As graduates collect their high school diplomas this month, those who are heading to college should keep the job market in mind.

This Sunday will mark the last of our area high school graduations as Wells High School sends its Class of 2013 into the wider world. Already, graduates from Thornton Academy, Bonny Eagle, Sanford, Biddeford, Kennebunk and Old Orchard Beach have crossed their respective stages to collect those hard-earned diplomas.

Most graduation speeches are full of hope and excitement, with talk of changing the world and following your dreams. While many of us left our own ceremony with that spirit in our heart, few of us remember any of those words now, and it’s funny how quickly perspectives change once you have your own bills to pay or family to support.

Unfortunately, the future isn’t as sunny as we’d like for today’s graduates, despite all that talk of hope and dreams. A recent NBC News report cited an Economic Policy Institute analysis from early this spring that found the unemployment rate for high school graduates who are not pursuing a college education is still high, at 29.9 percent between March 2012 and February of 2013. It has improved since hitting a high of 32.7 percent in 2010, but it’s still a daunting number, considering that figure is up from an average of 17.5 percent in 2007 ”“ before the recession hit.

College grads still fare better, so even though the cost of continued education may seem too big of an investment, the statistics show it’s worth it in the long run, especially if grads choose their major wisely. The EPI report cites the unemployment rate for young, recent college graduates who were not pursuing higher degrees was at an average of 8.8 percent between March of 2012 and February of 2013. That’s a far cry from those with only high school diplomas, and a decrease from the 10.4 percent average in 2010 ”“ but still much higher than 5.7 percent in 2007, according to the EPI report.

There is no denying that it’s a tough job market out there, which is why it’s so important for students to take a more practical approach to their education than what has been promoted to youth in the recent past. The era of “you can be whatever you want to be” is over ”“ at least for those who want to be able to support themselves when they graduate. High schools are focusing more on marketable job skills, and graduates would do well to remember that as they choose a college major.

A quick look at any job listing site shows that health care has the most openings, by far. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’s employment outlook through 2020 shows “health care, personal care, and community and social service occupations” as the fastest growing. That’s no surprise, what with the Baby Boomer generation entering their golden years, and it’s worth noting for graduates who want a lucrative and stable career path.

Health care and social services aren’t for everyone, of course, but many other industries are seeing growth, too. For graduates, it’s worth checking out the trends and statistics to see where they should direct their energies and their money. For many years, much emphasis was placed on following your talents, dreams and wishes with little warning to young people about how that would affect them after earning a degree. College is expensive, and for too many people, the investment hasn’t paid off. A little planning and keeping an eye on the job market can help students avoid that pitfall.

It’s good to see today that high schools are preparing students better for the real world, with job training options that range from early childhood education to welding, and a focus on real-world job skills like teamwork and responsibility.

There is always a place for the arts ”“ writing, acting, video editing, dance and music ”“ but the job opportunities are getting more and more scarce. Students who are interested in these fields should know that their chances of being able to actually support themselves with a degree in, say, music performance, is not impossible, but it’s rare. Going back to school after you’ve delved into real life isn’t easy, so it’s important to consider how your degree will pay off in the end. It would be nice to see schools give students a more thorough understanding of which occupations offer a living wage after graduation and which ones have the best possibility of job opportunities, as every graduate going into continued education should have a clear vision of what their future may hold.

It’s great to get a glimpse of the Class of 2013’s aspirations through the listings of the top 10 students, many of whom are pursuing degrees in important and strong career fields like engineering, medicine, political science, criminal justice, computer science and accounting.

Whatever the Class of 2013 decides to do, we’d like to congratulate them on earning their high school diplomas. Hopefully they all realize the value of continuing their education and make a smart investment in themselves and their futures.

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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.