Whether you think of culture as the way we live or as creative enterprises, such as dance, art or music, culture in all its forms depends on some level of economic stability.
Today the Center for American Progress presented a forum on "A National Approach to Career Navigation for Working Learners." In times past, when the majority of people worked in jobs that mainly required physical labor, there was not a pressing need for career navigation services, "But as the nation shifted to an economy based on information and knowledge, education ans skills became the path to success. And gaining that preparation was not easy." [A New National Approach to Career Navigation for Working Learners p.2]
The first speaker, Phil Jarvis, is VP of Global Partnerships for the National Life/Work Center of New Brunswick, Canada illustrated the need for national efforts in career navigation with some rather dismal stats about low graduation and school participation rates.
This issue ties into the current economy because people in jobs that they are not suited for hang onto these jobs for dear life rather than explore or get more education. Researchers have found that many of these people say if they'd received more information and guidance when they were young, they wouldn't be where they are now.
Jarvis noted that Canada doesn't have a national approach to career navigation either, but he hopes by they can get there one day collaborating with the U.S.
The second speaker, Vickie Choitz, who is the author of A New National Approach to Career Navigation for Working Learners, began her presentation by showing an online article about obsolete occupations from NPR to illustrate how the job market has changed.
Choitz noted that many people do not get career guidance until they lose a job and that "when people are unemployed they're looking for wage replacement."
After the presentations, a panel discussed the issue further. A panelist from the UK mentioned that talk of a 'national system' in the U.S. might worry those concerned with states rights. Another panelist brought up the fact that an initiative of this type would cut across funding streams (Dept. Of Education, Dept. of Labor, etc.) Someone else proposed a Weight Watchers-type system where people could get help either online or in person with a coach.
You can read the entire A New National Approach to Career Navigation for Working Learners report online.
Comments
Very timely article. I was just debating if the 'not leaving a job without already having another job' approach was outmoded in today's world. With so many service oriented and outsourced jobs without the security of a pension after 20-30 years one must be flexible to survive.
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