Jobber’s Post

Tech is amazing, and we all know white-collar jobs have been the go-to for comfort and pay. But let’s face it—AI is on the rise, and it’s evolving faster than we can keep up! 🤖💨 But here’s the kicker: AI can’t replace what Service Professionals do in blue-collar jobs. Here’s why: 🔨 AI can't: bust open a wall, find harmful mold, and rebuild to code. 🚪 AI can't: rush to your home in 15 minutes when a pipe bursts and sewage is creeping in. 🌿 AI can't: collaborate with you on your dream backyard and get its hands dirty to make it happen. 🖼️ AI can't: clean your home exactly how you want, knowing that your kid's crumpled artwork doesn't go in the recycle, but should be stored in the craft room (even though the projects sometimes very closely resemble garbage 🤣 ) Blue-collar jobs are essential. They rely on human connection, understanding, and, of course, skilled hands. 🛠️🤝 Let’s celebrate the work our critical Service Providers do and encourage the next generation of workers to pursue this very important work (for the good of all mankind!<-- maybe a bit dramatic, but you get it lol) 💪✨

HR and Talent Acquisitions Leaders - Have you noticed this? As Gen Z comes of age, many are opting for trade schools over traditional universities. In the past, there was a strong belief that a college degree was essential for success and securing a well-paying job. It was viewed as a necessary milestone and a quintessential experience before entering adulthood. Consequently, vocational trade education and blue-collar jobs have been somewhat neglected in recent years. This shift has resulted in a shortage of skilled workers in the labor market. With the CHIPS Act and upcoming infrastructure projects creating more demand for skilled labor, employers are finding it increasingly challenging to fill these positions. The aging workforce in skilled labor is also contributing to the need for more skilled workers. Gen Z is redefining the conventional notion of success by considering the cost of college education and the potential return on investment in trades. Rather than being burdened by student loans, they are opting for trade schools. #tradeschool #genz #employment #hr #talentacquisition #jobs https://lnkd.in/dfqd4epn.

Those of a certain age might remember being advised not to worry too much about what job they took because it would all work out just fine over time. If that was true then, it is certainly not true today. Once underemployed, a worker is likely to remain underemployed throughout his or her career, according to the Burning Glass-Strada study. Even a decade after graduation, three-quarters of those initially underemployed are still working in jobs that don’t require their degree. The surprising stickiness of underemployment reinforces the importance of this yardstick, especially when considering that an underemployed worker loses an average of $25,000 per year in earnings. Underemployment is too big a problem for institutions and their stewards to ignore. https://lnkd.in/gfFU2ZxN

It's becoming clearer and clearer that college is not the right fit for everyone, and the high school to college pipeline is setting a lot of young people up for a life of debt. High school students need more access to vocational training, if they want it. Very few students need higher-level math, theoretical sciences, or in-depth literary criticism skills to lead a productive life. If we shifted the time spent on that to giving students the skills they're likely to need to succeed in life, it would gives our kids such a boost when they enter the "real world." (This is not to downplay theoretical fields for those who are interested; I majored in philosophy, for heaven's sake. But that doesn't mean everyone should study calculus rather than accounting basics.)

This study found that deficit thinking led to discrimination against first-generation students in the labor force. In layman’s terms, employers still viewed first-generation students as less than, even when they had the same credentials as their peers. In the conversations surrounding education and the workforce, it’s important to consider students' labor market experiences and not always chalking their stories up as them being less qualified. #LaborDay

When we meet students where they are, we: 1-enroll more students who deserve accesss, 2-help them stay in college despite life's hurdles, 3-see more graduates who stay where they learn, and 4-answer employers' needs for skilled workers. That's #studentsuccess

