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Yannis Behrakis / Reuters
Manolis Ouranos, a 30-year-old cook, works for the Mavros Gatos (Black Cat) tavern in Psiri neighboorhood in central Athens. Manolis studied at Athens Technology University (TEI) for four years where he received a degree in civil engineering. He hoped to find a permanent job in public sector infrastructure but has been working as a cook for four months instead. He now takes cooking lessons which he funds with his salary as a cook.
Nearly 75 million people ages 15 to 24 are unemployed worldwide and the U.N. labor office predicts “the same high level” for at least the next four years.
For eager university graduates in the crisis-hit European Union where one in five people under the age of 24 are out of work, finding a job is almost impossible. However, the problem isn’t confined to the EU. It’s a global problem and the U.N. expects 12.7 percent of youth globally to be unemployed in 2012. The International Labour Organisation also warns that many are trapped in low paid and low skilled jobs and others have simply given up looking.
In order to illustrate the problem, Reuters photographed portraits of graduates from around the world who have been unable to find work in their degrees and have ended up in service industry jobs.
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Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters
Francesca Baldi, 32, takes care of a seven-month-old baby in a private household in Rome on May 11. Baldi studied for five years at university in Pisa where she received a degree and a doctorate in literature and philosophy. She hoped to find a job as a teacher but has been working as a childminder for five months.
Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
Jessica Mazza, a 28 year-old waitress, serves a customer at Novel cafe in Santa Monica, Calif. Mazza studied for five years at Ball State University where she received a degree in painting and business management. She hoped to find a job as an artist but has been working in the cafe for just under a year. Picture taken, April 24.
Noor Khamis / Reuters
Denis Onyango Olang (right), a 26 year-old assistant cook, prepares food in a dimly lit kitchen at a hotel in Nairobi's Kibera slum in the Kenyan capital. Onyango Olang studied statistics and chemistry at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology where he received a degree in science. He has been searching for permanent employment for two years but has decided to make a living working in the slums for the last eight months.
Miguel Vidal / Reuters
Tania Leon, a 29 year-old stewardess, poses for a picture inside a bus in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Leon studied psychology at the University of Santiago de Compostela and received a degree in 2006. She was hoping to find a job as a psychologist but has been working as a stewardess for the last two years.
Dado Ruvic / Reuters
Almin Dzafic, a 30 year-old waiter, serves customers in the Galerija Boris Smoje cafe in Sarajevo. Dzafic studied for four years at Sarajevo University where he received a degree in civil engineering. For the last four years he has tried to find a job in art restoration but has been working as a waiter for two years. He sees his future outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina because he can not find a job.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
Wael Abo El Saoud, a 25 year-old farmer, harvests wheat on Miet Radie farm about 37 miles northeast of Cairo. Wael studied for four years at Benha University where he received a degree in commerce. He hoped to find a job as a bank accountant but has been working as a farmer for the last five years. He earns between 30 to 60 Egypt pounds a day but does not work all year round.
Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters
Francesco Foglia, 37, poses for a picture as he works as a street sweeper in downtown Rome. Foggia studied for six years at university in Rome where he received a degree and a doctorate in industrial chemistry. He hoped to find a job as a researcher but has been working as a street sweeper for Rome's municipality for two years. Picture taken on April 29.
Peter Andrews / Reuters
Marcin Lubowicki, a 28 year-old deputy manager of a McDonald's restaurant, shows his university diploma in front of the fast food chain in the Arkadia shopping mall, in Warsaw. Lubowicki, who has degree in Russian language from Warsaw University, has been working for McDonald's since 2007. He is planning to stay in his job.
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Lovely photos.
img-stock.com
I'm sure that everyone pictured is disappointed and probably frustrated - but things will eventually get better. Welcome to the real world of the daily grind at a job that you may not really like. An education does not guarantee anything - make the best of what you are blessed with.
THIS IS B-E-T-T-E-R
The main career field that is going to remain is service. If advancing technology, computer, or a person who lives in a country that offers half the cost for the same production can do it then say goodbye to that career field.
