Reply #263: I am familiar with those numbers....

[radhika]

Yes, the more education the more likely you are still in the job market. I do agree. And added skills are always a plus, anywhere. But there are systemic factor that persist.

Unemployment rates are not the same for all ages, races and parts of the country. A 45+ unemployed college graduate will stay on the beach for quite a while. And he/she will rarely re-enter the workforce at a skills/salary level as before. Just at the age that kids are entering college, by the way.

Racial and ethnic communities have unemployment rates into the 20-40%.

Another trend: higher skilled unemployed people are moving into jobs that were originally open to less skilled employees or high school grads. As the recession continues, and more young people leave college/community college WITH NO JOB OFFERS related to their education. They are taking jobs that could have easily been a starting point for others - such as retail and restaurant work.