This year’s job market has been bleak, to say the least. Layoffs hit the highest level in 14 years; job openings are barely budging; and quits figures are plummeting. It’s no wonder people feel stuck and discouraged—especially as many candidates have been on the job hunt for a year.
But some mid-career professionals are working with the cards they’ve been dealt by going back to school. Many are turning to data analytics, cybersecurity, AI-focused courses, health care, MBA programs, or trade certifications for an “immediate impact on their careers,” Metaintro CEO Lacey Kaelani told Fortune.
But while grad school can certainly offer the opportunity to level-up your career once you’ve completed a program, it comes with financial and personal sacrifices, like time. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, one year of grad school, on average, costs about $43,000 in tuition. That’s nearly 70% of the average salary in the U.S.
Who’s doing all the work? As a homeowner, I’ve definitely seen stereotypes in action for work I’ve had done. Replacing my roof was typical. All white guys selling me on how wonderful it’ll be. But it was a crew of Hispanics that came out to do the work, and they hustled like no ones business. I know who I’d trust to get a job done.
Actually similar deal for my electrician. I went through several companies of delays and excessive fees for truck rolls, upselling, etc. but I found this local guy who happens to be Hispanic, who is very responsive, cheaper, and does an outstanding job
I know who to trust to give me a good deal, excellent service, great response, and they’re not the white glad-handlers. I understand good work is not a racial characteristic but perhaps the extra hurdles to the business make it so. I would never claim the white guts can’t do the work but if you’re firing in a racial manner, how the heck do you have enough people to get the job done? And yes I’m a white guy who has always valued competent hard work in myself and others