A report released by the Chronicle of Higher Education reveals that several graduates with advanced degree, both master's and doctorate, are suffering the most in this recession. Between 2007 - 2010, the amount of individuals with advanced degrees receiving unemployment benefits and food stamps has increased.
The report also shows that around 360,000 professionals with some type of graduate degree has been collecting or using some form of public assistance. That figure is considered to be usually high when it factors in the 22 million Americans that have graduate degrees.
Stacy Patton, a reporter with the Chronicle, described on the NPR, Tell Me More, why Americans with such advanced degrees are getting some type of government assistance. She explains that there happens to be an "overlap between graduate students and adjunct professors in Universities." While several professors work on contracts, they are open to part time work, which translate into lower salaries and no health benefits. After their contract expires, they may not have their contract renewed and can be asked to give up their jobs.
Patton stated that "What we continue to do in graduate schools is encourage people to take master's degrees and PhDs. But the economy has taken such a hit, and so has higher education, so they do their work and come out and don't have opportunities for jobs."
Universities admit that they tend to choose faculty that are working under contracts over those that are tenured or full-time. Their reasons were because of state budgets cuts on higher education institutions that force to use such hiring procedures.
Patton said she's heard many stories concerning advanced degree holders on welfare. "You go to graduate school, you get a master's degree [or] you get a Ph.D." she said, "it's a hard thing to embrace that you're also now on welfare." She also admits that the fact that the number of graduates with master's or doctorate degree getting help from the government, is troubling because it has tripled. She acknowledges that "One has to wonder, is this trend going to continue to increase?"
