In the newly implemented system, each individual is tracked.
Every person is born, attends school, and may go on to study—sometimes for a long time, sometimes not.
Each individual belongs to a social category, which influences their chances of reaching higher levels of education.
After completing their schooling, they begin looking for a job and start working.
Children will also be born, continuing the endless cycle—unless, of course, you fail to prevent the blackout.
Education at level 3 and above is specialized in one of a dozen fields, composed around fundamental domains of knowledge.
Most of the time, people will work in the same field they studied. However, circumstances may force them to switch careers, often at the cost of losing skills—and possibly even a drop in social status. It will depends anyway of the distance between new job field and previous fields.
During their working life, individuals can gain experience, and in some cases, their education level may improve.
Both companies and the education system require a steady supply of people with the right qualifications. A business isn't just a matter of money—it also depends on having the right workers available.
You'll be able to adjust key parameters, such as the minimum working age, retirement age, and the educational programs offered in your various schools. Will you allow students to choose their own path, or will you tightly control which subjects are available?
The system also factors in fertility rates, and adult and child life expectancy—all of which can evolve over the nearly three centuries of gameplay.