Future job market and the role of education

Education - Job Market

TOMORROW'S JOB MARKET: THROUGH the EYES of EDUCATION

As contemporary vocational opportunities continue to shift toward the high- technology and computer-based fields, the suggestion had been made that the traditional education approach is no longer appropriate to modern society. Proponents of this view maintain that humanities-oriented higher education is no longer relevant to the types of knowledge and skills required in the job market. That point-of-view is sharply contradicted by the extent to which modern educational programs offer tailored courses of instruction and major focus, particularly in that students design their own majors combining both traditional educational material and the latest knowledge bases and skills necessary for vocational success.

In that regard, linking educational curricula and course of instruction designed to develop vocational skills provides an enriching educational environment (Johnson, Musial, Halle, Gollnick, Dupuis, 2005) that increases the capacity of both public and private schools to prepare students to enter the workforce with relevant skills and abilities. In addition to better motivating students, increasing options in this manner also fosters increased healthy competition among students at every level (Lupis, Feinberg, 2008). Equally important is the degree to which providing a richer, more relevant educational curriculum levels the playing field and enables students from economically underprivileged segments of society to acquire the necessary skills to succeed professionally. Generally, educational curricula such as those employed in Magnet programs in particular have already demonstrated the potential value of educational approaches that are designed to be more relevant to specific vocational applications after graduation.

On the larger scale, the advantages of efforts to connect traditional education mechanisms to specific vocational applications is more likely to increase student interest, high school graduation rates, pursuit of higher education, and ultimately, to produce a more educated society in general (ACE, et al., 2006). The fact that school systems tend to emulate educational approaches proven successful in other schools can be expected to further contribute to educational diversification and to the wider spread of educational curricula and methods that are beneficial to more students than traditional educational curricula and methods (DCSF, 2005).

To achieve this objective, teachers will be required to stay abreast of changes in vocational trends and opportunities to adapt their course materials and methods to provide their students with the best possible opportunity to construct a personalized educational program that corresponds to the current and projected needs of the ever- changing professional environment.

In addition to continually adapting courses of instruction to the apparent needs of professional opportunities and trends in hiring practices, the optimal approach to the suggested design of a more relevant education system also requires teachers to help identify possible areas of talent and ability in students. By directing their students to areas of academic focus that match their greatest potential strengths, teachers can greatly facilitate the overall aims of modern education by reducing frustration and possible disillusionment with education. The evolution of modern business operations and the vocational skills necessary for professional success absolutely demand that educational design adapt to correspond to instructional methods and materials conducive to success.