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Remarks Delivered by
U.S. Secretary of Labor
Elaine L. Chao
Marquette University Commencement Address
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Thank you, Chairman [John] Bergstrom [Chair of Marquette
University's Board of Trustees], for this very great honor.
Chairman Bergstrom, President Wilde, faculty, administration, staff,
parents and graduates, I'm delighted to join you for the 125th commencement of
Marquette University.
Some of you might know that I'm a Kentucky resident — Marquette is
a longtime rival of the University of Louisville. We have had a long, friendly
and sometimes not-so-friendly rivalry that has produced great basketball and
some memorable moments.
One of the greatest moments for the University of Louisville's
basketball program took place right here. No, not during a basketball game. It
was when Travis Diener graduated. Many of us Cardinal fans were getting a bit
tired of his 3-point shots.
Probably the best news for basketball fans is that because both schools
moved to the Big East conference, this rivalry continues and we get to see some
great games!
Despite that strong rivalry, some great friendships have been built
between Cardinal fans and Golden Eagles fans.
I know many impressive Marquette grads, including Congressman Don
Manzullo and Jim Keppler of Keppler Associations. I have even hired a few
Golden Eagles — Andy Rajec, class of 1996, who is currently Acting
Director of the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives at USAID.
To the parents in the audience, let me be the first to welcome your
children to America's workforce. To the graduating seniors —
congratulations, and I've got good news for you.
A recent independent survey reports that U.S. college graduates are
facing the best job market in recent memory. Most employers say there is
increased competition to hire new college graduates.
The demand for workers is especially high in the business, computer,
engineering, education and health-care fields. Other growing sectors include
aerospace, biotechnology, energy, nanotechnology, financial services and
homeland security.
These growth sectors reflect the fact that our country is now part of a
worldwide economy and is transitioning to a knowledge-based workforce. Most new
jobs being created in America place a premium on knowledge and technology and
require postsecondary education. These value-added, high- skilled jobs are
increasingly the jobs of the future.
And our economy is turning out more of them everyday. America has
experienced 32 months of uninterrupted growth, creating approximately 5.3
million net new jobs since August 2003. That's more jobs created than Europe
and Japan combined. And the national unemployment rate, which the Bureau of
Labor Statistics announced several weeks ago, remains low at 4.7 percent. This
is well below the 5.7 percent average unemployment rate of the decade of the
1990s.
Investments in skills and education are paying off at higher rates than
ever before, as the experience of the past 25 years has shown. A high school
graduate will earn 25 percent more in earnings, over a lifetime, than a high
school dropout. A college graduate will earn twice the earnings, over a
lifetime, than a high school dropout. So, by graduating today, you have taken
the first step to a brighter future.
And let me share another facet of the technology-driven change that is
behind our economic growth. Today, more and more people work away from the
office because of technological advances. Many people work in flexible
environments connected by little more than a laptop, a cell phone, and a
Blackberry.
So technology has not only accelerated the rate of change. It has made
the workplace more flexible and dynamic. The workplace today empowers many more
lifestyles and career choices.
The level of dynamism and flexibility in our economy is unique in the
world. It is at the heart of our nation's competitive advantage, along with our
democratic institutions, transparency and the rule of law that form the
foundations of our way of life. This is why the United States is truly the land
of opportunity, where individuals can implement the Marquette credo of "being
the difference."
When you make a difference, you never know whose life you may touch. Let
me give you a very personal example. My father, an American of Chinese descent,
left China in 1949 amidst a civil war. In the chaos of leaving his homeland, he
was unable to bring his university transcript with him. In fact, he wasn't able
to bring very much with him at all. When my father came to America, he wanted
to pursue an advanced degree. But a number of well-known universities would not
admit him because he had no transcript — no concrete proof that he had
graduated from a university.
Then one day, through some newfound acquaintances, my father met a local
Catholic parish priest who was also connected with a Catholic university. He
listened to my father's story. And even though my family was not Catholic, he
helped him get an interview with the university. My father was accepted and did
very well. Accessing advanced education was critical to helping him succeed in
mainstream America.
My family and I will always be grateful, in ways that words alone cannot
express. We are the fortunate beneficiaries of the Catholic tradition that
looks beyond the immediate to see the whole person, and teaches that we are all
responsible to a higher power.
The recognition that we are responsible to a higher power leads many
Americans to devote time as volunteers.
As former President and CEO of the United Way of America and Director of
the Peace Corps, I've traveled throughout the world and seen firsthand how
volunteers can make a real difference in other people's lives. Helping others
is one of the most fulfilling things you will do in life.
Our country is unique in its spirit of volunteerism. It is in the act of
giving from stranger to stranger, unconnected by blood or marriage, that the
bonds of community are strengthened. By helping others, you are strengthening
the character of our country and following in a national tradition that defines
us as Americans. Throughout history, the destiny of our country has always been
determined by the willingness of its citizens to serve a cause greater than
themselves — their willingness to "be the difference."
So, let me say I hope that whatever you choose to do, you will love what
you're doing. Because if you are passionate about what you do, no matter what
you choose to do, there will be no limit to what you can achieve and no limit
to the difference you can make.
Once again, thank you for allowing me to share this very special day.
May God bless you. And may God bless America.
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