11/06/2006

Workers Decrease Chances of Unemployment with Adult Continuing Education
Adult continuing education has become a necessity for workers who want higher salaries and increased job security, reports WorldWideLearn.com. Today, working adults are pursuing online degrees to keep pace in a competitive job market. September 2006 unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics supports WorldWideLearn.com's previous reports, confirming that in addition to increasing earning potential, advanced degrees can actually decrease workers' chances of unemployment.

(PRWeb) - November 6, 2006 -- Fear of unemployment and hunger for greater job security are driving workers with bachelor's degrees pursue advanced online education, reports WorldWideLearn.com, an extensive resource for those interested in the online learning community. The wisdom of adult continuing education as unemployment insurance is confirmed by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, showing that in 2000, the unemployment rate for adults 25 years and older with only a high school degree was 3.5 percent, but for those with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees, unemployment numbers fell to 1.8, 1.6, 0.9, and 0.9 percent respectively.

The September 2006 BLS data on unemployment affirms the idea that higher educational achievement decreases the chances of unemployment. While the unemployment rate for workers with a high school degree is 4.2 percent, those with bachelor's degrees or higher face half the risk of joblessness--2.0 percent.

Census Bureau Salary statistics released in October 2006 show that advanced degrees also tend to result in significantly higher wages. In 2004, adults 18 and older whose highest educational attainment is a high school diploma earned $28,645 compared to the $51,554 earned by those with a bachelor's degree. Tack on more than $11,000 for a master's degree, and triple that for a doctoral degree.

The WorldWideLearn.com article "Is Your College Degree Competitive in Today's Tough Job Market" analyzes this trend and illustrates that adult continuing education--especially MBA online degrees--can significantly increase the earning potential of working professionals (http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-advisor/indepth/is-your-college-degree-competitive-in-today-tough-job-market.php).

In a June 2006 speech, U.S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao echoed the idea that higher education helps workers find and keep higher paying jobs: "Because the majority of these new jobs require higher skills and more education, by definition, they are higher and better paying jobs. The challenge for our country is the skills gap. There are workers seeking jobs but lacking the right skill sets. And, there are employers unable to find skilled workers."

To help workers bridge the skills gap and avoid unemployment, WorldWideLearn.com offers tools for those interested in adult continuing education, providing information about online education, online classes, and online degrees (http://www.worldwidelearn.com).

WorldWideLearn.com is the world's premier directory of education, featuring informative resources, more than 2,500 online courses, 1,600 online degree programs, 200 online universities, and 2,300 campus-based career college programs. WorldWideLearn.com receives thousands of visitors each day and has been featured on MSMoney.com.