I. Mapping the MarketWhere Adults Fit Into the Educational Landscape |
B. How Do I Start? |
Educational Requirements for Tomorrow's Jobs What skills are most in demand? The following tables outline the basic educational requirements of various occupations. It is important to remember that the more a job field is influenced by scientific (especially computer) technology, the more quickly these requirements are likely to change. Skill Levels Required for New Jobs | |||
Skill level |
Language | Mathematics | % New jobs |
6 |
Reads literature, scientific journals, financial reports and legal papers. Writes novels, plays, editorials, speeches. | Advanced calculus, modern algebra and statistics. | 2% |
5 |
Same as level 6 but less advanced. | Knows calculus and statistics; econometrics. | 11% |
4 |
Reads poems, newspapers, and encyclopedias. Prepares business letters and reports. Participates in open debates. | Linear and quadratric equations, logarithmic functions and deductive axiomatic geometry. |
28% |
3 |
Reads novels, magazines, and equipment instructions. Uses proper format and punctuation. Speaks well in public. | Understands basic geometry and algebra. Calculates discount, interest, profit and loss, and commissions. | 34% |
2 |
Reads adventure stories and comic books. Writes compound sentences, with proper end punctuation and adjectives and adverbs. | Adds, subtracts, multiplies and divides all units of measure. Computes ratio, rate and percent. Draws and interprets bar graphs. | 23% |
1 |
Recognizes meaning of 2,500 (two or three syllable) words. Reads at a rate of 95-120 words per minute. Writes and speaks simple sentences. | Adds and subtracts two digit numbers. Does simple calculations with money and basic units of volume, length and weight. | 4% |
Source: Wall Street Journal, February 9, 1990. | |||
Required Skill Level by Occupation |
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| Occupation | Language | Mathematics | ||
| ||||
| biochemist | 6 | 6 | ||
| computer-applications engineer | 6 | 6 | ||
| mathematician | 6 | 6 | ||
| cardiologist | 6 | 5 | ||
| social psychologist | 6 | 5 | ||
| lawyer | 6 | 4 | ||
| tax attorney | 6 | 4 | ||
| newspaper editor | 6 | 3 | ||
| accountant | 5 | 5 | ||
| personnel manager | 5 | 5 | ||
| corporate president | 5 | 5 | ||
| weather forecaster | 5 | 5 | ||
| secondary school teacher | 5 | 4 | ||
| disk jockey | 5 | 3 | ||
| elementary school teacher | 5 | 3 | ||
| financial analyst | 4 | 5 | ||
| corporate vice president | 4 | 5 | ||
| computer-sales representative | 4 | 4 | ||
| management trainee | 4 | 4 | ||
| insurance-sales agent | 3 | 4 | ||
| retail-store manager | 3 | 4 | ||
| cement mason | 3 | 3 | ||
| manager of dairy farm | 3 | 3 | ||
| poultry farmer | 3 | 3 | ||
| tile setter | 3 | 3 | ||
| travel agent | 3 | 3 | ||
| directory-assistance operator | 3 | 2 | ||
| janitor | 3 | 2 | ||
| short-order cook | 3 | 2 | ||
| assembly-line worker (appliances) | 2 | 2 | ||
| toll collector | 2 | 2 | ||
| laundry worker | 1 | 1 | ||
Source: Wall Street Journal, February 9, 1993. | ||||