Students Need Real Opportunities for Work—Not More Debt

Townhall.com ^ | October 9, 2019 | Whitney Munroe

[Kaslin]

Last week, Google announced its intent to join Apple, IBM, Microsoft, and more than 350 other private sector companies in the Pledge to America’s Workers Initiative. Through this program, the White House and its private sector partners have committed to providing Americans—from recent high school graduates to those nearing retirement—with a pathway into the skilled workforce of the future, bypassing the traditional four-year college track.

The current K-12 to college pipeline is failing to prepare students for that workforce, and for many, is instead leaving them saddled with debt that prevents them from accessing the training and skills necessary to change careers or actively participate in—and stimulate—the economy.

As I recently wrote, “more than 44 million Americans have student loan debt, meaning about one-sixth of Americans 18 years or older have student loan debt. All told, Americans owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loans.”

This is a crisis that must be addressed. Instead of proposing one-size-fits-all government-funded band-aid solutions that would bankrupt the economy, we should be cultivating the workforce needed for today—and for tomorrow. America’s future success depends on a workforce pipeline not stuck in the 1950s, but one with its sights set in 2050 and beyond.

While the left continues to make pie in the sky promises of free college for all and canceling student loan debt, programs like the Pledge to American Workers Initiative delve into the root of the problem by offering sustainable, actionable solutions—direct training for the jobs employers are seeking to hire for. With millions of open jobs and employers desperately seeking skilled workers, it's encouraging that private companies like Google are jumping at the chance to help.

In fact, Google has already been putting its money where its mouth is on this issue. Since 2018, over 85,000 students without a college degree have participated in Google’s six-month IT job training program, which is part of the tech giant’s $1 billion initiative to train Americans for technology jobs. Job seekers can earn professional certificates from their online program, Grow with Google, faster than if they attended college. The New York Times reported that Google’s goal “is to allow anyone with an internet connection to become proficient with technology and prepare for a job in areas like information technology support and app development.”

It’s a win-win for the individuals that get truly prepared for an in-demand job and for the employers who are able to rapidly expand and fill empty seats with workers who have the necessary knowledge and training.

But it’s not just companies in the tech sector that are benefitting from investing in workforce training and employment opportunities. Across the country, businesses within the trade sector are ramping up efforts to provide workers with on-the-job training or specialized apprenticeship programs. The trade industry has long recognized this need, but the status quo has been to encourage students to largely ignore these opportunities to earn a paycheck while receiving hands-on education and training in favor of a college diploma. Turns out, even after six years, nearly half of all college students still haven’t received that diploma—but are still wracking up the debt. That’s a major problem.

Now, with the sign-on of Google and other major tech and corporate powerhouses, it looks like the tide is turning in the right direction.

All of this news shows significant progress, but more still needs to be done. As Congress holds its hearing this week and 2020 candidates examine ways they can offer solutions for our workforce, lawmakers should look at the good work already underway through the Initiative. As more companies follow this path, Americans will have a variety of alternative options to enter high-paying jobs—without having to drown in student loan debt.

[bgill]

Aw, the companies who are at the top for hiring H-1B workers.

[Buckeye McFrog]

That as much as anything is driving this movement to wipe away student debt. They finally do get a job and struggle to pay off a big loan, only to discover that the guy sitting in the cube next to them got their education essentially for free in their home country.

[Bob434]

[[Students Need Real Opportunities for Work—Not More Debt]]

You Fascists! Students need to be given ‘jobs’ that don’t require them to actually show up for work- and to be made presidents of the companies- the current presidents have made enough money- they ae rich enough- noone needs multiple millions of dollars- and now it’s time for these poor kids coming out of school to fill their shoes and become rich too- their only ‘job description’ should be ‘Collecting money that is owed them by society”

Sincerely, the left

[BenLurkin]

No more studentoans for liberal arts.

[TomServo]

Turns out, even after six years, nearly half of all college students still haven’t received that diploma—but are still wracking up the debt. That’s a major problem.

"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Wormer

[G Larry]

Fox reported today that 75% of college graduates regret their degree choice.

Anybody thumping the High School and Middle School councilors? (cuz Lord knows the parents aren't involved in this process....)

[dfwgator]

"Zero.....Point....Zero!"

[asinclair]

from recent high school graduates to those nearing retirement

And what is that cutoff for "nearing retirement"? There are a number of us who will most likely never retire. Inflation pretty well kicks savings in the butt, and I for one like what I do for a living. If I get eased out, will I able to get the training I need for a new career? What careers are actively looking for seniors?

[FormerFRLurker]

This sounds like a great idea. America needs more workers in the trades. Students who aren’t really college material or interested in going to college need vocational skills.

[fruser1]

Maybe they can get together and hire each other.

[zeugma]

This sounds like a great idea. America needs more workers in the trades. Students who aren’t really college material or interested in going to college need vocational skills.

I have a friend that works for a major elevator company. They are in desperate need of folks, as most of their repair folk are nearing retirement age. Several are already there, and are one bad day from just walking away. It is good money, but is apparently really hard to recruit new blood. From what I understand, it's pretty much the same everywhere in the skilled trades.

[JoeFromSidney]

Back in the summer of 1951, between years in college, I held a job in a steel mill. My job used my college skills,but I observed the company's apprenticeship program for high school grads. They learned various trades,such as bricklaying, while getting paid,then stepped into jobs at good union wages upon completion of apprenticeship. I don't see why that can't be done now. At the time,the Steel Workers Union supported the program.

[Kaslin]

Now they don’t want to do apprentice ship anymore which is very sad. I am from Germany where the apprentice ship is thousands of years practiced

[Kaslin]

Now they don’t want to do apprentice ship anymore which is very sad. I am from Germany where the apprentice ship is thousands of years practiced