Last month, Strada Institute for the Future of Work along with the Burning Glass Foundation issued a stark report entitled Talent Disrupted: College Graduates, Underemployment and The Way Forward. As important as a college degree might be, this report shows it is no guarantee of college-level and beyond employment, nor the higher salaries that accompany such work – salaries that can help students pay off substantial college debt and thrive as contributing citizens. We call these “promotion pathway” jobs.

The sobering facts are that a year after graduation, more than half of college graduates are underemployed – working in jobs that do not require a college education – and 45% are still underemployed a decade later. While a graduate employed in a job that requires college-level work makes over 80% more than someone with only a high school diploma, underemployed college graduates make only about 25% more. This heavy financial cost weighs down not only these graduates, but society as a whole, resulting in limited ability to own property and support families as well as poor use of these graduates' skills and talents. No doubt this is a factor contributing to the 3.6% of students who didn’t come to college this year and the same more more predicted to opt out next year. 

The growing impact of coaching comes at a pivotal time in this drive to make the ever-rising expense of college pay off for both students and society. In meeting the student where they are, providing a no-judgment space for reflection, and asking questions that address the whole person in the context of their academic work, career expirations and professions development coaches can:

• Promote critical thinking about the connection between academic habits and professionalism

• Drive student vision of their working future and goals for workplace accomplishment

• Encourage careful problem-solving around academic struggles that leads to greater awareness of personal motivation and purpose

• Support students' development of the transferable skills that employers need and reward with retention and promotion

There is much at stake, not only for our economic future and for students, but also for institutions who need to show they are graduating students into gainful employment. Educators in decision-making positions, a key question for you is this:

What are you doing right now to resource your staff and faculty so that they can be part of the solution?

LifeBound has an answer: Provide training in coaching so that students benefit from developing academic, personal and professional skills which are mission critical to all. Register now for our April Coaching Class.

3-Day Inclusive Coaching

April 12, 19, 26 (Fridays)

(additional dates below)