<p>For several years, my nephew, who tool a couple of courses in community college, dropped out, and got a job installing HVAC systems in new homes, laughed at his two-years-older sister, who had a master’s degree (in American studies) and bounced from one underemployment situation to another, because he was making a lot more money than she was - so much for an education, right?</p>
<p>Then the housing marked imploded, and my nephew became unemployed (and still is). My niece, OTOH, is in a management position in an insurance company where she started as a receptionist, and where her smarts and poise were recognized and rewarded. Her future is bright, even though her college major didn’t give her any so-called “marketable” skills - his, uncertain, because there’s no market for the only thing he really knows how to do.</p>