CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce1

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce
KatieChilton
June30,2013
SalemCollege
AnneSourbeerMorris,Ed.D.

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce2

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce

The21stcenturyworkforceseemstobeeverchanging.Weareinthemidstofthe
InformationAge.Oureconomyroughbutgettingbetter.Ourworkforcehaschangedalotofthe
pastcenturyandwillcontinuetobeeverchanging.Simplistically,workersmustbeadaptable,
flexible,andpossesstheabilitytoaccessandanalysisvastamountsofinformation.Changeis
inevitable...changeisconstant(Morris,2013).Whenwebegintolookatthe21stcentury
skillsrequiredforjobsoftodayandinthefuturewerealizehowimportantcareercounselingis
forbothstudentsandadults.Havingtheappropriateskillsforthejobiscriticalifworkersare
toremaincompetitive,attracttherighttypeofindustry,andengageintherighttypeoftalentin
thisknowledgebased,innovativeeconomy.(2013)Ifwearetobehopefulofafuture
progressiveeconomyandbereadytofacetheworkforcethenweneedthehelpofschool
counselorstofocusonjobskillsandcompetenciesthatrelatetoourlifeandcareerskills.
AccordingtoCarnevale,speakingabout21stcenturycognitivecompetenciesinconnectionwith
O*NETs(http://www.onetcenter.org)
Educationreformhasshiftedtofocusonkeycompetenciesastheypertaintolifeand
careerskills.Themovetowardsmakingpeoplebothcollegeandcareerreadyamounts,
essentially,tofindingwaystolearnbasicknowledgeandtransformingthesecapabilities
intodeeperlearningtocreateaflexibleandadaptableindividualwiththeappropriate
skillstosurviveinthe21stcentury.Thefundamentalchangeinskillrequirementsforthe
21stcenturyhasbeenduetotheemergenceofthenewknowledgeeconomy,whichhas
replacedtheroteskilloftheassemblylinesofyesteryearwithflexibletechnologiesand
highperformanceworksystemsthatrelyonmoreskilledandautonomousworkers.In
anareaofflexibleproductionandservicedeliverysystemsandmorerapideconomic
change,workersnotonlyneedbettertechnicalpreparation,theyalsoneedsufficiently
robustskillstoadapttochangingrequirementsonthejob,meetemployerneeds,achieve
ongoingcareersuccessandrealizemeaningintheirworkandvocations(Morris,2013).

Aswecanseeskillsarenowarequirementtothejobmarketandinordertoachievecareer

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce3

successwemustrealizethemeaningbehindourvocationsandwhywedowhatwedofora
living.Ibelievethatthe21stcenturyisaglobaleconomy.AsTomFriedmansaidso
poignantly,Theworldisflat.Inthenewflatglobalmarketplace,competitionisnotjustfrom
thefirmdowntheroad.Ourcompetitioncomesfromanypersoninanycorneroftheglobewith
agoodeducation,agoodidea,andagoodInternetconnection(www.ccredc.com).The
importanceofskilldevelopmentfortheworkerinthecurrenteconomicandworkenvironment,
thetheimportanceofcareerandeducationaldevelopmenttoyouth(K12),andtheimportanceof
K12accesstocareerandeducationalresourceswillfurtherbediscussedtoformasubstantial
overviewoftheimportancetheseissueshaveonthefutureeconomy,education,andschool
counselors.

The21stCenturyWorkforceandthe21stCenturyGlobalEconomy

OureconomyhascertainlyseentheworkeconomicdownturnsincetheGreat
Depression.TheGreatRecessionof2007haslargelyaffectedmanyindividuals,businesses,
dreams,andhopesforthefuture.Manywillneverforgetthecostlyeffectsofthisdepressive
economictime.Attheheightofthecurrentrecession,monthlyjoblossespeakedat779,000
morethandoubletheworstmonthlylossesof1990and2001:306,000and325,000,
respectively(Carnevale,Smith,Strohl,2010,pg.10).Manyeconomistsspeculatethatour
economywillslowlygrowbutmaynotimmediatelygeneratejobgrowth.Forinstance,Instead
ofhiringnewworkers,employerswillasktheirexistingemployeestoworklongerhours
(Carnevale,Smith,Strohl,2010).CurrentoptionsthatmayhelparedocumentsliketheHire
Actwhichshouldcreate250,000jobs.Thiswillhelp,butmaystilltakealongtimetogetus
backontrack.Whatthismeansisthatthejobsthatarereplacingouroldjobs,requiredifferent

