Unemployed? Give Career School a Chance
Paul Richlovsky, Managing Editor, YouShouldGoToSchool.com

Adult education is generally popular in a recession, because unemployed (and even employed) people want to ensure they have a shot in a bleak job market. Second, with fewer jobs to go around, more people have the time and inclination to focus on education rather than chase good jobs that aren't there. The fact that you're less likely to be missing out on a good job while committing to full-time education is what economists call a reduced "opportunity cost." 

Continuing education as a resume-enhancer
As Scott Rostan recently pointed out on the Wall Street Journal's "Hire Education" blog, "real-world" skills gained in a workshop or continuing education class could be just as good as a master's degree for some employers. Indeed, the very act of showing such initiative might give you the edge over a competing job candidate who is otherwise equally credentialed. Furthermore, in some cases these "real-world" skills are valued MORE than academic achievement. Case in point: a 2008 survey of 2,000+ Washington State businesses found a glaring need for entry-level workers who:

• “solve problems and make decisions” 
• “resolve conflict and negotiate” 
• “cooperate with others”
• “listen actively” 

"What were you doing between jobs?"
Flexo at Consumerism Commentary talks regularly about layoffs affording you the chance to go back to school. He adds another compelling reason for continuing education:

"The great thing about pursuing additional educational opportunities, in addition to the knowledge you acquire, is it provides you with an answer to the question, 'What were you doing between jobs?' ”

Certainly, employers question employment gaps on resumes, so being able to counter with, "I was educating myself for my career" is a winning tactic.

Follow the hot jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, plenty of room remains for career education in today's job market. Only two of the top ten growing job categories require traditional college degrees: accounting and postsecondary teachers, which require a bacherlor's and a doctorate, respectively. Far greater will be the need for customer service representatives, home health aides, registered nurses and store clerks, all of which are jobs available to those with lesser education levels.

Now you hopefully can better appreciate the value of continuing education. As traditional students start to think about going back to school, you can think about continuing your own education.