Mike Rowe is back at it. In an interview on Fox News Rowe is calling for a cultural shift in how Americans define a "good job."
Rowe first became famous due to his show "Dirty Jobs" where he travels the country and meets with people who do hard work that other people wouldn't want any part of. He did a great job highlighting the dignity of all work.
While being interviewed on Fox News by Steve Hilton, Rowe explains that there are loads of meaningful jobs available in the United States, but people are missing out on high-paying careers thanks to cultural stigmas.
Mike Rowe - redefine how we define a "good job"
Per IJR.com:
“Good work implies the existence of bad work. Bad work suggests the existence of bad jobs. If you go into the world with an expectation that you have a category of good jobs and a category of bad jobs, then you’re going to be informed to act accordingly, which means you will look at education in terms of good education and bad education. Four-year degrees. Trade schools. The language is important, so if we want to redefine the way we think about work in the coming decades, we need to redefine the definition of a good job.”
Rowe also made a mention of hos his Mike Rowe Works Foundation provides ethical scholarships to help young Americans fund their education. They help young people get their start in trade jobs such as welding, carpentry and mechanical work. He has helped many people get their start in fields where they now earn six-figure salaries and don't have to worry about the burden of student debt.
“We have 7 million jobs that are currently available, 75 percent of which don’t require a four-year degree,” Rowe said.
He took things a step further and explained how if we are able to change the cultural outlook on certain jobs, it could be a massive boost to the economy.
“People look at unemployment as a reflection of, ‘Gosh, if only we had more jobs, the unemployment would go away.’ That’s not true. That’s a big, hairy fabrication. The reality is the existence of opportunity makes people uncomfortable because it says something that’s ultimately unflattering about our country.”
Rowe explains that the best way to "change the narrative" is to showcase the skills and incredible work of those who work in industries that do not require a very expensive degree.
Great stuff from Mike Rowe.
