ESSAY Education and Work

A more realistic scenario now is... to balance two separate income streams while studying on the side rather than studying full-time and then working full-time until retirement

A more realistic scenario now is for workers to balance two separate income streams while studying on the side - perhaps for the length of their working life - rather than studying full-time for six years and then working full-time until retirement.

to find employment it is no longer the cornerstone of modern economies

Across the world there are many countries where people with advanced degrees are struggling to find employment. I think this is because full-time employment is no longer the cornerstone of modern economies.

casual, on-call, contract, part time, temporary positions have proliferated in recent years

In fact, there is plenty of work. Casual, on-call, contract, part-time and temporary positions have proliferated in recent years.

study options need to be broken down into shorter boosted qualifications

Study options need to be broken down into shorter "booster" qualifications taken on an as-needed basis with more part-time, evening and distance options.

The post-employment economy is only a problem for people who are not prepared for it

The post-employment economy is only a problem for people who are not prepared for it. .

the university education system was designed for an employment-centred economy to dedicate years to diligent study to get a guaranteed career at the end of it

The problem is that the university education system was designed for an employment-centred economy. People would dedicate anything from five to seven years to diligent study in order to get a guaranteed career at the end of it.

the solution is for university education to accommodate new working arrangements

There is no guarantee anymore. The solution is for university education to accommodate new working arrangements.

highly-qualified graduates to be the product of an antiquated education system Revamping university study should resolve the issue.

Unfortunately many of these people are highly-qualified graduates who are the product of an antiquated education system. Revamping university study should resolve this issue.

to re-structure study options in order to keep abreast of this trend in order to keep abreast of this development

Universities need to re-structure study options in order to keep abreast of this development. People often declare that there is no work around anymore.

In many countries today there are many highly qualified graduates without employment.

What factors may have caused this situation and what, in your opinion, can/should be done about it?

permanent employment is much rarer now a long-term contract benefits, stability, internal promotion and skills development

What is much rarer now is permanent employment, meaning positions with a long-term contract, benefits, stability, internal promotion and skills development organised by employers.