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce4

kindsofworkers,whichinreturnrequiresverydifferentkindsofpreparation(Carnevale,Smith,
Strohl,2010).
Thefuturereachofeconomicglobalizationwillbeevenmoreexpansivethanbefore,
affectingindustriesandsegmentsoftheworkforcerelativelyinsulatedfromtraderelated
competitioninthepast(
www.rand.org
).The21stcenturyglobaleconomyisexpanding
technology,communicationandinformation,andtransferringknowledge(
www.rand.org
).Itis
saidthatglobalizationwillcontinuecontributingeconomicbenefitseventhoughsomejobsmay
affectworkersbecausethejoblosseswillbecounterbalancedbyemploymentgainsinother
sectors(
www.rand.org
).
Thefutureofemploymentrestsoneducation.Forexample,sincetechnologyisoneof
thefastestgrowingindustriesitalsorequiresworkerstoattainhigheducationlevels.Italso
seemsthatoccupationsnowrequiremoreandmoreexperienceandeducation.Theimplications
ofthisshiftrepresentaseachangeinAmericansociety.Essentially,postsecondaryeducationor
traininghasbecomethethresholdrequirementforaccesstomiddleclassstatusandearningsin
goodtimesandinbad.Itisnolongerthepreferredpathwaytomiddleclassjobsitis,
increasingly,the
only
pathway(Carnevale,Smith,Strohl,2010).Theeconomyisslowlybut
surelymovinginamorepositivedirection.Witheducationandskilldevelopmenttheworkerin
ourcurrenteconomicstatewillhaveabettermorepromisingfuture.Weshouldbeginto
recognizethatthefutureofemploymentintheUnitedStatesboilsdowntothis:successwill
requirehighereducation,inoneformoranother(Carnevale,Smith,Strohl,2010,pg.10).

TheImportanceofSkillDevelopment

Duetotherapiduseoftechnologyandconstantlychangingworkforceitisimportantto

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce5

putthespotlightonskillsandpreparationfortheworkforce.Withthenatureofbusinessesand
organizationsmovingtowardsaknowledgebasedworksuchasusingcognitiveskills,abstract
reasoning,problemsolving,communication,andcollaboration(
www.rand.org
).Whenyou
thinkofthiswayofworkingonerealizedthateducationandtrainingarebecomingthebestway
tosetfootintothelaborforce.
st
The Partnership for 21
Century Skills is a national organization founded in 2002, is

devoted to promoting student workplace readiness (

http://www.p21.org
). Some of the notable
members include: American Association of School Librarians, Knowledge Works Foundation,
Adobe, Pearson, Apple, Dell, ETS, Hewlett Packard, LEGO Group, Microsoft, and Verizon
st
st
(
http://www.p21.org
). The Partnership for 21
Century Skills helps educatorsto incorporate21

centuryskillsinaneducationalcurricula.
In an economy driven by innovation and knowledge . . . in marketplaces engaged in
intense competition and constant renewal . ..inaworldoftremendousopportunitiesand
risks . . . in a society facing complex business, political, scientific, technological, health
and environmental challenges . . and in diverse workplaces and communities that hinge
on challenges . . . andindiverseworkplacesandcommunitiesthathingeoncollaborative
relationships and social networking . . . the ingenuity, agility and skills of the United
StatespeoplearecrucialtoU.S.competitiveness(
Partnership,2008
,p.1).

It is interesting how companies are changing the way they run their businesses and what they
expect from their workers. Some interesting statistics to support this claim are as follows: In
1967,about54percentofthe UnitedStateseconomywasbasedonproductionofmaterialgoods
and services. By 1997, 63 percent of the United States economy had moved to an information
product and service economy (
http://www.p21.org
). From 1995 to 2005, 17 million
servicesector jobs were created, and over 3 million manufacturing jobs were lost
(
http://www.p21.org
).

