University education fits today's economy

This op-ed was originally published by The Vancouver Sun.

Next month, thousands of British Columbians will be celebrating their university degrees. In a fast-changing job market, many of them are no doubt asking themselves if all their hard work will have been worth it.

Their anxiety is understandable. A narrative has taken hold among some that says the skills and talents young people learn at university are out of step with the needs of our economy. “What good is a BA in today’s job market?” is not an uncommon sentiment expressed among some policymakers and in the general public.

However, it turns out that is not a sentiment shared by B.C. employers. In fact, it’s just the opposite. The kind of skills taught across university, including in the humanities and social sciences, are just the things employers are looking for in new hires.

B.C.’s annual Labour Market Outlook tells the story. Eight out of ten new job openings over the next ten years will require post-secondary education. These jobs will emerge across B.C.’s economy in new and traditional industries. And among the top 10 skills B.C. employers are looking for to fill those jobs are the abilities to actively listen, speak fluently, think critically, write well and solve complex problems—skills that are taught and taught well within university classrooms.

Student outcome surveys back this up. Two years after earning their degrees, the vast majority of SFU graduates are getting good jobs, using the skills they learned in their studies, in every field—from engineering to English. They also report very high levels of satisfaction with their educational experience in every department and field.

Why is this important?

For the simple reason that people are B.C.’s biggest social and economic asset. And when we foster their talents and skills through post-secondary education of all types, we are preparing young British Columbians to fill the jobs of tomorrow, closing the skills and talent gap, growing our economy and making a big difference for the entire province.

The province knows this. The B.C. government just released the Future Ready Action Plan that includes 3,000 new tech seats, one of the biggest expansions of post-secondary education in the province’s history. Future Ready also establishes a new training grant, expands graduate student scholarship, increases student financial aid, and creates more work-integrated learning opportunities like those provided through SFU’s renowned co-op education programs.

Business knows this. B.C.’s business community has been a powerful advocate for more skills training across the province’s post-secondary sector, particularly for those underrepresented in the workforce, including Indigenous peoples. They have been joined by leaders in the labour movement, the non-profit sector and organizations across our society.

And more than anyone else, young people know this. Students are a great market signal. And they are banging down university doors, because they know that what they learn at institutions such as SFU is a path to a better and more secure future. In programs ranging from engineering to environmental studies, communications to Indigenous studies, SFU students are learning high-demand skills. And with SFU’s new medical school opening in 2026, medical education opportunities for young people are set to grow dramatically, helping to solve the province’s doctors shortage.

So if you are preparing for graduation and wondering what’s next, know this: cAll that you learned in post-secondary institutions throughout the province sets you up well for the journey ahead, wherever you might be going. In earning your degree, you have made a big difference in your own life and a big difference for B.C. Our heartfelt congratulations.