Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2009 Amercian Community Survey |
For all types of higher education, the number of women earning
degrees is rising faster than the number of men earning the same
degree. But it looks like men, who are almost always outnumbered by
women in college classes, are dropping out of college at a somewhat
higher rate than women.
The number of men and women who have not graduated from high
school has diminished by nearly 6 million, but unfortunately there
are still almost 30 million men and women who lack even that basic
level of education.
It is pretty clear that in a global, information-based economy
where most of the higher paying new jobs will require some degree
of higher education, women will have an advantage. As that
advantage grows, the pay gap between men and women will most likely
diminish, with possible consequences for family formation.
Likewise, it's pretty clear that women will continue to be a
growing powerhouse of consumer spending. When comparing spending
averages of those with and without college diplomas to national
averages, graduates outspend the average in just about every one of
the 100-plus product categories tracked by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Conversely, non-graduates spend less almost across the
board while having a larger percentage of their income coming from
unemployment compensation and public assistance.