Post-Recession, College Graduates Are Larger Part of the Workforce

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It has been a long-held belief that, if you have a college degree, you have a better chance of landing a job. A new study from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University has all but confirmed that.

Of the 11.6 million jobs created after the Great Recession, nearly 8.5 million went to those with at least a bachelor’s degree. Another 3 million of those jobs went to individuals with an associate’s degree or some college education.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, for millions of Americans, a steady job in safe working conditions means more than a paycheck; it also comes with potential benefits (such as health insurance), and stability necessary for good health.

Americans with only a high school diploma represent a shrinking share of the workforce. For the first time, college grads made up a larger slice of the labor market this year than those without higher education by 36% and 34%. College grads are also more likely to get “good jobs,” which Georgetown defines as paying more than $53,000 a year.

The study from the Center on Education and the Workforce determined that employers increasingly want workers with at least some college education, such as a certificate from a trade school or from a technical or community college.

“College level skills determines access to decent jobs now,” said Anthony Carnevale, the center’s director and lead author of the report. “The modern economy continues to leave Americans without a college education behind.”

Nearly 45% of Americans age 25 to 64 have an associate’s degree or higher, while 23% have at least a bachelor’s degree. Some 42% of young adults age 18 to 24 are enrolled in higher education. The National Center for Education Statistics projects a 42% increase in Hispanic-American college students by 2021.

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