Shocking Revelation: Generation Z Shuns College Degrees for a Lifetime of Success!

This is from the perspective of Phillip Cohen, professor of sociology at the University of Maryland – College Park. The overarching attitude of today’s college students, says Cohen Assets in an interview, is that obtaining a college degree is no longer a ticket to a secure future, even if they chose to enroll themselves.

The parents of today’s college students often said that attending college would benefit them Path to job security, which would eventually develop into a fruitful career. These include the intergenerational standards of home ownership, a vacation fund and even the ability to provide for a family, as well as the education of the next generation. At least that’s what the American dream had to offer until Generation Z came along and turned it on its head.

“In the past, we’ve been told, ’20 years you learn, 30 years you lead, and maybe 20 years, if you’re lucky and live that fake American dream, then you get to live,'” said Ziad Ahmed, the founder and CEO of the Generation Z-focused consulting firm JUV Consulting, said at Fortune’s Impact Initiative Conference last week. “Gen Z takes the mic back and says, ‘Hell no.’ I want to learn, I want to lead and I want to live at the same time. And you’ll be damned if you tell me otherwise.’”

The idea that college ensures success has begun to falter, says Cohen Assets. “Of course, continuing education and pursuing a career is still a safer option for the future,” he says, noting that this is also the case with professional outcomes and salary requirements improved significantly with each advanced degree. But these material advantages are “simply no longer a guarantee”.

But while Cohen’s students expressed disappointment and concern, college isn’t completely out of fashion just yet. In a national one Harris Poll survey of 2023 graduates90% said they are glad they went to college and still believe a degree is their best chance for a strong future. On the other hand, more than half of the adults – looking back – said this Wall Street Journal A survey last year found that the economic benefits (or earning potential) of a bachelor’s degree do not outweigh the costs. That’s a 40% increase compared to those who said the same in 2013.

The change in attitudes may be due in part to college graduates trying desperately They are paying off their hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans over years or even decades. In fact, studying – regardless of whether it is fundamentally “necessary” or not – has become an exorbitant expense about half of the country arise – to the point where the costs are no longer worth it for some. But college students may also notice that employers are becoming more mindful of what employees can actually accomplish in a particular role. In many large industries, skills are becoming more valuable than pedigree – and everyone can learn.

The skills-first mentality is crowding out college degrees

The trend toward skills-based hiring has gained significant momentum during the pandemic as workers and managers have reconsidered their values ​​and needs. But change has been underway for almost a decade.

Led by former CEO Ginni Rometty, consulting giant IBM coined the term “New collar jobs” to describe opportunities that require a specific handful of skills rather than a specific major or bachelor’s degree. With the focus on new jobs, the share of IBM positions requiring a four-year degree fell from 95% in 2011 to less than 50% in January 2021.

In today’s job market, bosses need to be open to new approaches, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky told that Harvard Business Review last year. Hiring through a professional or alumni network is a good approach when the market is full of talented applicants, he said. “But as the job market moves much faster, we really need to have something to focus on.” he explained. “[And] This alternative, flexible and accessible route will be truly skills-based.”

In fact, companies that prioritize skills over “antiquated signals” like where (or whether) they earned a degree “will help ensure that the right people are in the right roles with the right skills and are the best “Be able to do work,” Roslansky said. He added that this will lead to a more efficient and equitable workforce, “which will then create better opportunities for everyone.”

Even college itself is an opportunity to improve soft skills Serve students well in future jobs. “The people you want to have around you are the people who know new things,” says Cohen, the Maryland professor. “It’s hard to convey to today’s young people, but the idea is that what you get from college is not just skills, but the experience of thinking and learning for four years.”

This isn’t just good news for young people who are thinking about foregoing a degree (and any subsequent loans) altogether. It’s also good news for employers. Companies that participate and waive graduation requirements could be happy “An explosion of talent” Nineteen times the workers were placed in appropriate roles. Who could argue against that?