職場雙語:擁有大學學歷能找份更好的工作嗎

For a long time, the American workforce has been becoming increasingly specialized, which means that an increasing amount of education and preparation is required for many careers. A high school diploma was once a guarantee of a person's ability to handle most job skills, but this is no longer the case. In many instances, a person with only a high school diploma faces difficulties finding well-paying positions with job security. A few years of college, and preferably a degree, are now almost necessary qualifications.

長時間以來，美國勞動力日趨專業化，這就意味着大量崗位越來越需要有教育背景的職工。高中學歷曾一度是個人工作能力的保證書，但現在卻不再起效。很多例子說明，一個高中文化的人在找高薪，有保障的工作時會困難重重。幾年的大學教育和高程度的學歷已成爲目前必要的就業資格。

The Facts

事實

As the cost of a college education goes up, many begin to question whether the expense is worth the reward. Simply examining the financial differential between those with a college degree and those without one reveals that the more educated a person is, the more, on average, he will earn in his lifetime. It is estimated that people with a college degree earn almost twice as much as those with only a high school diploma; even those with only a few years of college or an associate's degree earn close to a quarter more. Though the burden of tuition and loans can seem heavy, the cost of remaining uneducated is obvious.

隨着大學教育成本增加，很多人開始質疑其花費是否能得到相應的回報。簡單地衡量一下有大學學歷和沒有該學歷的人羣間的經濟差異，就能得知一個人受教育程度越高，他一生中平均掙的錢就越多。經評估，擁有大學學歷的人羣所掙收入幾乎是僅持高中文憑的人羣的兩倍；甚至那些僅上過短暫大學的人或者準學士也會多掙將近四分之一。雖然學費和貸款負擔看似沉重，但不受教育的代價甚是明顯。

Significance

意義

Obtaining a college degree makes more than just a financial difference for the individual; rather, it can make the difference for an entire family. Those with more education are generally qualified for jobs with better benefits, including health, life, and retirement. Their jobs are, in general, more secure. Parents who make more money are also better able to provide for their children's education, increasing the likelihood that they will go to college and get good jobs. Getting a college education is one of the best ways to escape the cycle of poverty, for both yourself and your descendants.

獲取大學學歷不僅能改善個人經濟狀況；更多的是，它能對整個家庭做出貢獻。那些受過更高教育的人通常能勝任更高福利的工作，包括健康、生活以及退休都會得到更好的照顧。通常來講，他們的工作更有保障。收入更高的父母更有能力給孩子提供教育，增加孩子上大學並覓得好工作的可能性。無論對你還是你的後代，獲取大學學歷都是脫離貧困圈最好的方法之一。

Effects
效果
Though completing a college degree while you are young increases your earning potential, this does not mean that only current students can profit. Those with secure positions can earn raises and better benefits from going back to school. Those afraid of losing their jobs can acquire certification in another field, often while still working part or even full-time. For motivated students, a bachelor's degree takes about 4 years; 4 years is rarely enough time to be promoted based solely on experience. This disparity underlines the motivation behind and the importance of earning a college degree.
雖然趁着年輕完成大學學歷能夠提升你的收入潛力，但並不意味着只有在讀生才能獲此益處。那些有穩定職位的人能通過重返校園提高收入，獲得更大的利益。害怕丟掉工作的人可以在另一領域獲得資格證書，無論他們在兼職甚至是全職工作時都行。對於積極的學生來講，獲得學士學位需要約4年的時間；但僅僅憑藉經驗來升職，4年是不夠的。這個差距強調了背後的學習動力和取得大學學歷的重要性。
Considerations
考量
When deciding whether to go back to school, one of the major factors in the decision should be job security. Today, many jobs are being outsourced to other countries for cheaper labor, or are being negated through technological improvements like robots. People without a college degree are likely to do manual labor, factory work and other jobs that are becoming increasingly less secure. Therefore, it is important to realize that while a certain unskilled job might be in high demand now, this is not likely to always be the case. Those with college degrees experience more job security because they fill positions for which relatively few people are qualified.
當決定是否重返校園時，最主要的考量因素之一就是工作保障。如今，許多工作被外包給其他國家的廉價勞動力，或者被類似於機器人的先進技術所淘汰。沒有大學學歷的人便可能會去做手工活，當工人或從事其他越來越沒保障的工作。因此，一定要意識到如此無技術含量的工作都已經炙手可熱了，粗活並非是永遠的解決之道。那些有大學學歷的人更能得到工作保障，是因爲能夠勝任他們所處職位的人相對較少。
Misconceptions
誤解
Although a college degree is almost always worth the expense, it can be extremely costly, and, if you have trouble finding a job after graduation it can become a burden. Often people assume that simply getting a degree will solve all financial problems; the reality is that in order to profit the most from education, a lot of planning is in order. Before going into debt for a degree, make sure you know how much money you stand to make after you complete it. It is important not to waste money you do not have on college classes you are not prepared for or will not take seriously. However, if you think of college as an investment for dedicated individuals, its true value becomes clear.
儘管大學學歷通常物有所值，但它也可能極其昂貴，並且，如果你在畢業後難找工作，它還會成爲你的負擔。人們常常設想只要取得了學歷就能解決所有經濟問題；事實上，要想從教育中獲得最大利潤，需要有條不紊額計劃。在爲學歷負債之前，確定你知道自己畢業後能親自掙多少錢。千萬不要把錢浪費在你未準備好或不願認真學習的課堂上。但是，如果你認爲大學是個人熱忱的投資，那它真正的價值就會體現出來。