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A troubling narrative is spreading fast in our tech-obsessed national discourse. As the labor market tightens and tuition continues to skyrocket, many are starting to view college as an “increasingly anachronistic and risky path.”
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Liberal arts programs, in particular, have been a favorite punching bag, with politicians from both sides of the aisle advocating for cutting public funding for liberal arts programs in favor of narrower, career-oriented programs focused on technology and technical training. Forget the liberal arts. Technical skills, not degrees, will be the key to remaining relevant in a robot future. Or so the argument goes.
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But this debate presents a false choice between the liberal arts and applied learning. It’s not an either/or proposition but both/and: The most valuable workers now and in the future will be those who can combine technical knowledge with human skills. A new analysis of more than 100 million job postings, résumés and social profiles by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and the labor market data firm Emsi reveals that employers crave more than just coding or engineering capabilities. Instead, they’re looking for candidates who can pair technical skills with uniquely human skills that will remain resistant to automation in the future.
.
.
Liberal arts programs, which are a chief, though not exclusive, pathway to cultivating important human skills like communication, creativity, and problem solving, may have a newfound role in building nimble and resilient thinkers—able to shift and adapt with exponential changes in computing power. But it also means that if our liberal arts grads are to land a good first job and succeed in tomorrow’s workforce, they must complement their human skills with technical skills that can be obtained through work-based learning, last-mile training, and career-related minors or certificates.
.
Our analysis found that although human skills are among the most valued by employers—and commonly listed in job postings—alone, they are insufficient to address the requirements of today’s hardest-to-fill and highest-paying jobs.
.
.
This incongruity between the skills employers value most, and the skills reflected in job postings is, perhaps, reflected in the fact that although liberal arts grads trail STEM majors in gross earnings by their third job, they tend to see faster wage growth during their 30s and 40s. The data suggests that while liberal arts grads may be well-suited to an environment where the shelf-life of skills is shrinking and adaptability is king, the benefits of their academic preparation become more evident over time, as their world of work evolves. In an ironic twist, however, liberal arts are less likely than other majors to report that their coursework is helpful for their careers—even while employers seek workers specifically with their skill sets.
.
Better preparing college grads for the future of work and helping employers close endemic skills gaps may, in turn, hinge on the translation of human skills honed through the liberal arts into the language of emergent career paths.
.
In marketing and public relations, for example, job postings typically list a skill like communication as a requirement for the job. But our research suggests that having broadly developed that skill is not the same as leveraging it into a tangible labor market asset. In many cases, it must be translated and applied into domains. The human skill of communication actually translates into the more granular skills of social media marketing or Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
.
Employers can play a role in bridging skills gaps by better articulating both the human and technical skills they are seeking and demonstrating a willingness to invest in last-mile training that marries the two. Students eager to bridge the divide between traditional educational experiences and the demands of the labor market would, in turn, be well served to seek out career-oriented experiences to augment their human skills—and anticipate the necessity of continued investment in the development of new skills.
.
But to ensure their continued relevance and value, our institutions of higher education must also do a better job of demonstrating precisely how vital human skills are for the jobs of today and tomorrow and explore ways to make education-to-employment pathways more seamless.
.
It makes little sense to continue to pit a college education and workforce training against each other, as if they are somehow mutually exclusive. It’s not an either/or proposition, but both/and. Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs said as much back in2011 “Technology alone is not enough,” Jobs said. “It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that make our hearts sing.”
.
For too long this idea has fallen on deaf ears, and employers and educators—and human and technical skills—have developed along parallel tracks. We must begin to connect our workforce with our post-secondary education and training systems and build clear pathways for the future of work.
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An unpleasant narrative is spreading out quick in our tech-obsessed nationwide discourse. As the labor market tightens up and tuition continues to skyrocket, lots of are beginning to view college as an” increasingly anachronistic and dangerous path”
Liberal arts programs, in specific, have actually been a favorite punching bag, with political leaders from both sides of the aisle advocating for cutting public financing for liberal arts programs in favor of narrower, career-oriented programs focused on technology and technical training. Forget the liberal arts. Technical skills, not degrees, will be the key to staying relevant in a robotic future. Or so the argument goes.
But this argument provides an incorrect choice between the liberal arts and applied knowing. It’s not an either/or proposition but both/and: The most important workers now and in the future will be those who can combine technical understanding with human abilities. A brand-new analysis of more than 100 million task postings, résumés and social profiles by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and the labor market information firm Emsi reveals that employers crave more than just coding or engineering abilities. Instead, they’re looking for candidates who can pair technical skills with distinctively human abilities that will stay resistant to automation in the future.
Liberal arts programs, which are a chief, though not special, pathway to cultivating important human skills like communication, imagination, and problem fixing, might have a newly found role in building active and durable thinkers– able to move and adjust with rapid changes in calculating power. But it also implies that if our liberal arts graduates are to land an excellent first task and be successful in tomorrow’s labor force, they need to match their human skills with technical skills that can be acquired through work-based learning, last-mile training, and career-related minors or certificates.
Our analysis discovered that although human abilities are amongst the most valued by companies– and typically listed in task posts– alone, they are inadequate to address the requirements these days’s hardest-to-fill and highest-paying jobs.
This incongruity between the abilities companies worth most, and the abilities reflected in task postings is, possibly, shown in the truth that although liberal arts grads route STEM majors in gross earnings by their third task, they tend to see faster wage development throughout their 30 s and 40 s. The information recommends that while liberal arts grads may be well-suited to an environment where the shelf-life of skills is shrinking and versatility is king, the benefits of their scholastic preparation end up being more obvious with time, as their world of work develops. In a paradoxical twist, nevertheless, liberal arts are less likely than other majors to report that their coursework is practical for their careers– even while companies look for workers specifically with their ability.
