Businesses of all types—from manufacturing to financial services—have an increasing need for employees with high-level skills. Job growth rates in the coming years will be fastest for jobs requiring postsecondary education—either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. High school graduates, therefore, need the knowledge and skills to prepare them for college success. This level of college readiness will be equally—if not more—important to students who decide not to go to college, as these students will face more challenges to keep pace with the evolving demands of the workplace.
Between the years 2000 and 2010, jobs requiring an Associates degree or higher, are expected to increase the most.
Employers already report difficulties finding qualified candidates and give low marks to high school graduates on basic academic and performance skills. The fact that professors hold almost identical opinions indicates that the skills that students need to succeed in work and college are converging.
Percent of Employers Who Rate High School Graduates' Skills as "Fair" or "Poor"
The Education Trust reported that a survey conducted by National Alliance of Business of officials from 22 occupations showed that the skills needed for success in work and in college are converging. Employers value:
- Strong reading ability to comprehend informational and technical texts Knowledge of literature was also stressed because it is a means of building empathy with people of all cultures—a necessity when dealing with diverse customers and co-workers.
- Strong writing skills and the ability to synthesize and analyze information from various sources, and clearly communicate ideas.
- Knowledge of statistics, probability and problem solving, as well as Geometry and Algebra I and II because they provide a foundation to access more advanced math and science as a job demands it.
Low-skill, high-wage jobs are a thing of the past. In 1973, high school dropouts held 51% of factory jobs. By 2000, that number was down to 19% and the proportion of jobs held by individuals with at least some college had tripled. Students who leave high school without or with only a diploma face a lifetime of low wages and high unemployment rates. And an undereducated workforce puts the United States at risk of losing its competitive edge in a rapidly changing global economy. The model of the comprehensive high school, which once fueled the nation’s manufacturing base, needs to change to provide all students with college preparatory education—whether they intend to go to college or not.
|
