A Smarter Alternative to Alabama Colleges
There's bad news for the 100,000-plus Alabama residents who have lost their jobs as a result of the recession: The state's economy is expected to only grow weaker over the next year as jobs continue disappearing well into 2010. The woeful forecast, revealed in July 2009 by the University of Alabama's Center for Business and Economic Research, noted that most of the impending job cuts are expected to be in wholesale and retail trade; manufacturing; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and construction. That leaves little hope for those facing the upcoming layoffs, because when job cuts are industry-wide, there's little hope of finding more work.
The Degreed Shall Inherit the Earth
In the same month that UA was releasing its dismal forecast, the U.S. President's Council of Economic Advisors unveiled its report on the country's economic future. After interviewing many of the nation's largest employers, it predicted that a considerable number of new jobs will become available in the near future. However, a report recently stated jobs requiring a college degree are projected to grow much more quickly than those that do not. In other words, the people who have earned degrees from Alabama colleges will be first in line when jobs are handed out.
Unfortunately, that's not many. Only 21.9 percent of Alabamans currently hold Bachelor's degrees, while a mere 8.1 percent have advanced degrees. That means the future holds plenty of available jobs and a surplus of available workers--but not enough qualified workers to fill the positions. Needless to say, this is great news to everyone who's earned a degree from one of the many Alabama colleges; with such a shortage of qualified applicants, they'll be shoo-ins for the positions.
Join the Privileged Few
Clearly, your ticket to joining the privileged few on the bus to success is a college degree. However, if you're like most people, you probably think Alabama colleges are too costly; maybe the difficulty of fitting a class schedule into your busy life is holding you back; or perhaps you consider yourself too old to fit in with the college crowd. Fortunately, there is an alternative: an online education.
The New Wave in Learning
In addition to being less expensive than traditional Alabama colleges, an online education offers greater flexibility and convenience by allowing you to set your own class schedule and learn in the comfort of your own home. Furthermore, studies show students who receive an online education retain up to 75 percent more knowledge than those who earn their degrees from brick-and-mortar institutions. This fact hasn't gotten by employers, who consider online degrees to be just as valid as traditional degrees.
Don't Delay
Having received fair warning about the impending demand for degreed workers, and knowing about the advantages an online education has over traditional Alabama colleges, you've got every reason in the world to consider enrolling now. An online degree can be your key to unlocking a financially rewarding future for you and your family.
