Why can't I make money with a high degree of education? Is it still useful to roll academic qualifications? Recently, ** University of Finance and Economics released the "Chinese Human Capital Report 2023", which shows that "due to the general increase in education attainment, the return on education in urban areas (the percentage increase in income brought by additional education in one year) is on a downward trend, and the return rate on education for urban men has increased from the highest point in 2008 to 8."3% to 57%, while urban women in the corresponding year increased from 100% to 60%。”
In the past few decades, studying, further education, and pursuing high education have always been the common beliefs and pursuits of Chinese. Education is seen as a life-changing pathway, offering the possibility for ordinary people to improve their social status and economic income. However, in recent years, with the rapid development of society and economy, people have found that even if they have a high degree of education, they may not be able to obtain a high income that matches it. This phenomenon has aroused widespread concern and thinking: can reading still change fate? Is it still useful to roll academic qualifications?
From the perspective of history and tradition, reading and education have always been a part of Chinese culture that is extremely important. The ancient imperial examination system provided opportunities for students from poor families to get ahead, while in modern society, the social and economic status of individuals through education and academic qualifications is still the main choice for many families and individuals. However, with the development of the times, this traditional concept is facing unprecedented challenges and doubts.
According to the statistics of the Chinese Human Capital Report 2023, the return on education in cities and towns is declining year by year. This means that, with a general increase in educational attainment, having higher qualifications is no longer as financially rewarding as it used to be. The reasons for this phenomenon are manifold. On the one hand, the popularization of higher education has enabled more people to obtain higher education, but at the same time, the supply of highly educated talents has also increased correspondingly, making the competition for academic qualifications more intense. On the other hand, the development of the economy and the adjustment of the industrial structure have made the demand for higher education in some industries less urgent than in the past, which also affects the economic return rate of high education.
In the face of such a reality, many people began to question: Is it still useful to roll academic qualifications? Should we abandon the pursuit of a higher degree and look for other career paths? In fact, although the rate of return to education is declining, the importance of education for personal development cannot be ignored. On the one hand, education can provide a broader vision, a richer knowledge reserve and a stronger overall quality, which are essential for the future development of individuals. On the other hand, education is also an important way to improve one's social status and obtain better employment opportunities. Therefore, we cannot simply deny the value of studying and pursuing a high degree of education.
Of course, in the face of real challenges and problems, we also need to think about how to better play the role of education. On the one hand, the society should increase investment and support for education, improve the quality and popularization of education, so that more people can access high-quality educational resources. On the other hand, individuals should also choose the right professional and career development direction according to their own interests and actual situation, rather than just blindly pursuing high academic qualifications. At the same time, society also needs to provide better support and guarantee for the development of different industries and fields, so that more people can obtain fair employment opportunities and development space.
In short, reading and education are still important ways for personal development and effective ways to improve social status. Although there are some problems and challenges in reality, we cannot simply deny the value of studying and pursuing a high degree of education. On the contrary, we should work together to improve the quality and accessibility of education from multiple aspects, and provide better support and protection for the professional development of individuals. Only in this way can we truly realize the value and significance of education and make reading an effective way to change our destiny.