A hypothesis states that increasing a person's formal higher education results in increased earnings over the individual's lifetime. In this hypothesis, "higher education" is the

independent variable.

Explanation:

Independent variable is the factor which is not impacted through modification or change in other variable and environment.They are considered as the controlled input.It can be used in experiment, research, statistical modelling, mathematical field etc,

According to the question, higher education is acting as independent variable    because it is not getting influenced through changes occurring in earnings and lifetime or other factors.

answer; i do believe that the employee must do the adjusting;