How careers are influenced by affordability?
Careers are heavily influenced by affordability factors. College and the cost of living per year have become exponentially more expensive. Not only in terms of tuition and room and board which for many can exceed what a professional employee makes in a year, but also cost of living. Cost of living includes all of the overhead of living including rent, food, car, health insurance, and when the school loan payment is factored in, that can be essentially another rent or more. What college once provided a graduate, a secure job in a company, etc., many of these graduates either need a graduate degree to even be hired or they continue to live at home so they can pay their school loans and live lower rent or rent-free. Looking at affordability is now a huge factor in determining what careers a person chooses. Many careers like medicine and law have the potential to pay back in dividends but without the ability to pay for school upfront the options can be limited. Additionally, loans only cover so much and many families cannot take out private loans because they know they cannot pay them back easily or they won’t be approved based on income.
The options…
Looking at careers and their affordability, some people make huge sacrifices to complete school whether it is an ungraduated degree or graduate or professional degree. These sacrifices fall onto the student and sometimes onto family members who want to ensure their loved ones have the opportunity. People are choosing more often than ever careers that are lucrative without giving them a mortgage. These include attending community college for the first two years of their undergraduate degree, taking certain classes online from cyber universities, completing technical school to complete a specific skill, and exploring as much on-the-job free training as possible. Additionally, a few careers offer reimbursement for working in education and nonprofits. The cost of living (in this country anyway) must be taken into account when choosing a career and its affordability. Unfortunately for many, this is a reality. Weighing the pros and cons helps people decide as well. If a person sees themselves in a certain career and willing to forego a larger home or vacation then certain schooling becomes a slightly more affordable option. Many people additionally are choosing to work in a general area of their choosing even if not the title, they can still enjoy some of its environmental benefits.