Graduates of the Global Recession Marred for Life

I graduated with a bachelors degree from a four year liberal arts university in spring of 2008.  That was pretty much the worst time in the last half century to graduate and look for a job.

According to this video, at the time of graduation, usually about 50% of graduates can find a job.  During the recession that number dropped to below 25%.  Graduates that cannot find work develop gaps in their work history and that acts as a stigma on their resume to prospective employers.  Graduates of the recession as well are also more likely to take lower entrance wages that will over a lifetime of earnings cost them a lot.  They are also more risk averse and less likely to find another or better paying job.

The video also poses the question, is the liberal arts degree outdated?  It is based on a 17th century model and do graduates really need a little bit of everything to be a productive member of society?  Graduates are also increasing finding themselves out of school with about a hundred thousand dollars in debt and no way to make their payments.

The funny video about the girl that wants an English degree was posted on this blog last October when it went viral on facebook.  Check it out if you haven't seen it (Link Here).