The pursuit of higher education has long been regarded as the golden ticket to a secure and prosperous future. But for many young Jamaicans, that ticket is beginning to feel more like an expensive receipt than a passport to opportunity.
For years, we were taught that a degree would unlock doors, lead to well-paying jobs, and secure our place in the middle class. But the realities facing graduates today paint a far different picture. Many exit university with high hopes and a student loan, only to find themselves juggling bills, battling underemployment, or stuck in roles that neither reflect their qualifications nor their worth.
The harsh truth? A degree is no longer enough.
In today’s Jamaica, young people are being challenged to think beyond tradition. The job market is evolving rapidly, and employers are increasingly valuing adaptability, soft skills, and entrepreneurial initiative just as much as formal qualifications. A degree may open the first door — but it won’t keep the lights on if you stop there.
Economic survival — and eventual success — now requires diversification. Side hustles, freelance gigs, digital platforms, and remote work opportunities have emerged as lifelines for many. Young professionals are teaching online, running small businesses on Instagram, developing apps, hosting workshops, offering services abroad — anything to add to their income and build financial security.
This isn’t a call to abandon academia. It’s a call to supplement it. If you studied marketing, you might start a consulting hustle for local businesses. If you majored in education, private tutoring or course creation could become lucrative. Even degrees in history or literature can be leveraged into content creation, research, or communications roles that exist outside traditional employment frameworks.
We must also normalize taking calculated risks — starting something from scratch, switching industries, or even declining the “safe” route for the fulfilling one. Jamaica’s youth are some of the most creative, capable minds in the world. The challenge now is ensuring that potential doesn’t get boxed in by an outdated formula for success.
Yes, the cost of living is high. Yes, real estate feels like an impossible mountain. And yes, wages often seem stuck in another decade. But waiting on politicians or policies alone won’t fix this. We need to actively create our own leverage. The internet is our marketplace. Skills are our currency. And resilience is our most valuable asset.
Of course, politics still matters. As the 2025/2026 Budget Debate wraps and speculation about a general election heats up, let’s be clear: governance plays a critical role in shaping economic conditions, access to capital, and youth opportunity. But while we await better systems, we cannot delay progress in our own lives.
Degrees are a foundation, not a finish line. The time has come for young Jamaicans to redefine what success looks like — and build it for themselves.
