Education Provides More Long Term Opportunities Than Job Experience

Education is the single most important indicator to allow one to get promoted, and move further in their career.

When one is looking for a job, an education means a lot. Some employers won’t even look at an application without a college degree according to Investopedia.

According to the Georgetown University Institute, they estimate that 65 percent of jobs require a post secondary education in 2020. This is a stark contrast to 27 percent of jobs requiring a post secondary education in 1973. Less than 10 percent of jobs needed individuals with less than a college diploma in 1992.

There was a trend of more jobs requiring college degrees and less requiring lower education, this trend will be even more stark today.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 64.6 percent of the workforce has less than an associate’s degree in 2019. There aren’t enough jobs that don’t require a college degree.

One main edge that education has over job experience is being able to jump start one’s career. In order to get the benefits of job experience, one has to have a decent job. It is hard for one to get a decent job, when one does not already have job experience.

They would need education. Without education, one cannot get hired, and thus not pursuing further schooling will just slow one’s career rather than expedite it.

Promotions usually are dictated by education. Investopedia illustrates this, they write an anecdote with two individuals: one with no college but 15 years of experience, and another a guy fresh out of college with no experience. Typically the guy fresh out of college will get a management position even if the other one has had 15 years with the company.

Company policies usually vary, but most do not allow work experience to substitute education. Linsey Knerl in “Education Vs.Experience: Which do Employers Value More?” states that education helps build specific workplace skills. Skills that are proven to be received in education, such as multitasking, prioritizing, and interpersonal strengths.

Employers value these skills, and education proves that an employee has these skills. Some educational facilities offer special internships and vocational education programs. These programs mimic on-the job training and offer some work experience.

For example, a student teacher has to intern and teach a class under an actual teacher before they are able to get their own degree. They are benefitting from a degree and some experience that will prepare them for their job.

Education trumps over job experience when it comes to money. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists statistics and salaries for degrees every year. As of May 2020, a bachelor’s degree holder makes $1,248 a week, compared to $756 a week for high school graduates.

A bachelor's degree is four years, a career can be as long as 40 years. Doing the math, a bachelor's degree holder makes $2,336,256 in 36 years, and a high school diploma makes $1,572,480 in 40 years. With an education, one needs less work to earn more money.