The last few years have not been kind to most Americans. We’ve seen our savings shrink, our interest rates balloon and jobs disappear. The “Great Recession” may be depressing, but a number of adults are taking this time to re-evaluate and re-organize their lives. While you can’t change your past, you can take steps to recession proof your future. And the best way to do that is to make an investment in higher education.
Higher Education Statistics
There are two main ways to recession proof your life: earn more money to create a savings cushion and avoid unemployment. Obtaining a degree puts you ahead of the game in both areas.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average national unemployment rate for those with less than high school diploma was 14.6 percent in 2009. Then, as an individual’s education goes up, their likelihood of being unemployed goes down. The unemployment rate for those with a Bachelor’s Degree was only 5.2 percent.
Want further protection against unemployment? Get a Master’s Degree and the rate falls to 3.9 percent. Or get a professional degree such as one for law or medicine. In 2009, the unemployment rate was lowest for professional degree holders, 2.3 percent. Statistically, this rate is considered full employment since some individuals will always be between jobs.
The situation is similar when it comes to wages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that individuals who don’t graduate high school make an average of $454 a week. Spend a little time on your education, and you could be making $1,025 a week with a Bachelor’s Degree. Once again, professional degree holders are some of the highest paid workers clocking in at $1,529 per week in income.
Recession Proof Strategies
If these education statistics have you fired up to make a change, now is the perfect time to act. There are many financial aid programs available to eligible students. In addition, the government offers retraining programs such as No Worker Left Behind that can pay for higher education for certain individuals whose jobs have been downsized or outsourced.
When making your education plans, consider the following choices:
•Online degree programs for flexibility of scheduling
•Technical programs that offer on-the-job training
•Accelerated learning modules that will have ready for a new career fast
In addition, education coaches can help you evaluate your career goals. Their experience can provided needed guidance when it comes to selecting the right higher education program that will start on the path to an exciting and lucrative new career.
Tanya Knight is America’s Education Coach. She is passionate about higher education, and the nation’s premier source of information on education advancement. For more information and resources that will help you get a degree and the career of your dreams, visit www.theeducationcoach.com