Jobs and education for the 21st century

Jobs and Education for the 21st Century

The path to a stronger future lies in modernizing employment and education, writes Lynne Agress. With thousands of government employees idle during an extended shutdown, many—especially younger workers—should focus on preparing for the careers ahead. Recent college and high school graduates must do the same.

Patience is necessary, as training or retraining requires time. Yet there is hope: opportunities in modern industries are expanding. These are jobs for the 21st century—ranging from entry-level to highly skilled positions—that can help build a prosperous society.

Addressing Climate Change through Employment

Climate change poses one of the greatest threats to the planet. If left unchecked, it could render parts of the world uninhabitable for humans, animals, and plants. From stronger hurricanes and extreme weather to floods, fires, and pollution, the consequences are global.

"To combat climate change, we need research jobs, analyst jobs, construction jobs, policy jobs — thousands of excellent positions on all levels could become available once our government acknowledges the problem."

By confronting this challenge, we can protect coastal cities like New York and areas of Florida from rising waters while also preserving polar bears and other species in the rapidly melting Arctic. Climate change, after all, shapes the environment and the quality of the air we breathe.

Lessons from the Pandemic

One unexpected benefit of the COVID-19 lockdowns was the drop in pollution levels across several major cities, as fewer people commuted by car or truck. This demonstrated how human behavior directly impacts the planet’s health and provided a glimpse of what sustainable living could achieve.

Author’s Summary

Modernizing education and work to confront climate change and emerging global challenges is essential for building a sustainable, thriving future.

The Baltimore Sun — 2025-11-08