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More thoughts about planning ... As a result of dramatic changes that are taking place in the U.S. and World economies, schools have been charged with improving education to prepare a competitive, world-class workforce for the future. The Education Trust, a major policy group in education, perhaps best describes the importance of having a high quality high school education in their slogan: College Ready, Work Ready, Same Preparation. From an analysis of changing trends in the world of work, the Hudson Institute makes it clear that rising wages for the best-educated workers and depressed wages for less-educated workers will continue to influence opportunities for American workers well into the 21st century. 20th-century conceptions of career and time have already begun to collapse. Workers in the industrial economies of the past went to school from the age of 5-18, earned vocational certificates or degrees from 19-25, paid their dues from 25-35, rose through the ranks from 35-50, ascended to senior levels of management and business ownership from 50-65, and then retired. In a knowledge-based society workers will continue their education throughout their careers and change jobs more frequently than they did in the past as new technologies replace what was once a steady stream of work for less educated industrial and manufacturing laborers. Thomas Friedman, in his best-selling book, The World is Flat, talks about an idea that most labor intensive production will ultimately be relocated to countries that have weak economies and can provide cheap workers. Companies in strong economies will be left to thrive on their ability to add value to what can be purchased very cheaply. Another of Friedman’s ideas suggests that jobs that can be automated will continue to be automated at an increasingly rapid rate. Locally we have seen the effect of this phenomenon. Ask your parents and grandparents about how big Clark, Eaton, Kellogg and other companies were in Battle Creek when they were young. Does all this futuristic economic stuff sound like some kind of fiction? So did the idea of personal computers and cell phones when your grandparents were young. Many people already work in virtual offices where workers stay at home and virtual organizations conduct all of their business electronically via cell phones and the internet. Demographic trends indicate that the average age of the working US population will be substantially older and more diverse in 2020 and competition will be keen for younger workers. By 2020 America’s over-65 population will increase by 60% while its 18-44 population will increase by only 4%. Depending on how the economy fares this may be good news for entry-level workers who are well qualified; however, climbing the corporate ladder will be more competitive as older workers are forced to remain in the workforce longer because of increasing ages for social security eligibility (the retirement plan for many American workers), and the rising cost of living for things like food, energy and healthcare. What does all this mean for you? It means that to be ready to enter the workforce you must be as well prepared as possible. Those who prepare stand to reap big rewards over the span of their careers; those who don’t will find sub-standard work, low wages and limited opportunities. We hope you will use these pages and the links provided here to maximize your opportunities and to plan for your own success. Learn more about what is here from the following links: Husdon Institute's Workforce Beyond 2020
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