Education & Its Relevance in the Workforce

Or, how do we help our kids choose their (career) path in life?

I have two teenaged daughters, one in her second year at UofGuelph, in science, one in Grade 11, here. So, I have twice gone through (well, almost in the 2nd case) the high school process of getting knowledge and choosing what to do post-secondary graduation -- whether it's more education, skills training, first job, etc.

You may not know that I have a post-graduate degree (M.A., English), but my husband, the son of two professionals (an RN and an professional engineer) simply graduated from high school and has received almost all his training on the job, or via the army (now a Capt on his way to becoming a Maj). So, as parents, we are coming with experiences from both sides of the education spectrum.

Anyway, based on our experience, I agree that although it may not seem like it, high school kids are introduced to many of ideas about how to find their path, not only through the Careers course (which is a bit "Mickey Mouse", but that's all that's offered by the Bds of Ed, which is also part of the problem), but also through occasional seminars, assemblies (for instance there is usually at least one in which a group comes in to discuss the viable options of skilled trades), and from Grade 12 site visits either from or to various local post-secondary institutions (often colleges rather than universities).

With my older daughter, we attended a university/college "fair" at the Metro Convention Centre, at which institutions from all across Canada displayed, offered info, etc., to the kids about to make choices. As a family we also visited 4-5 institutions in which my older daughter expressed interest. I imagine we're about to do it again with daughter #2.

This doesn't take into account the various things read and researched as well. So, I think I can say that, while there are more things we could have done/could still do, we have done a fair bit of planning and research.

Yet, neither daughter (nor their dad and I) feel we have a good handle on what jobs, specifically,  will be available to them and/or where they should really be heading with the education they are receiving.

Such things as NOC (National Occupational Classification) lists don't help -- they are only lists. They do not offer any info or advice on the viability of jobs/occupations listed, nor the educational and other experience required to do them. Guidance counsellors are useless -- their most often questions: "What do you like?" "What do you want to do?"

Neither of those is as important as saying "here's what you are strong in your high school studies, here are some of the experiences/attributes your extracurricular activities have added. Based on this, the aptitude tests (all high school kids take them in Careers), and the occupation info and trends we have available AT THIS TIME, we suggest that you might consider such education/training for jobs as a, b, d, m..."

I think this is where employers, HR professionals, etc., need to step in and say, "We are looking for individuals with this type of education, skills, whatever... and anticipate that the demand will be high in these areas (list them) for the next 5, or 10 or ... years"

My kids have watched their cousin (now 26) start and complete her education to become a teacher -- she started this 7-8 years ago, when it appeared there would be a demand for teachers... well, we all know what happened there (she has her B.Ed, BSc and ECE and still no permanent or even full-time job as a teacher). She has hope, but it will likely take a few more years before that hope turns to reality. Is it any wonder statistics tell us that young people live continue to live with mom and dad well into their 20s, especially in urban areas such as the GTA.

Despite having access to money saved via an RESP, working summer jobs and having further financial help from her parents (not much, but some), my oldest daughter, just in her second year, already owes over $16,000 in student loans ... when she graduates, tell me how much time she has to fart around trying to find a job that will help her pay it back!? (When I finished my 6-7 years of CEGEP, BA and MA, with financial assistance from the Quebec student loans system (where I'm originally from), which offered me more bursaries (don't need to be paid back) than loans, I owed only $5,500 (which I thought was low, even then in the early 80s) -- so the fact that I worked in low-paying/low-level jobs for the first 5-7 years of my working life did not matter as much.)

Check out this report on education in Canada from the Conference Board of Canada ... www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/education.aspx, which says, "Canada’s system of education and skills remains one of the best in the world, but needs to do much better at matching what Canadians learn to evolving labour market needs."