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Homeschooling your children in Minnesota sets them up for success in college and beyond. Homeschooled college seniors achieve an average GPA of 3.46 versus 3.16 for other seniors, and they also graduate college at a higher rate (66.7%) than their peers (57.5%), CBS News reports. But what about life after graduation? While there’s no statistics on what homeschooled students go onto accomplish after graduation, we can look at current employment trends to see where libertarian-leaning graduates are most likely to thrive.

Gen Z set to become the most entrepreneurial generation yet

It looks like a large portion of Gen Z will become small business owners in the future (roughly 180 new businesses are registered daily in Minnesota). Roughly eight in ten students in grades five through twelve say they want to be their own boss in the future, according to a recent Gallup study. And 72% of high school students and 64% of college students are eager to start their own businesses rather than work for an employer, another study from Millennial Branding reveals. This young generation seem to be embracing typical libertarian values like self-reliance, independence, and hard work. They want to carve out their own paths after graduation rather than wait to get hired or for Minnesota’s job market to improve.

Trade school enrollment on the rise

Some college students are taking hiatuses to learn practical skills at trade school and boost their employability. In Minnesota, enrollment in college has dropped nearly 20% over the past decade, while numbers of trade school students across the country have risen from 9.6 million in 1999 to 16 million in 2014. Trade school can open up doors to high-paying professions like computer networking, nursing, mechanics, and welding. The average mechanics wage in Minnesota, for example, is $40,000 per year. Alternatively, careers requiring bachelor degrees typically start graduates out in entry-level positions with low pay. Attending trade school can boost chances of landing a higher paying first job, which helps put new graduates in a better financial position and alleviates the stress and anxiety of post-graduate uncertainty.

Self-selected additional training

Two years after Minnesota’s graduates enter the workforce, they’re already earning $20 an hour on average. Many new graduates are quick to focus on advancing their careers with additional training. It’s important new graduates make themselves aware of any additional training offered by their employers in order to make the most of their options. Taking the initiative to ask employers about available additional courses should come easy to homeschooled students, who are often noted for their tenacity, persistence, and high performance. Further training at work puts graduates in good standing for advancement and is often essential for launching a fulfilling career.

Overall, Minnesota’s libertarian-leaning graduates can look forward to entering a dynamic job market. With the right mindset, graduates will find there’s no shortage of opportunities available to them. Adopting a proactive, entrepreneurial attitude can give graduates the confidence to carve out their own path as they enter the working world.

Jennifer Oswald