4 Benefits of Education for Our Society

Education goes far beyond learning to read, write, or count. It is all about finding the reason behind education and using our knowledge to foster innovation.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela said. 

In this article, we discuss the impact of education on our society.

Environmental Benefits

Climate change is a borderless phenomenon that impacts the global community on multiple levels. Society needs to work together to take action on climate change.  

That is where education helps. It encourages individuals to change their attitudes and make more informed decisions.

Education motivates people to take action. Well-educated societies feel a higher sense of dedication and unity within the community. Highly engaged individuals can bring the feeling of togetherness and raise people’s awareness of climate change.

Precisely because of that, it is essential to integrate climate change into education. It can be addressed through formal, non-formal, and informal education. Most importantly, climate change is not limited to a single group. Instead, it can target students, communities, industries, and governments. 

Raising the awareness of climate change is particularly essential to young learners. Schools can apply for elementary school fundraising to provide students with quality subjects and resources on this topic. 

Most importantly, it does not need to be restricted to a single subject. The idea is to raise society’s awareness of the social, economic, and environmental issues caused by global warming. 

That way, education serves as a mechanism to create a workforce with the skills to power and encourage green growth. Eco-conscious individuals are more likely to greenify almost every aspect of their lives, from business management to house cleaning routines.

Creating More Employment Opportunities

Countries all around the world are amid an economic downturn resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic. The crisis threatens the international labor market and impacts employees on multiple levels.

Unemployment in the U.S. is at its highest point since the Great Depression. According to statistics, more than 44.2 million Americans filed for benefits in 2020.

One of the safest ways to recover GDP and economic returns in salary is education.

In 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics examined the relationship between education and employment rates. 

Here are several statistics showing unemployment rates by education attainment. 

• Less than a high school diploma (11.7%)
• High school diploma (9%)
• College attendance, no degree (8.3%)
• Associate’s degree (7.1%)
• Bachelor’s degree (5.5%)
• Master’s degree (4.1%)
• Professional degree (3.1%)
• Doctoral degree (2.5%)

In other words, higher education rates significantly decrease unemployment rates.

Increasing Salaries

Employees with higher education tend to have higher salaries, while those with no degree make the lowest salaries on average. 

The abovementioned study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states the same. Here are median weekly earnings by educational degree:

• Less than a high school diploma ($619)
• High school diploma ($781)
• College attendance, no degree ($877)
• Associate’s degree ($938)
• Bachelor’s degree ($1,305)
• Master’s degree ($1,545)
• Professional degree ($1,893)
• Doctoral degree ($1,885)Ensuring the Economic Growth of the Country

The economic prosperity of a nation starts with education.

Globalization requires countries to compete with one another. Economically successful countries gain a competitive advantage over other nations. Education plays a fundamental role in determining how a country will perform in the global marketplace.

By increasing innovation, productivity, and human capital, education indirectly increases overall economic growth and stability.

A country’s productivity grows as the number of educated employees increases. They can perform tasks more efficiently and meet employers’ demand for labor.

According to statistics, both secondary and tertiary education positively impact the nation’s economic growth. Namely, a 10% increase in secondary education leads to a 1.5% growth in economic growth. Furthermore, an increase of 10% in tertiary education boosts economic growth by 0.9%.

On the other hand, in underdeveloped countries, where employee education and training rates are low, a worrying number of people is still living below the poverty line. As the labor supply increases in the industries with low barriers to entry, wages usually plummet. That is particularly true for jobs that require no experience, degree, or specialized training.

Over to You

Those are just some of the numerous reasons education should never be neglected.

Education impacts our society in multiple ways, from economic growth to societal and environmental benefits. 

It also benefits society members on a more personal level by providing stable life, promoting equality, and ensuring financial security. 

How else can education impact our society? We are listening!