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce6

With information like this is is no wonder there are major implications for businesses,
education, and individuals. To be successful in the next decade, individuals will need to
demonstrate foresight in navigatingarapidlyshiftinglandscapeoforganizationalformsandskill
requirements (www.cdn.theatlantic.com). While skills may continue to change and each
employer may reassess skills needed it can be determined thatworkersofthefuturewillneedto
be adaptable lifelong learners (www.cdn.theatlantic.com). This is why it is so vital for
education at all k12 levels to help with the career education of students to preparethemforthe
skills and information they need for the future. Some changes that should take place in
education to prepare students for the future through skills and information should include:
Placing additional emphasis on developing skills such as critical thinking, insight, and analysis
capabilities, Integrating newmedia literacy into education programs, Including experiential
learning that gives prominence to soft skillssuch as the ability to collaborate, workingroups,
read social cues, andrespondadaptively,Broadeningthelearningconstituencybeyondteensand
young adults through to adulthood, andIntegratinginterdisciplinarytrainingthatallowsstudents
todevelopskillsandknowledgeinarangeofsubjects(www.cdn.theatlantic.com).

TheImportanceofCareerandEducationalDevelopmentandResources

Therehasbeenanincreaseinresearchandeducationreformswhorealizethateducation
atalllevelsshouldmeettheneedsofstudentssoastoadequatelyequipthemforparticipationin
socialandeconomiclife(
www.social.un.org
).Itisunfortunatethatlotsofeducatorsdonottrain
orevenprovidestudentswithbasicskillsneededfortheirfutureintheworkworld,orevento
merelyescapepovertyandunemployment.

Youngpeoplewhodropoutofschoolearlyarevulnerabletounemployment,poverty,

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce7

teenmarriage,pregnancy,andpartakinginriskybehaviours.Inadditiontopreventing
youngpeoplefromdroppingoutofschool,alternativelearningopportunitiesthattake
intoaccountthereasonswhytheyarenotinschoolareneeded.Thesereasonsusually
includeincomepoverty,gender,disability,familycatastrophes,socialconflictsandwars,
aswellasperceivedlowmarketreturnstoeducation.Thechallengeistogivethese
youngpeopleappropriateopportunitiestoconsolidatetheirbasicknowledgeand
competencies,andequipthemwiththerelevantskillsneededtofindajob,setupa
businessorengageinotherproductivework(
www.social.un.org
).

Inthe21stcenturyitisimportanttobeabletoaccessknowledgeandskillsthatstudents
needtobeabletobesuccessful.
Thelinkbetweencareerandpersonalconcernsisdefinitely
applicablefortheprofessionalschoolcounselor.Theschoolcounselorseesopportunitiesfor
eachandeverystudent.Itisthejoboftheschoolcounselortoensureallstudentsdevelopan
academicandcareerplanthatreflectstheirinterests,abilities,andgoals(schoolcounselor.org).
Theschoolcounselorthroughcollegeandcareerreadinesscounselingisabletohelpstudents
identifystrengths,areasthatmayneedimprovement,andareasofinterestssothatthestudents
maysetgoals(schoolcounselor.org).Thefocusofacademicandcareerplanningisthreefold:to
helpstudentsacquiretheskillstoachieveacademicsuccess,tomakeconnectionsbetween
schoolandlifeexperiencesandtoacquireknowledgeandskillstobecollegeandcareerready
uponhighschoolgraduation(schoolcounselor.org).Sojustlikecareercounselingtheschool
counselorisabletotakebothapersonalandcareerconcernsandhelpthestudentacquire
knowledgeandskillstheyneedforthefutureandsetattainablegoals.
TheEightComponentsofCollegeandCareerReadinessCounselingprovideasystemic
approachforschoolcounselorstoimplement,acrossgradeselementarythroughhighschooland
beyond,toensureequitybothinprocessandresults(www.collegeboard.org).
Table1.
TheEightComponentsofCollegeandCareerReadinessCounseling

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce8

TheEightComponents

Goal

1.CollegeAspirations

Buildacollegegoingculturebasedonearlycollege
awarenessbynurturinginstudentstheconfidenceto
aspiretocollegeandtheresiliencetoovercome
challengesalongtheway.Maintainhighexpectationsby
providingadequatesupports,buildingsocialcapitaland
conveyingtheconvictionthatallstudentscansucceedin
college.

2.AcademicPlanningforCollegeandCareerReadiness

Advancestudentsplanning,preparation,participation
andperformanceinarigorousacademicprogramthat
connectstotheircollegeandcareeraspirationsand
goals.

3.EnrichmentandExtracurricularEngagement

Ensureequitableexposuretoawiderangeof
extracurricularandenrichmentopportunitiesthatbuild
leadership,nurturetalentsandinterests,andincrease
engagementwithschool.

4.CollegeandCareerExplorationandSelection
Processes

Provideearlyandongoingexposuretoexperiencesand
informationnecessarytomakeinformeddecisionswhen
selectingacollegeorcareerthatconnectstoacademic
preparationandfutureaspirations.