A college education is only essential if you intend to remain a lemming for the rest of your life. The average graduation college student is going to have at least $20k in debt and for the more ambitious $100k. With employment and wage not moving up with the increased cost of living/inflation these people are not going to make much out of themselves.
I told my kids to forget about college, forget about debt, forget about spending years being someones corporate slave and to instead ride the train that grew America to what it was and what it's declining from.Trade or Entrepreneurship. You don't need the banks because the bit of savings from even those pitiful jobs will make it worthwhile.
Can't help but notice a degree in literature, philosophy and russian language. It's not actual fields that screams "hot in demand" jobs. Only use is in teaching and even those jobs are not stable since several "teacher of the year" being fired. The man should have studied Arabic or Chinese language. Those 2 languages are red hot demand in Government and military, only if you qualify for secret clearance. Which is pretty easy if they are US citizens. Why? Because they are very revelant in this current affairs. Russian language might have been worth something if we still in a cold war with Russia. Met a 19 yr old british who was a Arabic translator for the military. He was making 120k a year.
Painting and business management? You kidding me? I could have saved her some money and time by telling her that those 2 fields don't require degrees. I know successful managers and business owners that only have high school degrees.
The oft-cited advantages to a college degree are largely illusory. According to the census bureau, in 1940 slightly less than 5% of the U.S. population had a college degree and less than 25% had a high school diploma. This was when the United States was being touted as "the arsenal of democracy" due to our manufacturing capabilities.
In 2000, over 80% of the population had a high school diploma or better, and almost 25% had a bachelor's degree or better. And the country was busily engaged in the transformation from an economy based on manufacturing (i.e. taking a raw material and increasing its value) to one based on technology and service. In other words, we now know more and make less.
I know that getting your hands dirty in the pursuit of a living has fallen out of favor, and I understand that it is not to everyone's liking. But before you disparage those that do so based on economic considerations, check the Department of Labor statistics for the average lifetime earnings of a carpenter and the holder of a bachelor's degree. If you add the four years additional earnings for the carpenter and deduct the average cost of student loans, there's not a nickel's worth of difference between them.
Times are changing. Formal education proves it is not enough anymore. You need what is in demand.....technical skills to survive, flexibility and an open mind.
The best tech job to have is that of a computer or electronic assembler as you do not have to worry about knowing the processes involved with creating the system only that you are able to read a schematic to place the components as well as knowing how to solder.
Having a degree in computer or electronics is must however in order to get this type of job.
I seriously doubt that. Now computers and electronics are so cheaply made that it's better to throw it away and by a new one. The labor alone cost more than the product itself. You see that with TVs and computers. And as for computers..... manufacturers are heading toward thinner laptops and tablets where everything is soldered and glued to the motherboard where it's impossible to upgrade now or replace. When I think of computer assembly or repair..... I think of geek squad or china laborers. That does not stir up high paying jobs does it?
If you want a tech job, the best place to go is computer networking and security. Since everything is now linking to the world wide web, its going to get hotter.
Those pictured above are highly intelligent and waiting for the thought processes in their mind that are currently working to create the spark that they need to put their degree to work.
If they were wise they would allow their dreams to illuminate the next step in their education.
They success resides within their dreams and if they learn how to remember their dreams and bring their dreams alive then their education will be a success.
Reality is that there are so little white collar middle class jobs and so many college educated workforce out there. Both new grads, young and old. Doesn't matter if they are highly intelligent and have the drive. It's kinda hard to when people apply 100s of applicants a week and never get that phone call. And the longer they are on unemployment or in minimum wage job, more college grads are coming into the workforce. Looks mighty grim.
I'm just glad they showed civil engineers and chemistry majors in this article--a little something to shut up the "well, you shouldn't have gotten a liberal arts degree" people. Getting the "good" degree has never guaranteed success. And it doesn't matter what you majored in when you go to college. There are any number of successful people who never even finished high school.
I agree. I hate when people say that. Even when someone gets an engineering degree, that doesn't mean they'll be a successful engineer while on the actual job. It doesn't mean they deserve a job either.
