3 - Earning Power

JobCenter.usa.gov

MyNextMove.org

CareerOneStop.org

CareerInfoNet.org

Essential Questions:

How do people make informed decisions about their future careers?

Key Vocabulary:

• deductions

• disposable income

• employee benefits

• exemptions

• human capital

• income

• medicare

• payroll deductions

• social security

• work history

Theme Rationale:

One form of investment is the development of human capital - the knowledge, skills, talents and health that people possess. People develop their human capital through formal and informal education. To obtain education, people give up something in the short run, such as time and money, in order to gain larger returns

in the future in the form of higher income and job satisfaction. This sort of trade-off is the basis of investment behavior, whether it involves placing money in the stock market or choosing the appropriate after-high-school education. Investment in education pays off in future earning potential. High school is the time for students to plan and set goals for their future careers.

Instructional Objectives:

1. Define resources and income

2. Evaluate human capital

3. Analyze the relationship between education & potential income

4. Establish career goals

5. Outline steps required to reach a career goal