IT’S NO SECRET JOB HUNTING HAS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT IN RECENT YEARS – ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ENTERING THE LABOR FORCE FOR THE FIRST TIME. 

NOW, THE LEADER OF ONE OF AMERICA’S BIGGEST BANKS IS CALLING OUT SCHOOLS. 

J-P MORGAN CHASE C-E-O JAMIE DIMON SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE SCHOOLS DOING MORE TO BRING STUDENTS UP TO PACE WITH THE WORKING WORLD, INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT TO BUSINESSES TO BRIDGE THE GAP. 

DIMON WANTS SCHOOLS TO BE MONITORED ON WHETHER THEIR STUDENTS LAUNCH CAREERS AFTER THEY GRADUATE, AS OPPOSED TO WHETHER THEY GO TO COLLEGE. 

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH AXIOS THURSDAY… 

DIMON SAID “BUSINESSES HAVE TO HIRE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE TO TRAIN THEM, SO WHEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN’T DO IT, IT MAKES THIS HARDER FOR COMPANIES.” 

HE ADDED MORE CERTIFICATES AND TRAINING ARE NEEDED TO HELP PEOPLE LAND SKILLED JOBS. 

IT SEEMS STUDENTS AGREE WITH THAT.  

EDUCATION DATA SPECIALISTS NATIONAL CLEARING HOUSE REPORTED IN JANUARY THAT UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT GREW 1.2 PERCENT IN FALL 20-23 — FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN.  

THAT REPORT ALSO SHOWED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN VOCATIONAL COURSES, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN IN A PRACTICAL WAY TO PREPARE THEM FOR A SKILLS-BASED ROLE.  

THE DATABASE REPORTED THAT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES WITH A HIGH VOCATIONAL PROGRAM FOCUS, ENROLLMENT GREW 16 PERCENT IN FALL 20-23 — BRINGING THEM ABOVE FALL 20-19 LEVELS.