We are all aware that after the peak of the late 90s, the employment situation has not been very encouraging. It was around this time that due to the maturing of Internet technologies and creation of broadband infrastructure everywhere, it is possible for workers in remote parts of the world like The Philippines or India to serve us. The manufacturing jobs have been shipped first to Mexico and Latin America and then to China, through a process that took decades.
While politicians are reluctant to say this, the reality is that a very few jobs will come back and if they do, they will take very different form. That is why President Obama has been emphasizing that Americans embrace education, particularly learning vocational skills. In any case, bachelor degree is new high school. It was in this context that remarks by David Willetts, Britain’s higher education minister, were remarkable. He said, “There is nothing stopping older people applying for university. If they can benefit from it, they should have that opportunity.” He is encouraging people in their 60s to get more relevant education and Britain will let them take out student loans. It might come as a shock to many to think this way, but that might be the only way to survive.
While politicians are reluctant to say this, the reality is that a very few jobs will come back and if they do, they will take very different form. That is why President Obama has been emphasizing that Americans embrace education, particularly learning vocational skills. In any case, bachelor degree is new high school. It was in this context that remarks by David Willetts, Britain’s higher education minister, were remarkable. He said, “There is nothing stopping older people applying for university. If they can benefit from it, they should have that opportunity.” He is encouraging people in their 60s to get more relevant education and Britain will let them take out student loans. It might come as a shock to many to think this way, but that might be the only way to survive.