5.CollegeandCareerAssessments

Promotepreparation,participationandperformancein
collegeandcareerassessmentsbyallstudents.

6.CollegeAffordabilityPlanning

Providestudentsandfamilieswithcomprehensive
informationaboutcollegecosts,optionsforpayingfor
college,andthefinancialaidandscholarshipprocesses
andeligibilityrequirements,sotheyareabletoplanfor
andaffordacollegeeducation.

7.CollegeandCareerAdmissionProcesses

Ensurethatstudentsandfamilieshaveanearlyand
ongoingunderstandingofthecollegeandcareer
applicationandadmissionprocessessotheycanfindthe
postsecondaryoptionsthatarethebestfitwiththeir
aspirationsandinterests.

8.TransitionfromHighSchoolGraduationtoCollege
Enrollment

Connectstudentstoschoolandcommunityresourcesto
helpthestudentsovercomebarriersandensurethe
successfultransitionfromhighschooltocollege.

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce9

Schoolcounselorsshouldhaveplentyofresourcesforstudentstoaccess.Theschool
counselormustbeversedintheoptionsandopportunitiesavailabletostudentsandfamiliesin
ordertoassisttheminaccessingtheseresources(Morris,2013).Fromallgradesk12students
mustbeabletohaveampleamountsofresourcesandknowthattheyaresupportedbytheschool
counselor.Itisalsowonderfulthroughtheseresourceswhenstudentscanbegintoseethefuture
andthedifferentpathstheymusttaketogetthere.Themoreschoolcounselorsknowand
understand,themorestudentsandfamiliescanknowandunderstand(Morris,2013).When
schoolcounselorsareabletoprovidestudentswithexperience,opportunities,andresourcesthen
thecareerandeducationaldevelopmentwillsoaramongstouryouthandspreadtotheirfamilies
andcommunities(Morris,2013).IlikehowAndersonandVandeheyputit,Forsociety,a
healthyeconomyandfullemploymentchannelwealthandhumanresources...theverymorale
ofthepopulaceandthepeoplesconfidenceingovernmentareaffectedbyemploymentratesand
occupationalopportunities(2012,p.4).Throughresourcesandanaccessiblecareercounselor
schoolcounselorthenwecanslowlygetstudentsreadyforafutureinthe21stcentury
workforce.Whilethisisjustoneofthemanyrolesoftheschoolrememberwemustremember
thatcareersplayasignificantroleinouridentity.Achoicemadetodeveloponesabilityina
specifiedworkareaissimultaneouslyachoiceregardingonesidentity(Anderson&Vandehey,
2012,p.3).

Conclusion

Itisapparentthattheimportanceofcollegeandcareerreadiness,helpingstudents
connect,achieve,andmakefuturegoals,understandtheinfluencesofothers,developappropriate

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce

10

k12strategiesforaddressingcareerdevelopmentneedsofstudents,andhowschoolcounselors
canhelpstudentsandthecommunityasawholecreatebrightfuturesforeverystudent(Zunker,
2012).DahirandStoneremindusthatschoolcounselorsneedtobepreparingstudentstoselect
careergoalsandguidethemtoenrollinappropriatecourseworkthatwillhelpthemachievetheir
goals(2012).Schoolcounselorsmusttakeontheleadershiprolesothattheycantake
responsibilityforimplementingacareerdevelopmentprogram(Dahir,Stone,pg.452,2012).
Manystudentsstrugglewithacademicpreparationandlittleguidance.Theschoolcounselorcan
becomealeaderandhelpmanystudentsgetthesupportandguidancetheyneed.Allstudents
shouldfeelthattheyhaveaccesstomakemeaningfulpathsfortheirlivesandtheschool
counseloralongwithteachers,administrators,andparentscanhelpensuretheseopportunitiesfor
students.Apointthatstoodouttomewashelpingstudentsmakeconnectionsiskeytoaffecting
futurechoicebetweenandamongstudents,theircounselors,teachers,peers,family,andmost
importantly,seeingtherelevanceofschooltotheirdreamsandaspirations.Ensuringequityand
accessistheschoolcounselorscontributiontoclosingtheinformationandachievementgaps
andwillassiststudentstobecomeproductiveandcontributingmembersofoursociety(Dahir,
Stone,2012,pg.453).

CareerandEducationalDevelopmentandthe21stCenturyWorkforce

11

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