati ya wafanyakazi wote. Kwa kushangaza, ripoti hizo zinasema kwamba idadi kubwa ya kazi hizo - karibu milioni 8.4 - zilienda kwa wafanyakazi wenye shahada ya kwanza (au zaidi). Kwa hivyo, kazi 80,000 zinabaki kwa wafanyikazi wenye digrii ya shule ya sekondari au chini. "Katika ripoti mpya ""America's Divided Recovery: College Haves and Have-Nots,"" watafiti kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce wanasema, ""Uchumi wa kisasa unaendelea kuwaacha Wamarekani bila elimu ya chuo kikuu nyuma,"" na ""Mabadiliko makubwa katika nguvu za kazi yamejitokeza katika miaka ya hivi karibuni baada ya mfumuko wa uchumi, labda ili kuimarisha zaidi tofauti kati ya wenye na wasio na Marekani." Kwa kweli, wafanyakazi wenye elimu ya chuo kikuu wanapata ni rahisi kupata kazi na pia kupata kazi zenye mshahara mzuri; hii, bila shaka, inawafukuza wale wasio na elimu kwenye mipaka ya nguvu za kazi. Kwa kuzingatia, inaonekana kwamba Wamarekani wenye digrii ya kuhitimu walifanikiwa kupata kazi milioni 3.8 wakati wale wenye digrii ya shahada ya kwanza waliweza kupata kazi milioni 4.6. Wanafunzi wenye digrii ya shahada ya kwanza walipata kazi milioni 3 na zaidi ya 80,000 walipata kazi na walipata tu diploma ya shule ya sekondari. Katika ripoti hiyo, watafiti wanataja: "Viwanda viwili ambavyo kwa kawaida viliajiri idadi kubwa ya wafanyakazi wasio na digrii ya chuo kikuu - ujenzi na utengenezaji - vinabadilika kuelekea wafanyakazi wenye elimu zaidi kuliko diploma ya shule ya sekondari. """Kutokana na idadi ya kazi zilizopatikana tangu kuanza kwa kupona, ni 214,500 tu (au asilimia 12) ambazo zimepelekwa kwa wafanyakazi wenye diploma ya shule ya sekondari au chini,"" alisema, akisema: ""Hata ingawa haihusiani, ripoti nyingine pia zinaonyesha kuwa gharama ya chuo kikuu inaendelea kuongezeka sana na hii inashinda dhana za awali kwamba shahada ya chuo kikuu ni muhimu kwa maisha ya furaha na mafanikio." Bila shaka, ikiwa chuo kikuu ni ghali sana, ni dhahiri kuwazuia waombaji, kwani wengi watauliza faida ya uwekezaji, na kazi mara nyingi inahitaji mafanikio ya elimu ya juu, hii inaweza kuashiria msiba kwa darasa la kati.