Today we're looking at the the future of work (or lack thereof, as the case in point points to); and how there are now over 7 million US men of working age who do not have (or want) a job. At the same time, in 2020 (that year of many flipping tipping points) women graduate workforce participation exceeded male graduate workforce participation in what should have been a massive victory for feminism. However, more recently, (as per today's signal) women in the US are now, for the first time, agreeing that college degrees are not worth the price of admission. If female workforce trends are downstream of male workforce trends, this points to a post-work future as aspirational, or at least to a more disillusioned work force.
What are your thoughts?
Does UBI fix this? (If so, from where, across space and time is the real value going to be re allocated to keep up with the money printing?)
Has gender equality in the workforce played out the way you thought it would?
Is a degree worth the price of admission?
Is getting a job or being part of the workforce still aspirational?
Why would (should) women want to work if men don't?
Why is male educational attainment and workforce participation declining? (And who wins and who loses from this trend?
How do these trends differ in non WEIRD nations with less gender equality? (Is the future of the non WEIRD word going to be similar to that of the US, or is there another trend direction afoot?)
Let us know your thoughts! Flux Trends (and if you want to continue the conversation DM me! We have a (if I do say so myself) fantastic Post Life Audit Future of Work and Workforce workshop designed specifically to help you unpack these questions in the context of your company and culture. Call us, we're less intimidating than our all-black outfits suggest ;)
Read more:
Half of Americans lose faith in the meritocratic American Dream (and no longer believe the price of a college degree is worth admission) : https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/wsj-norc-poll-college-degree-value-drop
Work is for women (feminist win?) - why men are refusing to get a job : https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/this-is-why-7-million-men-refuse-to-work-according-to-dave-ramsey/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20report%20the,are%20not%20looking%20for%20employment.
The flippening - women and more educated and (increasingly) gainfully employed than men : https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/trust/archive/winter-2023/women-now-outnumber-men-in-the-us-college-educated-labor-force
More on the Great Flippenings of 2020 from yours truly :
Your future of work - a private salon : https://www.fluxtrends.com/the-lockdown-life-audit-private-salon/
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