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Degree's value lessens when everyone has one

Re: "University degrees are worth the cost," Aug. 30. The letter-writer claims that jobs for grads have grown substantially since 2008 whereas jobs for non-grads have declined.

Re: "University degrees are worth the cost," Aug. 30.

The letter-writer claims that jobs for grads have grown substantially since 2008 whereas jobs for non-grads have declined. She does not attempt to qualify these numbers at all, let alone mention what the average pay and working conditions for these jobs are.

She states that, on average, university grads will make $1 million more over their careers than non-grads. Is this an average, or does it lump the billionaires in with the bottle-washers?

People get degrees because employers demand them. The competition for work in a shrinking economy causes people to take drastic risks, such as paying full price for a post-secondary credential because the gamble seems like the only way to get a foot in the door. But when everyone has a degree, its relative value is lower and the odds of ending up as a glorified bottle-washer increase exponentially.

Ryan Kinrade

Victoria