The two, members of a group of business leaders and mayors called Partnership for a New American Economy that seeks to overhaul the immigration system, testified today before the House Judiciary Committee.

Bloomberg told lawmakers that about one million high-skill positions in the U.S. are unfilled because companies can’t find the right workers. “Allowing companies to far more easily fill those jobs would be perhaps the best economic stimulus package Congress could create,” he said.

Murdoch, noting he is an immigrant himself, called current U.S. policy “self-defeating” because the country now attracts successful students from around the world, educates them at top universities, and then requires many of them to leave. (News Corp., a global media company, owns The Wall Street Journal.)”

Slight aside, I hate the college requirements for jobs here. I will see postings all the time for job vacancies that require college level even though the job in now way requires higher education. In addition, the random requirements for many jobs (i.e., single, female, 5’2″ minimum, good teeth, ages 25-30) make it difficult for many people to find work.

Those who are not academically inclined can then go on to be a “meister”in a specified job, but to acquire this distinction the apprentices go through a highly regulated system which lasts years, after which, if they show promise, they are then absorbed into the workforce. This is why Germany has approximately 6.7% unemployment rate for the 21-29 age group. In comparison, Greece has roughly 65%, with Spain hovering at the 56% mark, according to a recent report in The Guardian.

Electricians, carpenters, roof installers, builders, plumbers etc. all make a very good living here. In addition, you need to show proof that you are qualified to work as an electrician for example, as most homeowners and builders require this before they hire you. Something to do with insurance, I think, and which makes perfect sense. Also, before planning approval is given by the “Gemeinde” or town hall, as a homeowner you need to submit copies of their certificates.

Not everybody aspires to finish university in Germany because you can have a successful career without it. Because Germany is still a predominantly manufacturing based country, there are plenty of jobs to go around and highly trained, skilled workers are in great demand. Unfortunately, it is difficult for non German EU citizens to come and work here because of the language, and more importantly, the system of apprenticeships. German workers are sought after even outside Germany because they are perceived to be highly trained to an exact standard.

And we have not said enough about paying teachers living wages especially in developing countries such that we lose many good ones to brain drain when we need them for quality education.

My daughter in law is sending one of my grandchildren to an expensive college here in the US. The boy never really shone in academic subjects but he loved a metal/woodworking class that his secondary school provided. An associate who has an excellent machine tooling business in Tel Aviv proposed to my son that the boy do a machine tooling course and get certified with London City Guilds. True machinists are very hard to come by in 2013. You need to go through the five year apprenticeship and then spend another two or three years getting used to advanced CNC machines and the various software packages. The machines can cost anywhere north of half a million dollars so you really have to know your stuff. The boy is not really happy in college and I hope that he will follow through with the machinist course.

I would be truly happy as he would have so many more options in life with this course. He could easily set up his own business and provide specialized tooling services to the pharma or aerospace industries. The boy would be mobile and could bring a business and his skills to any part of the world. London City Guilds certification is recognized worldwide. My daughter in law had vague dreams that maybe the boy would become a hot lawyer on Wall Street. This kind of thinking harkens back to the 1970’s and 1980’s. Life has changed and the world is getting flatter by the day.

Education has changed and the same old tired college degrees will not cut the mustard going forward. We all have to become more creative. I think it is truly refreshing that most of the people who posted support the notion that it is truly farcical for everyone to go and get a college degree. Creative education and an open outlook is important. It is not by accident that tiny Israel has more technology listings on NASDAQ than all the BRIC countries combined. Most of these guys got their hands dirty in the Army and many tested their ideas while undergoing military service. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting your hands dirty. All work has dignity. I have absolutely no problem with my grandson getting his hands dirty as he programmes CNC machines.

Jody

Based on my personal experience, a number of people may have completed all their other courses, encountered problems with their thesis, gotten other opportunities in the meantime and planned to come back and complete their degree later.

Re: The absence of Scandinavian countries. Some people will take a few courses based on what they need for their job or what they’re interested in, instead of pursuing a degree. It’s also possible to qualify for a degree by accumulating enough points in certain subject areas, but maybe people don’t bother to formally get their degree. Sweden has 18 secondary school programs (secondary school is 3 years long and preceded by 9 years of primary school, the students are about 16-19 years old) and only a third of those qualify a student for college; the rest are vocational. Vocational students can take extra courses later to qualify for college, but I think it shows that there are other tracks available. I’ve been wondering if the fact that everyone has the opportunity to go college (if they’d like) makes it less of a be-all and end-all. It isn’t an indicator of the family’s means, of how hard your parents worked to put you through school, or your intelligence.

A dual education system with regulated standards combining apprenticeships in a company and vocational education at a vocational school at the same time similar to Germany and other European countries and even now in China would be an example to follow after a basic high school diploma or equivalent.

For those academically inclined and qualifying for higher studies, students can proceed to higher education. Others might pursue the appropriate track for the required certificate or diploma. This may avoid diploma mills and turning out more unqualified professions than needed.

The US is beginning to realize this after the recent collapse of the job market while some industries are wanting for many skilled jobs, positions that cannot be filled for lack of trained workers. This is where a degree of state intervention and support is needed to determine and allocate resources working along/towards the nation’s economic goals or plan.

But first, the nation must establish its priorities, education foremost, and create a viable economic plan and hopefully, provide enough jobs for most of its properly educated citizens.