The workforce is not as happy as we may assume it to be, the stats here find many dissatisfied at work or confused on how to make their goals achievable:
40% of adults across the nation said they’re not where they want to be in life.
31.8% say they thought they would have achieved more by now.
60% of the population can’t put a finger on exactly what’s holding them back from achieving their goals.
1 in 3 adults across the nation admit they don’t currently have – or don’t know if they have – the level of education and skills required to achieve their life goals.According to a US survey by Bellevue.edu
There are many factors that can increase stress in millions of working adults in the United States —money, the economy, and family—to name a few. Recent studies prove that increased stress leads to decreased energy, leaving many feeling exhausted and even hopeless in their pursuit of happiness. Thoughts of reaching their career and education potential drifts further away with every bill they receive in the mail and with every year that passes by.
A study released this month by Bellevue University “Closing the Nation’s Skills Gap: Making Higher Education Achievable,” found that 40 percent of adults across the nation admit they’re not where they want to be in life, with 32 percent having thought they would have achieved more by now. The study points out that no matter your age or gender, people are missing the opportunities necessary to attain success, and hesitations are outweighing intentions. Fear remains one of the most common reasons for not enrolling in college courses. And, according to the study, 60 percent of the population can’t put a finger on exactly what’s holding them back from achieving their goals.
Though many are still searching for the answer as to why they lack the motivation to seek out a promotion or better job, “Closing the Nation’s Skills Gap: Making Higher Education Achievable,” found that 1 in 3 adults across the nation admit they don’t currently have—or don’t know if they have—the level of education and skills required to achieve their goals, and only 15 percent are working toward a higher degree. Many feel trapped in their current positions and feel that between work, family, and other activities, there just isn’t time to return to school to obtain a degree to further their careers.
Adding higher education into the already-busy schedule of a working adult can make life an intense balancing act. To adapt to the needs of the adult learner, educational institutions must offer inexpensive, accessible, and flexible solutions that will increase enrollment and improve graduation rates. Colleges must employ a personalized, student-centric philosophy with forward-thinking faculty who understand the importance of providing guidance to adult students who may lack the confidence needed to succeed. With this in mind, Bellevue University has launched Flexxive℠, the first-of-its-kind, skill-based learning model that offers unprecedented affordability and flexibility to students. For more information on Flexxive, please visit www.bellevue.edu/flexxive.
Technology is becoming an increasingly advantageous tool in the struggle to boost graduation rates. As high-tech media continues to shape our culture in the U.S., students should hope and expect to see its benefits being integrated into college learning modules. Giving students the flexibility to do their work using mobile, tablet, laptop, or desktop devices can provide a radical departure from the traditional college life that requires students to attend classes on a set schedule. Through Flexxive℠, students will be able to learn anytime and anywhere, and with this approach, will nurture skills employers demand: critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, innovation, professionalism and communication.
The process of furthering education may make life more challenging in the short-term, but “Closing the Nation’s Skills Gap: Making Higher Education Achievable,” found that increased income and higher rates of job advancement are directly related to the obtainment of higher education. And increased income and job satisfaction are linked to lowered amounts of stress. So, by simple formula: More education equals less stress, and less stress equals a much more enjoyable way of life.
About the guest post author:
One of the nation’s best-known authorities on adult education, Dr. Mary B. Hawkins has observed the American education scene for more than 30 years and is keenly aware that the future of American prosperity relies on a better-educated workforce. She is known for leading the charge to make higher education accessible to everyone.
She speaks about how, in the coming decades, a high school diploma is not going to be enough, and advanced degrees will be necessary to meet the challenges of a 21st Century economy. Her expertise has been featured in USA Today, Fox Business, New York Post, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, onlindegrees.com, national radio shows, pickthebrain.com, KUNS-TV Seattle, and dozens more.Mary also serves as President of Bellevue University. She is leading the charge at Bellevue University and across the nation to “do our part” to strengthen the ailing national economy by creating a work force that is competitive with that of other nations.