(ARA) - Hopeful news has finally arrived for American families struggling in difficult economic times. The stock market has seen a steady rise, and that's great news for executives and investors, but what does this mean for the average American? How will the middle and working class be able to take advantage of the most recent economic upswing?
The latest forecast has arrived with inspiring news - recent indicators show that job cuts are not accelerating, workers who have held onto their jobs continue to get raises and total employment is expected to increase 10 percent over the next 6 years.
The challenge for many is that, in a changing job market, those without college degrees may always have difficulty escaping the recession. Indeed, the unemployment rate for those who have not gone beyond high school is more than double what it is for those with a bachelor's degree.
Maureen Pike of Baileyville, Maine, understands this all too well. She joined President Obama at his announcement on the expansion of job training and education programs. The mother of twins, Pike lost her job as a physician's receptionist, but she didn't lose hope. As the president noted that day, "She took it as an opportunity to upgrade her skills and earned an associate's degree in nursing from a community college. As a consequence, today she works as a registered nurse."
Pike was able to take advantage of her local career center to review her financial aid and job-training options.
"By my third semester, I qualified for a Pell Grant, which is even a greater relief. This allowed me to be more stable as my unemployment was running out, and I could continue to go to school without constantly worrying about supporting my kids as a single mom," Pike says.
Inspired by success stories like Pike's, EarnMyDegree.com has developed the Career Education Center - a career training and education program designed to give Americans the opportunity to pursue the career they want and prepare our country for the 21st century marketplace.
The program offers a searchable database of the top schools that offer advanced degrees, ranging from associate's to doctorate degrees, access to financial aid options for those in need of tuition assistance, and the inexpensive convenience of online classes to help manage the many commitments in the life of the average adult.
Another motivating factor is that the advantage of a college degree does not stop when just looking at unemployment rates - the average college graduate earns 80 percent more than a high school graduate.
The Career Education Center is helping to put people in a position where they will not have to struggle, whether in a recession or during prosperous times. With hundreds of schools and thousands of programs to choose from, opportunities such as this one are rare.
The Career Education Center has the tools you need to get your career in a better place. Go to
CareerEducation.EarnMyDegree.com to find out how.
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