English majors since Keats have all heard it: the sigh, a roll of the eyes, “English? What are you going to do with that? You want to be a teacher?” It doesn’t improve matters that it now seems like everyone (even non-English majors) are unemployed or nervous about their current employment. California in particular has the second worst unemployment rate in the nation at 12.3% and San Diego isn’t much better with 10.1% of the labor force unemployed for the month of February 2011 according to the State of California’s Labor Market Information Division. This doesn’t mean there aren’t job openings out there, it means that there are less openings and, therefore, more competition. To succeed in such a market one must have the experience or skills that others lack. Therein lies the hope for those skilled in writing.
In this time of technology created sudo-English, half spellings, and anachronisms, the English literate is of increasing value in the workplace. According to a 2007 New York Times Article entitled “Young Workers: U Nd 2 Improve Ur Writing Skills,” 45% of Human Resource Executives asked stated that “Written Communication” was the skill that entry level workers most lacked. The second most lacked was “Critical Thinking” at 27%. Now, if one thinks of an education as an accumulation of intellectual skill sets, rather than a means to a resume filler, the English enthusiast, with their passion for critically analyzing the state of humanity through the written word, fits the needs that 72% of the other applicants lacked according to the Times study. This means good news for the English inclined job applicant. However, while this study points out an advantageous niche in the business world, the ideal job would be one which utilizes the valuable skill of writing to its optimal amount.
Economically difficult times have made people live less monetarily and rewarded quality specialization in products. Take a look at Stone Brewing Company, an award winning local Escondido craft brewery that saw a 17% increase in sales last year, despite the national beer sales volume dropping 1% in 2010. This same idea needs to be applied to careers. The increasing instability of the private business world is a motivation for the job seeker to forgo the future potential of a higher salary for the pleasures of a purposeful career. A higher level of work world competition is a challenge to the more talented to use their talents where they are most appreciated.
People typically don’t get into English to make money, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t also money to be made in the field. The top paying careers for English majors for 2010-2011 according to Payscale.com were Technical Writer (avg. $68,900 yearly), Senior Editor (avg. $64,400 yearly), and Writer (avg. $59,000 yearly) with jobs in English averaging overall around 40-50 thousand dollars a year. This isn’t awful, and certainly livable, especially when considering that one out of every ten fellow workers is unemployed. On top of that is the incalculable pleasure of performing one’s passion. It may just be a good time to be an English major after all.
C.B. James Writing 