Yes, so many who have "marketable" skills are unemployed. When my daughter said that she wanted to major in theater at first I was distressed, but now I say what the hey, go for it! Don't have any stats to prove it, but I have heard that half of all of all grads wind up in jobs unrelated to their field of study anyway, so why not study what you love?
Proof that college education is no longer unique, the focus has once again shifted to job experience. We have lost focus of what is important. High Schools are all about preparing students for college. We have forgotten all about giving them the skills to be successful in life. What ever happened to also showing some alternatives to college that are just as rewarding. Technical Schools, apprenticeships and the like need to be brought back into the picture. Especially for those students that may not be the most academically minded, who often have amazing talents in technical/hands-on type of fields.
Maybe Aviyes,
Or perhaps if you listen closely you can hear the giant sucking sound as the jobs these graduates attained for are sent to China etc. by their traitorous governments bribed by global corporations.
So called "free trade", is destroying opportunities as jobs are sent to slave nations which then lower wages worldwide.
Its people vs Corporations. It's that simple.
Part of the blame also lies on the kids. They are more worried about experiencing college life "partying, drinking, faternaties, etc.." instead of getting work experience in their related field while going to college. So those kids who graduate with a degree with a related work experience already have a leg up on the limited job market. I should know, I'm one of them. I was quickly hired on the spot a year ago at my workplace while rest of my classmates still struggle to apply for jobs and going to interviews.
It's stories and pictures like these that should remind us to be thankful for what we have. There is no guarantees in life.
Sorry but these are people who have settled for less.
If you really try you can find a job in your field however you have to put some effort into it. Nobody is going to knock on your door and hand you a job.
Gawd, I hate people like this...
Mavenized, you come off sounding like you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. You think it's that simple? Have you ever tried it yourself? Try different areas with different economies, and see what your attitude about this is afterwards. I'll bet you won't find it as simple as you make it.
There was alot of incidences where thousands apply for few job openings thats available. Pelham H.S got 3620 applicants for 8 positions in 2010. I guess the rest of the 3612 people that didn't get the job are lazy eh? And that was just a quick google search. I bet there are alot more similar stories too.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/nyregion/20teachers.html?pagewanted=all
Oh seriously WTF people. So you have a degree proving your dedication to something for 'X' amount of years, signed on paper. Great. Get over it.
None of those jobs are any less crucial to anything else. It's a job. So it's not a high-paying job, so what. Quit living out of your means, quit striving to purchase new crap every week, and for the sake of humanity stop pretending that a degree means you're supposed to put it to work.
All it means is you dedicated time and money to something to have it signed on paper, THATS IT.
Guess Get over it didn't finish middle school.
Well, considering that a disproportionate number of college graduates are working as baristas at Starbucks, I'd say that Get Over It hit the nail on the head.
I guess Starbucks are getting their money's worth. College educated workforce on minimum wage.
According to what's been posted so far, you might think this none of this has to with an imbalance between the number of professional jobs available requiring degrees and the number of qualified people there are to fill them.
Maybe this situation has something to do with the fact that the "trickle down" economy doesn't work; more wealth is in fewer hands than any time since the turn of the *last* century, and yet these wealthy so-called "job creators" aren't creating more jobs or more economic buying power for the majority within the economy.
So I guess we'll all just have settle for not going on to get university degrees, and when all the McDonald's, waitressing and babysitting jobs are filled, we'll just sweep the streets with twigs or pick rags, according to the "you're lucky to have any job" logic here.
Thanks, if it wasn't for you none of us would know which direction to jerk our legs when MSNBC dropped their reflex hammer.
What's that supposed to mean? The point is that many of the posters taking the "just get over it" stance -- as if working a job for which you didn't need a college degree were the worst case scenario -- are missing the forest for the trees.
Having a job -- any job at all -- is fine, as long as someone has the money to drink coffee where you serve it. And learning a trade/practical skill to work for yourself is great. But only if someone else out there can afford to hire you. Who's going to hire all of us when we're all "independent contractors"?
