Careers And Education
In April of 2001, the US Census Bureau released data showing how many Americans are pursuing various levels of educations and in what fields of study. Many interesting statistics emerge from this study. For example, in 1984 38.5% of the adult population had attended at least some college. By 1996, this had grown significantly such that 49.9% of the adult population had attended at least some college. In fact, every single category of education level grew, as shown in the following table:
| Degree Level | 1984 % | <1996% |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| Professional | 1.0 | 1.2 |
| Master's | 3.4 | 4.8 |
| Bachelor's | 10.6 | 14.1 |
| Associate | 3.4 | 6.1 |
| Vocational Certificate | 1.8 | 4.2 |
| Some College | 17.8 | 18.7 |
In addition, forecasts by the Census Bureau show that the education level of the United States population is expected to grow even higher. Census Bureau data also shows where students chose to pursue their degrees. For example, business is a popular field at all levels of training, representing approximately 19% of all the degrees or certificates obtained. And as the world of business expands, an MBA in International Business becomes increasingly popular. Another popular area was the medical field (including health sciences, nursing, pharmacy and medical school), which represented almost 10% of all the degrees or certificates obtained.
Note that some fields of training pursued are intended to provide skills for direct use in the labor market, and other fields pursued are intended as a stepping stone to more advanced degrees. Vocational degrees are highly targeted at specific job skills, such as business, health skills, automotive maintenance, and computer skills. One reason that people provide higher level degrees is to obtain a career in management. Of people with managerial jobs in 1996, 46% of them had bachelor's or higher degrees. Of people in professional occupations, 71 % had a bachelor's degree or higher level of education.
Whatever your field of study, the US Census Bureau shows a strong correlation between the field of study, the degree level pursued, and the resulting professional occupation. Employers proactively seek those who have relevant education. So regardless of your career goals, the right education will aid you in achieving them. In addition, look at all your options to find the best school for your needs.
