While the debate about unemployment has centered on Capitol Hill politics, colleges and universities have the capability to help students acquire the skills needed to obtain available jobs, according to an article in The Huffington Post.
There were 3.2 million job openings on the last business day of July, but statistically no increase in employment, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor report released in September. The Post reported that employers said the unemployed lack the skills to fill the jobs.
Anthony Carnevale of Georgetown University’s Center on Education and Workforce said that 50 million jobs are expected to be created by 2018, but more than half will require post-secondary credentials, the Post reported. Projections show that the job market will lack at least three million workers with the necessary credentials.
To help students acquire some of the jobs available, colleges could create programs that close the skills gap that exists right now. Other options include offering fewer majors, helping students pick a major and conducting workplace surveys to determine how prepared alumni are for the workforce.
The suggestion of surveys stems from an idea presented by George Forsythe, president of Westminster College. Forsythe told The Post that he wanted to find out from employers if Westminster’s graduates are practicing goals outlined by the college and performing well in their current jobs.
The majority of 18-year-olds need guidance in deciding their majors, a process that could take students years to complete and cause “wasted credits.” Colleges can also use the average earnings by major to guide students onto successful career paths.
Boston University’s Center for Career Development offers career counseling, internship options, resume and cover letter review sessions and other workshops to help students land a job, according to the CCD website. For students who do not know what career to pursue, the CCD also offers a five-week Career Exploration Group program that aims to guide students in pursuing careers that complement their work style and interests.
There is no indication of how well CCD’s workshops educate students about necessary skills. While BU undergoes review for its academic programs and services, it ranks 53rd in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report. On other lists, such as Forbes’s ranking of Best Colleges, it stands at 82nd in the country.
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