Guess what happens in a recession? Majority of people lose their jobs end up going back to college to get their degrees to be more competive in the workplace. I don't see the job prospects improving anytime soon. Compound by new young grads entering the field every year, there will be not enough white collar jobs for most.
Looks like all these people are business minded which DOES pay the bills.
Just wanted to let you know you have a typo: He sees his future outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina because he can not find a job.
"Cannot"
Can't you see that both are right?
most of these kids go to college to party and get a stupid basic degree's abe getting and have debts in 10 of thoasands of dollars...
my son is a junior in H.S. and we talked about what he wanted to do as a job, so he could decide if a community college or university would be a better fit. he opted for community college and work at the same time, he will be getting a degree in criminal justice and forensic's to go into some type of law enforcement field (csi,detective or FBI) when he has is degree he will be debt free and have a degree he can use in the job he wants..
Hey, degrees are work. Even the stupid basic ones. Don't give me any examples of people who aren't done with their stupid basic degrees - taking a few classes is a stupid and basic matter.
?
At least the one's in their 20's, 30's and early 40's can have hope for the future. The one's that are in their 50's can hang it up. After thousands of resumes, you will find alot of them as stock clerks at Walmart.
I worked before college and during college, and occasionally after college as a housekeeper/janitor. I have two degrees. I'm 55. I had a career in public relations that lasted for a few years, and am now fortunate to have my seasonal custodial employment. I read elsewhere that whatever you did to make ends meet in college is your backup skill when the economy goes south--it's true for me.
In a consumer based society there will always be work for people willing to do service. You don't need a degree to do service based industry work, but you do need to earn what the cost of living is and you have to adjust to what cost of living actually means. It does not mean having the best of everything, It means shelter, food, healthcare and with hard work opportunities. Nothing more. If you are not able to meet your cost of living you must travel to where you can. No one is above or beyond service work. Getting a degree in a technical field or in a liberal field, neither preclude you from having to ultimately do service work anyway. If you are also brilliant and skilled you can continue working your mind no matter what you do for an actual paycheck. People have gotten over entitled and have been over promised a higher standard of living than the generation before them, this is not always the case. Welcome to the real world.
Well, No sh*t sherlock! They're finally figuring that out??? Been that way since the turn of the century. There's a LOT of well-educated people that are working jobs that have absolutely NOTHING to do with their degree field (myself included.) So it seems that we, the degreed-minority, have become nothing more than educated idiots when it comes to this global locale for employment.
Right now, it's "just get a job and be glad you have one- and don't make any waves lest ye lose it" attitude from a LOT of employers, regardless of your level of education. Forget the benefits- if you're lucky enough to get a paycheck that covers the bills, you're doing OK, sort of... then again, maybe not...
Looks like the American Dream is still in the pipe, and won't be out for quite awhile yet. Thinking about college? Not worth it right now, better think again...
These folks seem to fall into two categories:
1) A degree in a solid subject but they live in an area that just isn't the place to try find any good job right now.
2) Or, they live in an area where a science degree would be useful in finding a job but they instead of degrees in majors that no one seriously hires for in large numbers.
College teaches you to work for someone else. It does not give you a skill that you can use to fix something or provide a service to someone else.
All High school does now is to teach you to go to college.
Learn a skill and you will be better off. high schools in the 60ies did that. Not know unless you live in Woodlake Calif.
They will teach you how to butcher a pig and will post it in their year book.
Woodlake Calif.? lol
It never stops does it? Now you have all these illegals getting a free ride as well, walking out of school with fancy degrees battling you for jobs. I feel your pain even if you and everyone else is too trapped in ideals to realize what is going on. Its not going to get better. You will only succeed by being the best at what you hold that expensive piece of paper for. Just taking huge loans and "passing" no longer guarantees you anything.