As the cost of a college education continues to skyrocket, many young people are reconsidering the value of a traditional four-year degree. Recent stories from Gen Z workers highlight a growing trend: bypassing college for blue-collar careers and trade businesses can be a smarter and more financially rewarding decision. Take Crist Morillon, who became an automotive technician instead of pursuing a college degree. At just 27, she’s already bought her first home and enjoys a stable income with significant growth potential. Similarly, entrepreneurs like Chase Gallagher and Ryan Daniels have built thriving trade businesses without the burden of student loans or the opportunity cost of spending four years in college. This trend has a downstream impact and seems to contribute to the financial instability many colleges and universities in the U.S. face today. Sagging enrollments lead to decreased tuition revenue, which compounds other issues such as inflation, soaring labor costs, and unsustainable debt from efforts to attract more students. The rising cost of a college degree has become more burdensome than ever. Many private, for-profit, and non-profit colleges are closing or merging with others, often leaving students in a lurch. This trend may accelerate, especially as alternative sources of learning become more widely available online. With platforms offering affordable and flexible education, students can acquire valuable skills without incurring massive debt, further challenging the traditional higher education model. As more young people discover these options, the shift away from conventional degrees might intensify, posing a significant risk to the future of many institutions.

When we as policymakers talk about strengthening our workforce, we've got to not just talk about strategies for initial employment, but also career sustainability and trajectory for our graduates. According to a Strada Education Network report, close to half (48%) of Kentucky's bachelor's degree earners are "underemployed," meaning these graduates are working in jobs that do not require a college credential. While that is temporarily understandable - it's hard to get that first footing - a majority of these graduates stay underemployed for the next 10 years. Remaining underemployed has serious personal economic impacts, such as the ability to pay off student debt. It also affects the state in its drive to fill high-need jobs. Lastly, it hurts higher education, because underemployment is an affirmed negative to the question, "Was college worth it?" The underemployment issue is one reason why the Council has shifted to a postsecondary-workforce focus. We are concerned about all facets of employability, and by that we mean, the readiness of our graduates for a "college graduate workforce," which is differentiated by an implied mastery of the essential (soft) skills as well as enhanced technical abilities. This infographic demonstrates the disparity between the essential skills recent graduates think they have and what employers experience. Most of us, once out of college, were a bit naive about our abilities, so some grace should be given. But over 30 percentage point gaps in some skills isn't an excusable self-overestimation; it is a concerning deficit between expectation and reality. A deficit that can't be addressed only by career services, but with programmatic pedagogy throughout the college experience. This is where our Kentucky Graduate Profile comes in. It is how we prevent not only underemployment, but also facilitate a trajectory of success for our graduates based on skills development. Support by all our campus staff is crucial. Learn more and who at your institution is helping coordinate efforts: https://lnkd.in/eYxzBZVE #KYHigherEdMatters

As you might guess for someone working in higher education and career services, I've long believed in the power of a college education to change lives. Education, particularly a college education, opens up economic opportunities for so many people. But, that also means that we exclude non-college-goers from economic opportunity, right? This is something we grappled with in one of my doctoral classes this semester. The idea that the path to economic prosperity in the US is not available to many, and therefore marginalizes those who can't or otherwise don't take this path. It's made me question my beliefs in supporting higher education as a pathway to a good career and stable life, as the flip side of that logic is that those who don't go to college WON'T have a those things...which is not something I want for our society. So I'm happy to see this report from The Brookings Institution and Opportunity@Work about state jobs transitioning away from requiring college degrees. 20+ states in the US are committing to opening up their job opportunities to those without a college degree. Career Services and Recruiter friends--I'd love to hear your thoughts! What do you think of the movement away from degree requirements? What trends do you see, or hope to see, happening in the future as it relates to degree requirements for jobs? https://lnkd.in/gxfDH99c

Jamie Dimon told Indianapolis-based WISH-TV in March: “If you look at kids they gotta be educated to get jobs. Too much focus in education has been on graduating college… It should be on jobs. I think the schools should be measured on, did the kids get out and get a good job?" Pre-2000 most schools had vocational level courses interspersed in their general, vocational, and college preparatory programs. From typing/data entry, computer science, accounting, etc., the focus was to provide students with “job ready” skills no matter their pursuit after graduation. The curricula softening also degrades the quality of educational product that colleges, universities can produce. This is despite an attempt to focus secondary education to be more college preparatory. In so doing, a path to a college degree has been deemed the exclusive path to career success. This likely was a mistake when the result is reviewed. The current tightness of the labor supply is (currently) more about qualifications of workers as it is demographic shifts. The education establishments need to shift focus back to critical thinking, mathematical literacy, and adaptation to technology to produce qualified entry level workers. The majority of jobs that make an economy function adequately do not require a college diploma, but they do require basic skills (that are not being effectively taught currently).