Despite recent debates on the value of a college education, a recent report suggests that the importance of a four-year degree is on the rise. The study, titled The Future of Good Jobs: Projections through 2031, conducted by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW), paints an optimistic outlook for job availability as the economy transitions into the Artificial Intelligence era. The report highlights that a higher percentage of high-quality jobs will require individuals with a college education, capable of managing new technologies.
CEW director Jeff Strohl stated, We are amidst a significant economic transition that brings both opportunities and uncertainties. The silver lining is that we anticipate a substantial increase in good jobs by 2031, driven by enhanced productivity through new technologies and stronger growth in high-skill/high-wage occupations.
By 2031, the report predicts that two-thirds of the nation’s good jobs, defined as positions paying at least $43,000 for younger employees and $55,000 for more experienced professionals, with a median income of $85,000, will be held by college graduates. Additionally, another 19% of these good jobs will require middle skills, such as associate degrees and trades certification.
The report suggests that the majority of good jobs in 2031 will be in managerial and professional office occupations, with 84% of these roles necessitating a bachelor’s degree. Professions such as education, healthcare, technical fields, and computer sciences will also be significant sources of good jobs for individuals on the bachelor’s degree path.
Catherine Morris, report co-author and senior writer/editor at CEW, emphasized, Despite the growing skepticism surrounding the value of a college education, our findings reaffirm that a bachelor’s degree will remain the primary route to securing a good job in 2031.
The article also mentions the advocacy efforts of organizations like CFES Brilliant Pathways, which supports disadvantaged high school students in pursuing college degrees. CFES President and Co-CEO Rick Dalton highlighted, The reality is that well-paying and rewarding jobs still require a college education, and this trend is expected to intensify in the coming decade.
AI’s transformative impact on the workforce will be explored at CFES’s upcoming conference in Burlington, Vt., on Nov. 18-19. Titled The College & Career AI Revolution: Get Ready Now, the event will feature speakers discussing the future of work, AI’s influence on job opportunities, and the unique human qualities that machines cannot replicate.
For a detailed overview of the Georgetown report on future job projections and promising occupations across educational pathways, visit https://cew.georgetown.edu/goodjobsprojections2031. To register for the conference on the College & Career AI Revolution, visit https://brilliantpathways.org/our-program/national-conference.
