In a recent assessment of the economy, a UCLA study that reviewed long-term movements of previous recoveries, found that the lackluster performance in the gross domestic product (GDP) is not generating sufficient jobs to grow a secure middle class.

“Growth in GDP has been positive, but not exceptional,” UCLA economists wrote in their quarterly Anderson Forecast. “Jobs are growing, but not rapidly enough to create good jobs for all.”

“It’s not a recovery,” UCLA economist Edward Leamer noted. “It’s not even normal growth. It’s bad.”

That observation has long-term significance in the face of advancements in technology that will continue to take work from real workers, Leamer said. Add to that the workforce of the future isn’t being sufficiently prepared by the country’s education system, he observed.

“Regrettably we reward teachers if their students can regurgitate the information on standardized tests,” he wrote. Tomorrows workers will need creative and analytical thinking skills for 21st century jobs, he remarked.

Economists foresee the U.S. jobless rate falling to 6.9% by the end of 2014 and drop down to 6.4% by the end of 2015, and GDP growth is expected to average 1.9% this year, 2.9% in 2014 and 3% in 2015. That is if we do not suffer another crisis that would kick us to the curb during that time. Unfortunately, positive thinking can only accomplish so much. It is as if we can hear the economists and politicians saying with their eyes closed “Please, please, please, Plllleeeeeaaaasssseeee!”

Remaining student loans have tripled since 2004, as stated by Federal Reserve Bank. In 2012, public and private student loans climbed to $966 billion.

“Never before have so many young people been saddled with so much non-mortgage debt, and that burden will keep them out of the home buying market for years to come,” senior economist David Shulman wrote.

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