The Role of Education in Securing Jobs - Essay Example

The Role of Education in Securing Jobs Higher education is the most effective means of securing employment as well as learning the basic skills which the prerequisites for global workplace. An appropriate higher education is a necessity not only for acquiring the academic knowledge relating to specific subject but also for the overall personality development and other skills related a job. The recent research shows that even during the economic downturn, employers in certain sectors hire graduates than people who have completed a level certificate education statistics also suggest that graduates are better paid, despite lacking certain skills especially in business awareness and self management as well as STEM subjects (Atfield and Purcell, 2012). Trends during the last decade also indicate that the number of people joining university courses has significantly risen. This, further points to a stronger awareness in people that mere basic knowledge education will not enable them to secure better jobs. On the other hand, a general notion prevails that higher education will facilitate more rewarding career avenues apart from helping personal development. Some skeptics, however, express a misconceived notion that the emerging trends in higher education will result in flooding the job market with graduates and, in turn, will cause unemployment for some. However, based on evidence from across the globe, Leitch (2006) contend that the proportion of the workforce in professional and managerial sector has increased by 7% from 1984 until 2004. This tendency only proves the job markets abilities to accommodate the increased number of graduates and the demand for them will grow further. Working Walker and Zhu in 2005 find that graduates receive 30% dominance in salary than nongraduates. Thus, it transpires that companies prefer graduates over less academically qualified people. The logic, apparently, is that graduate are more competent than non-graduates. Recognition and higher rewards come to graduates because most of the recruiters and employers have university diplomas and they usually know what it means and how much efforts go behind in obtaining higher education. Apart from gaining knowledge in a particular subject a lot of different skills are necessary apart from dedication. For most of the students, being on the course means constant juggling in between work, study and free time. On many occasions, sacrifice of personal comforts, friends and life in general. Thus, a general notion exists in the minds of the employers that people who are graduates have strong characteristics and skills. This is one of the reasons of better reward and positive impression on potential employers who admitted in CBI report in 2008 and UUK 2009 that 68% of them were satisfied with occupational and technical knowledge and skills presented by their organization’s graduates employees. Slightly less impressive number appears if unrelated to specific subject like generic employment skills are taken into consideration. However graduates are still better perceived as a future assts to new employers because having to go through the university procedures and the grooming they receive, they have gained additional skills like flexibility, time management, teamwork, better and quick ability for adaptation to certain situations besides the ability hard work basic capability to use IT, numeracy and literacy, communication skills, self-motivation, dedication and commitment All skills not only apply for specific jobs, but are very useful throughout a person’s life (NIHE 1997) and knowing that employers appreciate that by paying more and investing in graduates as they can become valuate assets to the company in the future. Money orientated people obviously have to direct their attention towards subjects that attract much higher salaries than others. Usually, they are the subjects used in industry where more cash flow is involved and automatically employers can afford to pay higher rates to their employers because they can get reasonably fast return of the investment. Sloane and O’Leary have listed several top paid degree subjects in comparison to an art degree. The wage premium for degree subjects (compared to an arts degree) for men Subject Mark-up from Arts Rank Accountancy 42.15% 1 Electrical engineering 40.73% 2 Maths and computing 37.23% 3 Mechanical engineering 33.71% 3 Social sciences 14.20% 21 History 11.69% 22 English 10.84% 23 Sociology 10.83% 24 However, in the case women, the statistics show marginal difference. Subject Mark-up from Arts Rank Accountancy 37.12% 1 Medicine and related 27.52% 2 Law 23.97% 3 Education 22.40% 4 Psychology 1.98% 21 Biology 1.60% 22 History 0.95% 23 Politics -0.91% 24 Sloane and O’Leary (2004) Unfortunately, placement at prestigious university or diploma with distinction need not necessarily guarantee a dream job or a bright future either. The economic downturn, rising competition and higher employers expectations are not helping factors. Also further evidence regarding employment suggests that around 30% of graduates with diplomas had no luck with obtaining jobs appropriate to their qualifications. It may be a market saturation which is about to reach a turning point, where the value of degree is decreasing. The ratio is undoubtedly different than a few decades ago, but everything changes, so it should be a major issue (McIntosh, 2005: Chavalier and Lindly, 2007). Despite this, the average value of higher education still remains reasonably high. In conclusion, after considering whether to go university or maybe not, it can have both negative or positive effects. Some employers do not want to employ graduates because they are might be orientated in the wrong direction by traditional education system and they rather mould them themselves instead of spending time. Also sometimes the knowledge gained through university does not meet their expectations. But most of companies approve traditional education system and appreciate general trends. Before a person makes up his or her mind, the most important thing is to be sure about certain things: Importance of money making in life. The goals they are seeking. The lifestyle. If the highest priority to someone is earning money, it is completely a waste of time, because spending life doing things that one cannot enjoy in order to follow some other pursuit is not a practical thing. And if a person enjoys life and does the things that he or she is good at it is the most important thing. Thus, people who graduate with a view to get a good job will ultimately attain that goal. Reference List Atfield, G. & Purcell, K. 2012. Working Paper 4: The Fit Between Labour Market Supply And Demand: 3rd Year UK Undergraduate Degree Final Year Students’ Perception of the Skills they have to Offer and the Skills Employers Seek. Future Track. Available at [Accessed on 13 February 2013]. Read More