Why Earning a Degree Will Improve Your Job Prospects
By Space Coast Daily // October 4, 2021
Whether you are just leaving college and considering your next step or have been in the world of work but not made the advancements you hoped, earning a degree could be the game-changer you have been looking for. There are lots of reasons why a bachelor’s degree will assist your future. So check out why it might improve your job prospects if you are still unsure.
The job market pool
During the last recession, only 1/5 of advertised jobs required qualifications higher than your high school education. This means you are just another fish in a very crowded pool if these are the only jobs you are qualified to apply for.
It also means that companies have struggled to find the qualifications and candidates they need to fill specific skilled jobs that require a level of knowledge that can only be obtained by earning a degree.
There are two ways to advance in most companies; one is to start at the bottom and work your way up, the other is to arrive with a degree in hand and jump to a much more satisfying level of pay.
Most bachelor’s degrees can be earned within three years of study if you can commit full time. Alternatively, a part-time degree may fit around a current job, such as an online course at Merrimack College. Although it may take longer to finish, it does drastically improve your work prospects.
A head and shoulders above
Less than half of all young people have a college education. For adults, this figure is even lower, and these numbers mean that the USA ranks 13th in the world for numbers of the population who attend college. As technology increases and artificial intelligence and machine learning automation can replace workers in many low-skilled jobs, the pendulum will swing towards approximately 2/3 of roles needing a bachelor’s degree.
There have always been positions that require a university-level education, but these will now increase, as higher-end jobs are necessary to support the development of this artificial intelligence. So simply put, if you have a bachelor’s degree, you will find yourself on a smaller shortlist of candidates and therefore stand a better chance of getting the job.
Personal impacts
Perhaps it goes without saying, but there is also an advantage in your personal life if you have a higher level of education. Having a degree gives you a chance to improve the amount of money you earn, and studies have shown that there are many other positive impacts on the rest of your life.
For example, you will enjoy a better quality of health. This is also extended to your close family as graduates tend to rely less on public assistance and can, therefore, nurture the quality of life they desire. In addition, those who have a degree are more likely to become volunteers, support charitable causes, and vote. It’s never too late to go back to education, and this could be the perfect time to bring about change for your future.
