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May 2008

The Jobs Gaps: Will Your Child Be Ready?

Here is the problem: Many of today’s high school graduates fall short of the basic employment skills required for today’s jobs. It’s called the “Jobs Gap.” It’s a disconnect between the skills employers need and the skills many high school graduates actually have. And it’s widening.

Don’t let your child get caught in the middle.

It’s no longer possible to get a good job without a strong education. To have a chance in today’s marketplace, your child needs not only the specific skills found in higher-level math and science and English courses, but also a solid grounding in basic skills such as reasoning and written and verbal communication. Today, these are musts for careers beyond a minimum-wage job.

Here is a quick picture of the job market your child will enter after graduation:

  • In a survey conducted by the National Association of Manufacturers, 80 percent of companies who responded said they have a "moderate to serious" shortage of qualified job candidates with satisfactory skills in reading, writing, math and communication. In a Maryland survey, 60 percent of businesses said they have trouble finding new employees with satisfactory written communications skills, and 57 percent said the same thing about problem-solving skills.
  • Nearly all rote task jobs are now automated with computers and robots. The easily-trained jobs that once existed are gone. Most of today's employees are "knowledge workers."
  • Eight of the 10 fastest-growing occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, require some education after high school.
  • Of the 50 top-paying careers, only two (air traffic controller and nuclear power reactor operator) do not require a 4-year college degree, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
  • Men and women with an associate's degree from a two-year college earn 18 and 23 percent more, respectively, than those with no degree beyond high school, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

What does this mean for parents?

Stay involved in your child’s choice of courses. The sooner your child takes Algebra I, the better. Make certain that middle school prepares your child to enter high school ready to take Geometry and Algebra II, and Biology, Chemistry and Physics, plus four years of English. And be sure that your child has the support he or she needs to pass these important high school courses.

It’s not just for the sake of achieving in school. It’s for the sake of succeeding in life.


The Jobs Gap:
Facts For Parents

DID YOU KNOW?
Many graduates fall short of the skills employers need. In a survey conducted by the National Association of Manufacturers, 80 percent of companies who responded said they have a “moderate to serious” shortage of qualified job candidates with satisfactory skills in reading, writing, math and communication. In a Maryland survey, 60 percent of businesses said they have trouble finding new employees with satisfactory written communications skills, and 57 percent said the same thing about problem-solving skills.

(Source: National Association of Manufacturers, The Skills Gap, 2001, and Maryland Business Roundtable for Education workplace survey, 2001)

Today’s jobs require more education. Eight of the 10 fastest-growing occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, require some education after high school. Moreover, these careers are predicted to grow at above-average rates, while those learned on the job will grow at less than the expected average of 15 percent.

(Source :U.S. Department of Labor, 2000-2010 Employment Projections, 2001,cited in U.S. Department of Education, The Economic Imperative for Improving Education )

More education means a higher income. Statistics continue to show that those who attain higher levels of education earn more money. Even more importantly, there is a growing gap between those who have more education and those who have less.

(Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 2002, cited in U.S. Department of Education, The Economic Imperative for Improving Education)

College matters more than ever. Of the 50 top-paying careers, only two (air traffic controller and nuclear power reactor operator) do not require a college degree.

(Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Tomorrow’s Jobs (Bulletin 2540-1), 2002, cited in U.S. Department of Education, The Economic Imperative for Improving Education)

A two-year college degree makes a big difference. Men and women who have an associate’s degree from a two-year college earn 18 and 23 percent more, respectively, than those with no degree beyond high school.

(Source: Economic Policy Institute, Smart Money: Education and Economic Development, 2004)


The Jobs Gap:
What Parents Can Do

Be your child’s best advocate - make sure he or she is getting the help necessary to succeed. Support is available.
If you are the parent of an elementary school student:

  • Make sure your child gets a good basic foundation in math and science.
  • Get help for your child if he or she is struggling in math.
  • Give your child opportunities to learn about careers.

If you are the parent of a middle school student:

  • The sooner your child takes Algebra I the better. Meet with your child’s math teacher to make sure your child is ready to complete Algebra I before high school.
  • If your child is struggling in math, ask the teacher or guidance counselor how you can get help from him or her.
  • Participate in your child’s course selection for high school. Encourage your child to accept challenges and take the highest level of math available.
  • Visit BeWhatIWantToBe.com with your child to explore a wide variety of careers and the academic preparation they require.

If you are the parent of a high school student:

  • Help your teen to make the connection between high school courses and future career options.
  • Participate in your child’s course selection each semester and each year in high school. Don’t allow your son or daughter to coast senior year. Their knowledge needs to be in peak form for college placement tests and workplace entry tests.
  • Encourage your teenager to accept challenges and take the highest levels of math courses available.
  • Visit BeWhatIWantToBe.com with your teenager to explore a wide variety of careers and the academic preparation they require.





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