This is a problem and not sure...

[ClosedCaption]

What's the cause

Thought?

 

[nodoginnafight]

College isn't for everyone.

We have created an atmosphere where EVERY high school senior thinks they have to go to college.

Many would be better off in a trade school, apprenticeship program, or learning on the job.

Just MHO

 

[PratchettFan]

People should be more selective on their choice of a degree. Not that many jobs out their for a specialist in french literature.

 

[PratchettFan]

College isn't for everyone.

We have created an atmosphere where EVERY high school senior thinks they have to go to college.

Many would be better off in a trade school, apprenticeship program, or learning on the job.

Just MHO

I agree. We need to really beef up these opportunities.

 

[martybegan]

What's the cause

Thought?

For the bartenders and waiters, I would think a large portion of those degrees are for the arts, where the holders are doing a job with hours that allow them to pursue their "big break"

For Truck drivers, its because there are tons of openings for that job, and the long haul ones pay good.

In the end, we are seeing the result of "everyone goes to college" taken to its logical conclusion. Just because everyone GOES to college, doesn't mean that there are JOBS that require said degrees.

 

[The Rabbi]

College isn't for everyone.

We have created an atmosphere where EVERY high school senior thinks they have to go to college.

Many would be better off in a trade school, apprenticeship program, or learning on the job.

Just MHO

You are exactly right. The expectation is everyone will go to college. But many people not only will not benefit from college, they will be harmed by it. What good is getting a $30k degree in order to get a $24k job? Esp one you dont need the degree for.
The main culprit is federal student loans which mask the real cost of college.

 

[g5000]

What's the cause

Thought?

I am not convinced there is a problem until you tell me how many total janitors, bartenders, etc. there are.

 

[g5000]

How many truck drivers are there in the United States? | Truck Driver Salary | Updated Pay & Salary Information for OTR Drivers

There are approximately 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the United States, according to estimates by the American Trucking Association. The total number of people employed in the industry, including those in positions that do not entail driving, exceeds 8.7 million.

So...out of 3,500,000 truck drivers, only two percent of them have a bachelor's degree.

That is NOT a problem.

 

[The Rabbi]

How many truck drivers are there in the United States? | Truck Driver Salary | Updated Pay & Salary Information for OTR Drivers

There are approximately 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the United States, according to estimates by the American Trucking Association. The total number of people employed in the industry, including those in positions that do not entail driving, exceeds 8.7 million.

So...out of 3,500,000 truck drivers, only two percent of them have a bachelor's degree.

That is NOT a problem.

What percentage would constitute a problem in your mind?

 

[g5000]

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics there are 2,324,000 janitors in America.

If the OP graphic is to be believed, only five percent of them have a bachelor's degree.


Stop inventing "problems" where there aren't any.


The perfect is the enemy of the good.

 

[g5000]

How many truck drivers are there in the United States? | Truck Driver Salary | Updated Pay & Salary Information for OTR Drivers

There are approximately 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the United States, according to estimates by the American Trucking Association. The total number of people employed in the industry, including those in positions that do not entail driving, exceeds 8.7 million.

So...out of 3,500,000 truck drivers, only two percent of them have a bachelor's degree.

That is NOT a problem.

What percentage would constitute a problem in your mind?

The perfect is the enemy of the good. You will never come up with a "solution" that results in no truck drivers having a bachelor's degree. Not unless you are a totalitarian.

Two percent is down-in-the-weeds territory.

 

[LordBrownTrout]

Federal student loans and regents voting on increased tuitions on a yearly basis are the problems but they always get a pass.

 

[HenryBHough]

About half as many "causes" as "underemployed".

Among them:

Geography. Degrees in subjects for which there is no demand in the geographic region where an individual lives when said individual has no desire to relocate or may find it prohibitive so to do through economics or family obligations.

Specialty. Only so much need for those with degrees in stuff like underwater basket weaving.

A big one is personal preference. I'll cite just three known to me. One an individual with a teaching degree who tried it and found that since there is no discipline in schools anymore there's no point in trying to teach. Another with a degree in economics who is working at a housekeeping (industrial type not household, not hotel) job because it pays far better, provides free housing, meals and a 3 weeks on/2 weeks off schedule plus some very nice travel benefits.

The capper is a law school graduate who has passed bar exams in two states and is driving long-haul truck because he loves doing it and with an eye to a specialty in law relative to that industry when he's older and/or no longer likes doing it.

It's not ALL because of the overall poor employment picture.

 

[B. Kidd]

Millennials voted for this.

 

[LordBrownTrout]

About half as many "causes" as "underemployed".

Among them:

Geography. Degrees in subjects for which there is no demand in the geographic region where an individual lives when said individual has no desire to relocate or may find it prohibitive so to do through economics or family obligations.

Specialty. Only so much need for those with degrees in stuff like underwater basket weaving.

A big one is personal preference. I'll cite just three known to me. One an individual with a teaching degree who tried it and found that since there is no discipline in schools anymore there's no point in trying to teach. Another with a degree in economics who is working at a housekeeping (industrial type not household, not hotel) job because it pays far better, provides free housing, meals and a 3 weeks on/2 weeks off schedule plus some very nice travel benefits.

The capper is a law school graduate who has passed bar exams in two states and is driving long-haul truck because he loves doing it and with an eye to a specialty in law relative to that industry when he's older and/or no longer likes doing it.

It's not ALL because of the overall poor employment picture.

Fine illustrations. I know several people who came up as you stated.

 

[nodoginnafight]

Of course there is no real HARM in having a degree that you don't use in your job.
If you can afford to be a lifelong learner, that's great. There are benefits that can't be measured financially.

But if you go into hock to pay for something that doesn't have ANY benefit or value to you, I think that's a problem.