Better preparing college grads for the future of work and helping companies close endemic skills spaces might, in turn, depend upon the translation of human abilities honed through the liberal arts into the language of emergent career paths.
In marketing and public relations, for example, task postings normally note an ability like communication as a requirement for the job. However our research recommends that having broadly established that ability is not the like leveraging it into a tangible labor market property. In most cases, it must be equated and used into domains. The human skill of communication actually equates into the more granular abilities of social networks marketing or Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Companies can contribute in bridging skills spaces by much better articulating both the human and technical abilities they are looking for and demonstrating a willingness to buy last-mile training that weds the 2. Students excited to bridge the divide between traditional educational experiences and the demands of the labor market would, in turn, be well served to look for out career-oriented experiences to augment their human abilities– and expect the requirement of ongoing investment in the advancement of new skills.
However to guarantee their continued importance and worth, our organizations of college should likewise do a much better job of showing exactly how crucial human skills are for the jobs of today and tomorrow and explore ways to make education-to-employment paths more smooth.
It makes little sense to continue to pit a college education and labor force training versus each other, as if they are in some way equally exclusive. It’s not an either/or proposition, however both/and. Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs said as much back in2011 “Innovation alone is not enough,” Jobs said. “It’s innovation married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that make our hearts sing.”
For too long this idea has fallen on deaf ears, and companies and teachers– and human and technical skills– have actually developed along parallel tracks. We need to start to link our workforce with our post-secondary education and training systems and develop clear paths for the future of work.
” >
An uncomfortable story is spreading out fast in our tech-obsessed national discourse. As the labor market tightens up and tuition continues to skyrocket, lots of are starting to see college as an” significantly anachronistic and risky course
”
Liberal arts programs, in specific, have actually been a preferred punching bag, with politicians from both sides of the aisle promoting for cutting public funding for liberal arts programs in favor of narrower, career-oriented programs focused on innovation and technical training. Forget the liberal arts. Technical skills, not degrees, will be the secret to remaining pertinent in a robot future. Or so the argument goes.
However this dispute presents an incorrect choice in between the liberal arts and used learning. It’s not an either/or proposal however both/and: The most important employees now and in the future will be those who can integrate technical knowledge with human skills. A brand-new analysis of more than 100 million task posts, résumés and social profiles by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and the labor market data company Emsi reveals that companies crave more than simply coding or crafting abilities. Instead, they’re trying to find candidates who can match technical abilities with distinctively human abilities that will stay resistant to automation in the future.
Liberal arts programs, which are a chief, though not unique, pathway to cultivating essential human skills like interaction, creativity, and problem fixing, may have a newly found role in structure nimble and resilient thinkers– able to shift and adapt with rapid modifications in computing power. But it likewise means that if our liberal arts grads are to land a good very first task and prosper in tomorrow’s workforce, they need to match their human skills with technical abilities that can be obtained through work-based learning, last-mile training, and career-related minors or certificates.
Our analysis found that although human abilities are among the most valued by employers– and commonly listed in job posts– alone, they are insufficient to attend to the requirements these days’s hardest-to-fill and highest-paying tasks.
This incongruity between the skills companies value most, and the abilities reflected in task posts is, maybe, shown in the fact that although liberal arts grads trail STEM majors in gross profits by their third job, they tend to see faster wage growth during their 30 s and 40 s. The information suggests that while liberal arts grads might be appropriate to an environment where the shelf-life of skills is shrinking and versatility is king, the benefits of their scholastic preparation end up being more obvious in time, as their world of work develops. In a paradoxical twist, however, liberal arts are less likely than other majors to report that their coursework is helpful for their careers– even while companies look for employees specifically with their capability.
Much better preparing college graduates for the future of work and helping companies close endemic abilities gaps may, in turn, hinge on the translation of human abilities sharpened through the liberal arts into the language of emerging career paths.
In marketing and public relations, for instance, job posts normally list a skill like communication as a requirement for the job. But our research study recommends that having broadly established that skill is not the exact same as leveraging it into a tangible labor market property. In a lot of cases, it must be translated and applied into domains. The human skill of interaction actually translates into the more granular skills of social media marketing or Browse Engine Optimization (SEO).
Employers can play a role in bridging skills gaps by better articulating both the human and technical skills they are seeking and showing a willingness to invest in last-mile training that marries the two. Students eager to bridge the divide in between conventional educational experiences and the demands of the labor market would, in turn, be well served to seek out career-oriented experiences to augment their human skills– and anticipate the requirement of continued financial investment in the advancement of new skills.
However to ensure their continued significance and worth, our organizations of higher education should also do a better job of showing specifically how important human abilities are for the jobs of today and tomorrow and check out methods to make education-to-employment pathways more seamless.
It makes little sense to continue to pit a college education and labor force training against each other, as if they are somehow mutually exclusive. It’s not an either/or proposal, however both/and. Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs stated as much back in2011 “Technology alone is insufficient,” Jobs stated. “It’s innovation married with liberal arts, married with the liberal arts, that yields us the outcome that make our hearts sing.”
For too long this idea has fallen on deaf ears, and employers and educators– and human and technical abilities– have established along parallel tracks. We should begin to connect our workforce with our post-secondary education and training systems and build clear paths for the future of work.
