Not settling for jobs available, students go back to school
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Almost one third of university grads with a humanities degree can’t get hired in their field — so they’re taking jobs they’re overqualified for. That’s the findings in a new Statistics Canada study. We spoke with two students who’ve gone back to school — because they’re not willing to settle for a job they didn’t work for.
“You don’t go four years through university to end up at a factory, with all due respect to factory workers.”
But after four years studying history at Brock University, 26 year old Meron Woldu wasn’t able to secure a job in his field.
“Unless you go to teachers college or law school afterwards I think post grads at a college level that will teach you some actual work skills that’s the best route to go.”
Meron and his classmate Alexandra Glass fall in to the group highlighted in a new Statistics Canada report. One third of young Canadians who’ve graduated from university with a degree in the humanities are overqualified for the jobs they’re currently holding. Both Meron and Alexandra have quit those jobs and are now studying at Mohawk College in Hamilton.
Alexandra wanted to be an English teacher but found there weren’t enough teaching jobs available. “It’s forced me to go back to school, specialize in something I didn’t expect to be in but I’m really loving it so public relations gives me the opportunity to write.”
“University education doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a job.”
Martha Colangelo says students and even parents should do some homework before entering post secondary education.
“Make sure you access the services of a career counsellor, a guidance counsellor, make sure you have the aptitude and skill to go in to that particular career, make sure you do labour market research.”
Martha adds when you do that labour market research, try to find out if that’s a field that will still be hiring in the four years it sometimes takes to complete your education. She says the group highlighted in this study often take jobs they’re overqualified for because they need to pay back their student loans and they need money to support themselves while they wait for the job they really want to become available.
