Our local community college's enrollment is WAY down from last spring. Usually, there is a negative

[raccoon]

correlation between the unemployment rate and the enrollment. I don't see the unemployment rate getting better.
I know times are hard.

What gives, do you think?

[winter is coming]

1. Either they can't afford it or they don't believe it will help. n/t

[Eleanors38]

3. I think you are right. The "retrain" myth is long in the tooth.

[99Forever]

2. Perhaps the growing number of "graduates" with ...

... nothing but huge student loans to pay and no jobs to show for it?

[LiberalEsto]

4. Some folks are too depressed to function

from what I've seen personally

[bhikkhu]

5. In our state its still heading up

but I do think there is a correlation. Obviously, if people could get good paying jobs without college (and the associated debt) that would be the preferred route.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. With the astronomical rise in education costs,

putting higher education out of reach for millions, it's no surprise that less people are able to seek higher education. That's not a coincidence. The PTB want it that way because an ignorant population is a more compliant population.

Add to that the removal of academia from K-12. We're no longer teaching academics, we're training worker bees. Drill, baby drill has become the new mantra. Don't ask questions, don't encourage independent thought or imagination, eliminate the humanities or someone might turn into, oh, I don't know, a human being, just memorize enough stuff to pass the test.

[sweetapogee]

7. Since the OP is talking about Community College....

I don't think the problem is community college cost or large student loans. I've been taking classes at my community college as an adult (with a BS degree) for personal enrichment. I just finished my 4th semester of night PT school. To date I've earned 20 credit hours total. Nine credits in algebra and pre-calc., 4 credits general biology, 4 credits general chemistry and 3 credits english composition.

In the math and science classes student drop rate is over 50% but to my surprise that is also true in English. Several of my classmates in my composition class are on academic probation this semester. I have to say that there are way too many students in community college (at least mine) who do not belong in college. Either they are unmotivated or lacking the pre-requisite academic skills.

Since the employment situation has been bad for several years now, it might be interesting to see if a correlation exists between unemployment and students starting college simply because they have nothing else to do. I have been amazed at the lack of motivation among some young adults in my community college since the first day of my first class.