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Worst jobs to go into for the 21st century |
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Thursday, 08 November 2007 |
by LINDSAY TIGAR
Lifestyles Editor
For many, the purpose of receiving a degree in college is to gain the skills and education necessary to create a sustainable living.
While a four-year degree is becoming more of a necessity for today’s entry-level hopefuls, certain
industries are seeing a decline in demand.
The U.S. government proposes a significant decrease in manufacturing jobs over the next few decades
as well as in other automated, classical conveyer-belt jobs.
Journalists and radio announcers can also expect to find difficulties over the next few decades, as their
jobs are increasingly switching to an online specter.
Dr. Bradley Nash, Jr., an assistant professor in social work and sociology, accredits this decrease to
hitting a trend at the wrong time.
“It’s a supply and demand thing,” he said. “You have to hit the beginning of the boom opposed to the
middle of a boom in an industry.”
Because current students are going into these industries as they are falling, many are experiencing
trouble finding jobs and receiving lower entry-level wages.
While computer programmers opportunities are expected to increase between now and 2014, those who
major in computer-related departments will need to become more specialized in order to be
competitive.
“We are producing computer scientists, not computer programmers,” Kenneth H. Jacker, a professor of
computer science, said.
He said students may choose electives within the computer science program that will help them to be
specialized, such as artificial intelligence, database management, image enhancement and more.
“We want to teach traditional computer programming,” he said. “But we also are training them to solve
problems on a higher level. Our graduates are having no trouble finding jobs.”
While certain jobs are expected to drop, the U.S. government also predicts several industries to grow
over the next decade.
“The current generation is the ‘echo boom’ generation, or the children of the baby-boomers,” Nash said.
“There is going to be a need for teachers. Universities are expected to grow and as the baby-boomers
retire and get older, health care will grow as well.”
Nash also added that jobs without benefits and opportunities for promotions, such as fast food and
retail services, are also anticipated to rise.
While Nash encourages students to watch trends with the industries they are going into, he also states
students should do what they love and enjoy.
“All jobs are going to have benefits,” he said. “Every job requires skill and is rewarding. There is really
no job to avoid; they all give you experience.”
Instead of choosing a major focused completely on trends, Nash said to diversify your current major.
“Try a double major or a few minors to make you more competitive and diverse,” he said.
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