Do the jobs of the future require a college degree?

The fastest-growing jobs in America either do not require college degrees or shouldn’t, according to a story on Forbes.com. Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates that carpentry, home health aides and other “low-skill” jobs are among the fastest growing in the country. While many of these jobs require specific skills and smarts, a bachelor's degree is not a necessity.

Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, writing for Forbes, also asserts that some jobs that require applicants to have college degrees do not really need them at all. He uses “diagnostic medical sonographers” as an example of a profession that often requires college graduation but can in fact be be learned on the job. According to his narrative, the job does not require a degree or the large debt load that often accompanies one.

A recent New York Times article furthered the argument, showcasing a law firm and other areas where a college degree has become the new high school degree. A university diploma is now a basic entry requirement for even the most entry-level jobs.

According to the Washtenaw County Economic Forecast, many jobs openings in the area will be in skilled trades that do not require degrees, but diplomas will be necessary for the more competitive jobs in higher-wage sectors.

This “up-credentialing” by employers has led to even further disparity in both unemployment levels and salary levels between high school and college graduates. According to the Times article, the unemployment rate for job seekers with a bachelor’s degree or higher is 3.7 percent, less than half of the 8.1 percent unemployment rate for those with a high school diploma.

• Read the full story from Forbes.com
• Read the full story from the New York Times.

Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Reach out to Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2