Why An Educated Society is Stronger
“The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead.”
― Aristotle
Over the past few decades, the benefits of higher education have become more and more evident. While it seemed apparent that knowledge would lead to a better performance in the labor market, it was not so predictable that secondary education is also associated with improved overall health, longer life expectancy, and improved overall life satisfaction. Education not only increases income levels, but it also helps develop skills, gain access to more networks, and improve social status.
In 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Current Population Survey which revealed just how much education influences earnings and salaries for workers. The survey showed that those with no high school diploma had the lowest median earnings ($23,452) of the year and this highest unemployment rate (14.1%). Those with a diploma brought in about $10,000 more, and there was an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent. With degrees, these differences are further apart. With an associates degree, the median earnings per year were $39,936 and an employment rate of 6.8%. Bachelor’s degree holders made a median salary of $54,756 with an unemployment rate of 4.9%, while those with a masters degree earned $65,676 on average and had an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent. As the degrees went up, the salary increased, and the unemployment rate decreased, continuing up through a professional and a doctoral degree.
But what exactly does this mean for society as a whole? Well, a couple of things: higher rates of civic engagement, higher volunteering rates, and healthier communities.
Research has shown that those who obtained a college degree are more likely to partake in civic engagement than their counterparts. This includes attending town meetings and political rallies, signing petitions, contacting government officials, and voting. There is no denying that when communities come together and all voices are heard the outcome far exceeds that of a silent community.
There is also a strong correlation between education and volunteering rates. According to a recent college study, 38% of those with bachelor’s degrees reported volunteering compared to the 26% of those with an associate’s degree or less. The percentage drops to just 15 for those with only a high school diploma. In 2014 alone, there were 7.9 billion hours of volunteering, with helped many vital causes and organizations — a lot of which work to improve our communities and political policies.
College graduates have proved to support and promote volunteering and other good causes within their communities, and the same goes for promoting healthy lifestyles. These graduates are less likely to smoke than their counterparts, as well as more likely to maintain a regular exercise routine and a healthy weight. They then pass down these healthy habits to their children, while also promoting these lifestyle choices within their communities.
Other societal benefits include more critical thinkers and problem solvers, more creative attributes, and more income tax paid to support the community and country.
By fully recognizing the power of education, citizens and policymakers can better address diverse societal challenges and changes.