I had my own construction company for 10 yrs. Work dried up in my area because of many things, so I worked crappy jobs for years and went to school at night for a degree and still have loans to pay back. I am stuck in a company that cant afford raises, not many other opportunities, while others from my class went on welfare and claimed their degrees are useless and got out of paying the loans back. Yes this really happened. So now I support them thru taxes and myself. I enjoy knowing the taxes i pay could help people who are crippled, sick or incapable of working but knowing that smart, healthy productive people took this path to get out of things is just making me rethink trying at all. Why bother if you don't really have to? Who is really the smart one, me trying no matter what or them taking advantage of this system? I do not see anything being done to correct this situation. The world is changing and not for the better. If you are in school, working hard, i wish you the best.
Hmm the take away-- major in something that is marketable where you want to live. Civil Engineering can get you a decent job stateside, where there are public funds for infrastructure, but not so much when you are in a country up to its eyeballs in financial trouble. Maybe that major is tech school, not grad school. Everybody needs skilled plumbers, (well... except maybe the Amish).
rotflmao - listen people, if you get a bachelors degree in communications, psychology, philosophy or teaching (anything) you will be unemployed. Stop being stupid and pick a damn major you can get a job with. This isn't fairy land where you "do what you want" and are happy picking daisies the rest of your life. Well, someone has to make my burgers and sweep up the crap at my car wash. Might as be the people that are too stupid to see what jobs are available before majoring.
Back in the 70's my dad told me to learn a trade FIRST, that way ill always be employable. I didnt listen to him, went to college, and after college, got jobs and got laid off 3X. I now have an MBA and work as a Wastewater Operator....with colleagues who only graduated high school. I make more than my classmates who I went to college with and its the best job Ive ever had. The reason my dad was passionate about trade jobs is because mostly ( like my job ) :
1) They cant be outsourced 2) Cant be automated 3) Are not dependent on sales and 4) Have no competition
For those young people reading this....my advice is the same as my dad's ......learn a trade first....you may never even NEED to go to college.....and therefore never need to be in lotsa debt !!
I know of a guy who went through a trade apprenticeship while getting his degree. He decided to stay with the trade when he was done, and the degree has given him an edge over his competition.
However, my husband is in a construction trade, and when the housing bubble burst, there wasn't any work.
I fully believe that what is happening now is what we had coming and exactly what we need.
For too long America has been getting way too soft in body and spirit. I could see that softness in all the young people I work with and associate with. Something as simple as having legible handwriting seemed to be beyond worthy of effort for far too many. Even the "educated" are missing that drive to excel in anything but T.V. viewing and whining.
As this reset of society continues, I hope the harshness of life as it is today instills in the young all the valuable lessons that are important to being true successes. Not that horse @!$%#e success that Hollywood panders about.
Take a look sometime at old pictures of the so-called Greatest Generation from WW2. Those were tough kids who lived through a depression and that's what made them great.
Prior to the mentality that everyone must get a degree, we grew, developed and prospered on "get your foot in the door and work your way up."
There are some fields that indisputably need further education, but for the most part many jobs are "craft" and can be learned on the job and progressed through experience in the work field. Our economy was much better when we worked that way.
Maybe this will force us back to that.
Karen1231961, I wish that were true. I've thought that for years, as I know so many others have. I've often joked wryly that we've gotten to the point of ridiculousness where you need a five-year degree in advanced nail sculpting to be a manicurist.
However, I'm afraid there are just too many of us for the numbers of jobs created. And the thing is, for those here who are saying, well stop expecting to work for someone else, and just go to work for yourself, do something useful -- if no one has money to hire you or the 500 other people who've decided to be useful plumbers in your town -- what then? I'm afraid that's where we are now.
And while it's plain to see that a college degree doesn't mean nearly what it used to mean, college tuition is still going through the roof as if a degree supplied the keys to the kingdom! What's wrong with this picture? A little social engineering going on? Maybe I can get a degree in that!
Agreed, Why has tuition risen 10-20% per year every year for the last 20 years?????
welcome to the "new world order" where the top keep rising and the middle fade into poverty, but the top love to tease you with the ever present "Don't you wanna be like me?" "Anyone can make it" though fate will only ever be so benevolent to a very very few. Whomever engineered this is a Genius...though only a truly sick one, as the price is to be paid by the masses.
Degrees in painting and Russian.....really?
Is it any wonder that they can't get jobs?