[Related to the Economics in Practice on p. 329] A June 2010 article in Bloomberg Businessweek discussed government and business concerns of the economic impact of the decline in education on growth in the United States. Go to www.bls.gov and look up the current unemployment rate. Compare this to the current unemployment rates for those without a high school diploma, those with only a high school diploma, and those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. What does this data suggest about education requirements for jobs in the United States? Then go to www.census.gov and look at the current population survey historical table A-2. Find the percentage of the total population 25 years and older that have completed 4 years of high school or more and the percentage that have completed 4 years of college or more. Compare this data with the unemployment data. What does this information suggest about future productivity and growth for the U.S. economy?

Source: Chris Farrell, “Failing U.S. Education Will Dumb Down Economic Growth,” Bloomberg Businessweek, June 24, 2010.