Hi N.John,
 
There are numerous reasons that education is important. It supports a healthy democracy, scientific discovery and technological innovation; helps us understand the world we live in; and gives people many of the skills they need to enter and thrive within the workforce.  
 
By chance, are you considering this question for a specific research project or report you're working on, like this JustAsk member (who asked a very similar question this week)? http://www.education.com/question/education-important-today-society-employers/  If so, please elaborate on your project, so that I and others can provide you a more tailored response to meet your needs.
 
Thanks for asking!

Education is not only important for society as a whole, but important for the individual as well. As a human, we are uniquely built with an instinctive curiosity, and it's this which education provides satisfaction to.
 
Education is important for many reasons to an individual, none so much as the striving of self identity. In today's age, it is easy to become lost in the crowds of people, but education is a means to focus individuals into the context of the human effort. It allows them to see what the world is around them, and in turn also (or should) kindles the flame of creativity in a way that welcomes the new soul into the pack.
 
Another reason it is important to an individual is to give the person direction and aspiration. If knowledge is imparted in a way that leaves the student feeling that they need to know more about the subject, it in turn gives purpose and meaning to their life. The striving to achieve answers, combined with the natural creativity that emerges for being so unique creates that "raison d'etre". In short, without education, we are segmented from each other. There is no context to our story. We are merely dust in the wind.