(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/03/2023) Polling released this week shows the university community may have some work convincing the public that the juice from a four-year college degree is worth the squeeze.
The Glengariff Group survey of 600 Michigan voters found that 45.8% don’t believe a four-year degree was worth the money. Only 27.5% said it is worth the money while 24.5% said it “depends.”
In-state tuition and fees in Michigan cost $15,825 a year and $28,627 a year when room and board is added to the mix, according to educationdata.org, which puts Michigan ninth in the country.
Ziprecruiter has the average college graduate making $37,215 a year, or $18 an hour, straight out of college.
When asked what the minimum level of education a person needs to be successful in Michigan, a plurality of 35.8% said a high school diploma, and 32.9% more said a certificate in a trade program. Only 7.8% said a four-year college degree.
The Feb. 10-13 survey for the Detroit Regional Chamber found that 70.9% of voters said a college education is important to landing a successful job in Michigan, but only 26.5% described it as "very important."
A total of 15.3% of voters said they've heard of the Michigan Reconnect program that provides last-dollar support for mostly non-traditional students looking to earn a two-year community college degree or a certificate.
Also, 23.8% of voters had never heard of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
On another front, only 53.4% of those employed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic are still in the same job they were at the time of the pandemic. The survey found 29.3% are at a different job, 4.1% are looking for work,
9.4% are on disability or retired and 3.8% aren't looking for work.
Also, one-third of respondents have a job that allows them to work from home either some of the time or all of the time. A 65.9% majority have a job that requires them to go into work.
If an employer ordered at-home workers to come back to the office, 53% said they would but 33% report they would look for another job while 9% said it would "depend."
Breaking those numbers down, there is an age differential on the mandatory come back directive. Among 18 and 29 years olds, 53% would go job hunting. Exactly 50% between 30-39 years old would look for a new job. For those older than 50, only 17% would be willing to find something else to do.
You might assume that in this mixed-bag climate, companies would dangle lucrative incentives to get reluctant workers back in their office chairs. As it turns out, only 8% of the returnees got gift cards, 8% got gym privileges, and only 5% got a bonus. Another 47% apparently got free lunches, among the 30% who reported receiving any “goodies.”
