Is It Back To School Time?

July, 30 2010

by Al Doyle

One issue has become a much more popular topic of discussion over the past two years, and this trend is cutting across all economic, racial and social categories. Unemployed blue-collar workers, young men and women recently discharged from military service, middle-aged office workers and even immigrants who are still learning English ask themselves and others this question: Should I go back to school?

Growing unemployment (as much as 17 percent when honest math is used) combined with widespread underemployment (Example: A talented and experienced worker who currently flips burgers or stocks shelves) has made the idea of retraining and picking up additional job skills very appealing to those who face an uncertain future. Unlike the continuous post-World War II boom that led to constant expansion of four-year university programs, the current trend towards adult education is focused at a more down-to-earth level.

Two-year community colleges, junior colleges and technical schools find themselves flooded with applicants. It's a truly diverse bunch that includes everything from last month's high school graduates to gray-haired grandparents who are less than a decade from retirement age. Why are so many people so eager to sit in class or work at home through e-classes and distance learning? One word is a powerful motivator - Fear.

Many of the adults who are looking at school have been laid off or expect to lose their positions in the near future. In more than a few cases, their jobs have been shipped overseas and are now being done for a fraction of American wage levels. For all practical purposes, those skills (especially entry to intermediate level IT functions) are obsolete.

As long-term unemployment has become a common part of life (especially for workers 45 and older), the word has gotten around to younger people. When Dad. Mom or Uncle Pete have been out of work for a year or more,the 20-something crowd sees the effects of no work and no hope up-close and personal.

In many instances, newly minted college graduates with BA and master's degrees are waiting tables or delivering pizza for shrinking tips. A rapidly growing number of young (age 21 to 28) Americans who were expecting to be on the path to a successful career and independence are grinding out a meager existence and still living with their parents. In most cases, they also have hefty student loan obligations.

It's a time when expensive art history, literature and philosophy degrees are utterly worthless - and the same also applies in career-oriented fields where hundreds of desperate applicants compete for a single entry-level opening. By contrast, local community colleges offer affordable one and two-year certificate and degree programs focused on practical skills.

Being a welder, nurse's aide or veterinary assistant may not be glamorous, but the idea of steady work that puts food on the table has become much more popular in tough times. So should you or someone you know go back to school? Here are some things to consider.

Get current, up to date information on the need for workers in the field you want to study. Demand can change quickly in hard times. Nursing was considered to be the ultimate recession-proof career, but demand for RNs has also taken a hit in the past year or two. No field is totally immune from the fallout of a declining economy.

It's understandable why new students would choose careers that require shorter training periods, but that can also mean a flood of competitors for jobs in a year or two. Tech schools are cranking out medical coding/records clerks and heating and air conditioning (HVAC) repairmen at a steady clip. Supply is likely to exceed demand soon. Choose a career that interests you and fits your aptitude and personality.

Consider fields where self employment is common. Accounting, small engine repair and plumbing are among the options for the person who wants to be in business for themselves.

What will it cost to go back to school? Grants, scholarships and on-campus jobs can reduce the money going out of your pocket. Veterans who haven't used up their GI Bill benefits can tap that resource. Avoid student loans at all costs. Better to live frugally for a year or two than to be repaying the price of tuition for a decade.

Always keep in mind that "education" can take place in many ways beyond an accredited classroom. Libraries and the internet are overflowing with practical information on every imaginable topic. If money is tight, used books can often be had for a few dollars per copy.

Perhaps learning by doing is more your style. Helping out and volunteering to work with an organic market gardener may be more appealing than sitting through lectures. A willingness to work and learn is one way to develop hands-on skills in the trades. Someone is always replacing a roof, pouring cement or adding a room, and eager grunts are needed.

Is it time to go back to school? That depends on your circumstances. Is it time to learn and gain knowledge? Always!