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Jobs in the Future
17 November 2007
In my role as Dean of the Faculty of Science, Health and Education, the most common questions I get asked by students thinking about enrolling at university include: “What jobs will the job market look like in the future?” “Does a general degree like a Bachelor of Science help or do I need do a professional degree like teaching or nursing to be sure of a job?” “What kind of jobs can I get with a university degree?”
Some people would respond by simply saying that it is very difficult to predict how the job market will change in the future, but I believe there are general trends that have been apparent for some time.
For a start there is overwhelming evidence that having a university degree substantially improves your job prospects, as shown in the recent Commonwealth Government Report, “Australian Jobs 2007”, indicating that the unemployment rate amongst people with a School Year 10 level education or below have more than three times the unemployment rate of those with a Bachelor degree or higher. So what types of degrees have the best job outcomes?
It is certainly clear that graduating with a professional degree means it is more likely graduates will get a job more quickly, especially in professions such as engineering, nursing, dietetics, occupational therapy, paramedics and teaching. There are substantial shortages of supply in these job markets and the Sunshine Coast is no exception, which is why the University of the Sunshine Coast has now set up degree programs in these areas. We are also moving into new professional areas such as exercise physiology with a new Bachelor of Exercise Science next year.
The university also offers general science degrees in biomedical science, environmental science, health promotion and sports and exercise science. Of course the university ensures that it is as easy as possible for students to move from any general degree of study into professional programs if they so wish. However a general degree is of great value in its own right.
A few years ago a colleague from the United Kingdom pointed out that 60 percent of all university graduates were employed because they had a degree and the type of degree did not matter – such graduates were seen as having much better skills in coping with any future problems. In fact, the most sought after graduates were those with sports degrees as they had developed skills in leadership, team work and self-discipline, which is good news for our largest science program – sports and exercise science.
The job market of the future wants people with the right blend of knowledge, skills and values suited to the future, which just happens to underpin the graduate attributes we aim for at the University of the Sunshine Coast in all degree programs. I would urge potential students to enrol as soon as possible in a degree program as right now there are university places available at a reasonable cost. Another thing I would predict about the future - this will not continue.
Professor Rod Simpson is Dean, Faculty of Science, Health & Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast.