Not Where They Hoped They'd Be

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/06/not-where-they-hoped-theyd-be/100320/

Reuters recently assigned a number of photographers to capture images of a struggling generation. The result is this series of portraits of graduates from around the world who have been unable to find work in their degree fields and have ended up in poorly paid service industry jobs. Although their current positions may be disappointing, the subjects in these photos may count themselves lucky to have any job at all -- the International Labor Organization estimates the number of people aged 15 to 24 without a job at almost 75 million. From a cook in Athens with a degree in civil engineering to a waiter in Algiers with a masters in corporate finance, these young people have spent years studying hard to compete in the 21st century, only to discover that even the most desirable qualifications mean little in a distressed global economy. [17 photos]


Marcin Lubowicki, a 28 year-old deputy manager of a McDonald's restaurant, with his university diploma in front of the fast food chain in the Arkadia shopping mall in Warsaw, Poland, on May 16, 2012. Lubowicki, who has degree in Russian language from Warsaw University, has been working for McDonald's since 2007. He is now planning to stay in his job. (Reuters/Peter Andrews)


Francesca Baldi, 32, as she cares for a seven month-old baby in a private household in Rome, on May 11, 2012. 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 in child care for five months. (Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi) #


Karl Moi Okoth, a 27 year-old vegetable and fruit seller, in front of his makeshift shop in Nairobi's Kibera slum in the Kenyan capital, on April 30, 2012. Okoth studied psychology and chemistry at Day Star University where he received a degree in psychology. He has been searching for permanent employment for four years but has decided to make a living working in the slums for the last eight months. (Reuters/Noor Khamis) #

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Unfortunately Devalued Commodities....

Communication , The best in communication and morays , True introspection and the equipment we do it with.

[bigwillq]

2. We're still in such very bad times

It's almost not even worth going to college anymore. You spend all that money, for what?

Start your own biz if you can, work for yourself, do a trade.

[Lugnut]

3. K&R n/t

[KG]

4. went back to school twice in my 30's to get away from doing the kinda shit jobs i'm back to doing

now.

[marmar]

5. K/R ...... Great photoessay.

nt

[KharmaTrain]

6. An Upside Down Economy...

This country has gone from one of producers to massive consumers. Sadly the concept of higher education has been cheapened and monetized over the years that has failed to help many find profitable and/or rewarding careers and/or strapped with large debts that the rushpublicans would love to see go higher.

A bachelor's today that can cost upwards of $120gs at a state school doesn't open the doors it once. The corporates have downscaled and cherry pick those in their images to go into the machine while the rest are left to fend on their own. Higher education has become yet another money pit for banks that have created a debtor generation that face the worst economic times in a century with little hope of relief.

If there was the need for a new New Deal, the time is now...to create infrastructure jobs that would refocus the economy and create millions of jobs and opportunities. But, alas, this requires breaking the stranglehold of corporate greed that will resist change and throw their money around to prevent it...

[girl gone mad]

14. You've got the right idea.

Our corporations are not going to bail us out of this one and throwing more money at the banks and the corporations is pointless.

The US is a monetarily sovereign nation. We will never run out of money. We can currently afford to put people back to work building out infrastructure and doing research in medicine and energy, or whatever our nation deems important to our long term security and health.

Too bad we don't have any leaders making this case right now.

[denvine]

7. This is a sad commentary

I tend to believe it is once again, corporate greed that has gotten us into this mess. We probably have the same productivity or more than before the recession. What you never hear is that corporations have made their workers so productive, that it now takes only, and I'm guessing here, 6-7 people to do the jobs that 10 people use to to. We've seen it in every industry, whether its making it's employees take on more responsibilities, using more technology to replace people or shipping jobs overseas. Look at how many self checkout lanes at grocery and building supply stores you see now, or self check in at the airports.

Another factor affecting the new graduates, again never gets mentioned, is that people are working longer now than they used to. Pensions are scarce these days, so people cannot afford to retire and they cannot afford health insurance, so they are working at least until 65 and often times longer. We are holding on to jobs that use to free up for new graduates.

In essence, the workforce has been reduced, with the same or more productivity and profits for the corporations and we are staying longer to be able to afford to retire. I feel bad for the new graduates, because we are not letting go of our jobs and opening positions for them. Just look at how much money corporations are sitting on now, more than an other time in history.

[XemaSab]

9. Welcome to DU!

[denvine]

10. Thank you!

[orpupilofnature57]

12. Monetary Imprisonment !!!! Welcome.

They see themselves as custodians of wealth with no other concern or agenda.

[patrice]

8. Lighten their load: We should combine child-care and elder care. Like real families.

[CrispyQ]

11. If only they'd gotten an education.

Oh wait, they did.

They played by the rules & still got fucked.

There's going to be a global awakening & when that happens things will change. Things cannot continue as they are.

[NightWatcher]

13. a doctorate in literature and philosophy aint what it used to be

You've got to look at the job market before picking a degree path.

My cousin just got her Masters in Spanish language. You know who else has mastered the Spanish language, my neighbor and that's because he's from Spain. My cousin is upset that she cant get a good job teaching it.

[hfojvt]

15. this should be a lesson

for those who think they can eliminate poverty with education. It can work for one or two or a hundred people, but not for a whole soceity or a whole world.