Blog #10

Abstract:

There are a myriad roots to success in this world and millions of people looking to make their way through them.  However, In America, people are made to see only a few of them.  The educational pathways that lead to success should open up to all forms of educations and jobs but these pathways have been streamlined to lead all people down the path of college education.  One pathway that has been laid to waste is the vocational pathway.  The government has cut down on programs that help young students learn about skilled labor jobs and society has given a stigma to those who choose to enter this pathway.  This has resulted in labor shortages with high wages for workers and skyrocketing unemployment rates for the abundance of college graduates.  As the government, and students, move away from the vocational pathway, it has fallen into disrepair.  Schools no longer have good relations with employers to produce relevant degrees and internship programs.  Without financial backing from the government these issues cannot be resolved.  Therefore, more emphasis needs to be put on opening up the vocational pathway and redesigning the trade schools to better suit societal needs.  These schools could take on structure as Sweden's Post Secondary Vocational education which essentially makes a hybrid system of traditional education and degree training.

Bibliography:

Brown, Tara Tiger. "The Death Of Shop Class And America's Skilled Workforce." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 30 May 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

"K-12 Education." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.

OECD (2012), Post-Secondary Vocational Education and Training: Pathways and Partnerships, Higher Education in Regional and City Development, OECD Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264097551-en

Selingo, Jeffrey J. "Why College?" College (un)bound: The Future of Higher Education and What It Means for Students. New York: Houghton Mifflin, NY. 160-66. Print.

Shulock, Nancy, Collen Moore, Su Jin Jez, and Eric Chisholm. "Career Opportunities: Career Technical Education and the College Completion Agenda." Institution for Higher Education Leadership and Policy (March 2012): n. pag. Print.

United States. Cong. House. Committee on Education and the Workforce. Putting America Back to Work: Reforming the Nation's Workforce Investment System : Hearing before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, Hearing Held in Washington, DC, February 26, 2013. 113th Cong., 1st sess. HR 113-5. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

United States Cong. Senate. 105th Congress, 220. Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.  GPO Access.<http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-105publ220/html/PLAW-105publ220.htm><http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/wia/wialaw.txt>

Vedder, Richard. "The College-Graduate Glut: Evidence From Labor Markets." Chronicle. N.p., 11 July 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.

"Wages." U.S. Industry Quarterly Review: Labor (2013): 1-4. Business Source Premier. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Watson, Bruce. "Why College May Not Be the Best Choice for Your Education Dollar."DailyFinance.com. N.p., 13 Aug. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.

Wright, Joshua. "America's Skilled Trades Dilemma: Shortages Loom As Most-In-Demand Group Of Workers Ages." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 07 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.

# Case Study

When considering the benefits of choosing vocations over degree education, it is helpful to look at specific jobs and their average wages and employment growth rate.  When considering these examples, it is important to remember that labor jobs require half the schooling so these workers start with half the debt and start working sooner.  Three examples for labor jobs with their wages and growth outlook are: Cosmetologists with $22,500/yr and 14% growth, Welders with $35,450/Yr with 15% growth, and Plumbers with $46,660/yr and 26% growth.  All of these are middle class wages except Cosmetologists who require the least training.  Three examples for jobs requiring bachelor's degrees are: High School Teachers with $53,230/yr and 7% growth, Journalists with $ 55,420/yr and 6% growth, Accountants with $61,690/yr and 16% growth.  While the wages are higher, the discrepancy in workable time and student debt contribute to the numbers.  However, the growth of Vocational jobs is much higher meaning that more people entering the workforce would be able to get jobs as opposed to the more expensive college degrees. This plays to the argument of the benefit of vocational education as probably slightly lower wages but much greater rate of employment.

The website used was the US Burreau of Labor Statistics with specific adresses:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Construction-and-Extraction/Plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Personal-Care-and-Service/Barbers-hairdressers-and-cosmetologists.htm
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Business-and-Financial/Accountants-and-auditors.htm
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm