May 25 2009
Training for a Distributive Economy/Society
While driving on Friday, I was listening to the news (I rarely listen to the Ministry of Propaganda but I was trying to get the traffic report) and they had a segment on the job market. It stated that there has been job growth, but in jobs that require a “higher education”(i.e. a college education). The ones that do not need a “higher education” are quickly disappearing.
This got me to thinking. The Economy, in fact society as a whole, these days seems to be more geared towards those with a “higher education”. Those jobs (and those who do not or cannot for various reasons pursue a “higher education”) are looked down on by society and it shows in the job market. This is only exacerbated by the plague of Global Capitalism that, if it is possible, shifts those undesirable jobs overseas to places where higher education is less available or non-existent except for a privileged few. As for the ones that cannot be shipped over, like construction, they are becoming harder and harder to fill and exacerbates other problems which is a topic for another thread.
For a true distributive economy/society to work, we need to change this perception but, how to do it is the question. This I do not have the answer to.
A second question, while and after changing the perception, is how to create a pool of qualified workers. Yes, there are trade schools but there is not nearly enough to adequately provide training and, it seems, you cannot get jobs in these field unless to get the training first. Again, there is a perception that “formal education” is needed.
I believe the answer to the second question can be found in the guild system and the apprenticeships that were part of the system. By providing a “hands-on” training with a qualified master, the apprentice would get the training and the job experience he would need for their trade of choice. It would also reduce the need for the trade schools to turn out qualified candidates.
Things will need to “change” and we need to start those changes now.
One Response to “Training for a Distributive Economy/Society”
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# Felixon 27 May 2009 at 5:32 pm
Sad thing is that there aren’t even enough “higher education” jobs to go around for those with “higher education.” They said that only about 20% of those graduating this year will find a job. The rest will be unemployed. They’d be lucky if they get a job as a trash collector or flipping burgers at Mcdonald’s. And also they have to pay the student loans immediately upon graduation. It seems that we’re reaching a point where we would be required to get Phd’s and even then there won’t be enough jobs available proportionate to one’s level of expertise.
