Relationship between education and poverty,
www.strategicspartanburg.org/poverty.php
Benefits for YOU
Education after high school is more critical today for finding satisfying employment than it was just one generation ago. In the next several years, most good jobs—at least 1/3 of all jobs!—will require more than a high school diploma. Businesses increasingly seek employees who know how to think on their feet, work in teams, and solve problems. These are just a few of the things you can learn in college.
As an individual, earning a degree significantly increases your earning potential. Over a lifetime, a college graduate can earn over $1,000,000 more than a high graduate. In 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following national annual average earnings estimates for adults over 25:
$23,608 with less than a high school diploma
$32,552 with a high school diploma
$39,572 with an Associate's degree
$53,300 with a Bachelor's degree
$65,364 with a Master's degree
The individual benefits go well beyond income. People with college degrees are less likely to live in poverty, are healthier, are more employable, and earn more over a lifetime. Post-secondary education can lead to meeting new people and exploring new ideas. This can all add up to a better standard of living for each of us.
Benefits for the COMMUNITY
The benefits for the larger community are undeniable. Communities with higher levels of education enjoy faster rates of income growth. Increasing post-secondary education is critical for South Carolina is to be economically competitive, according to Dr. Garrison Walters, Executive Director of the SC Commission on Higher Education. An educated and trained workforce adds benefit to its community by attracting businesses, reducing costs for local government, and decreasing incarceration numbers. In the end, having an educated county is good for business.
Investing in education is a smart investment. A 2009 study by the Commonwealth of Virginia found that, for every dollar spent on higher education, more than $13 (2007 dollars) in job‐creating economic activity is realized. Just imagine if each business in Spartanburg County showed its investment in education.
Connecting Education to JOBS
According to the "Occupational Employment Projections to 2018," published by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, among the fastest growing occupations are:
- Registered nurses
- Home health aides
- Customer service representatives
- Personal and home care aides
- Accountants and auditors
- Postsecondary teachers
- Elementary teachers
Each of these careers requires education. And as the U.S. Department of Labor says: Education Pays:
