(Anita Bruzzese, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE) Because many businesses are stalling in this difficult economic
climate and laying off workers at all levels, employees are scrambling
to find training as fast as possible to fill open positions in such
job-rich industries as technology and health care.
That’s why many are turning to vocational-technology schools or even
apprenticeship programs, finding they can earn good salaries after a
few years— or less— of training.
“It’s a whole new world out
there,” says Dr. Laura Wyant, chair of the division of human
development and allied technology for Marshall University in
Huntington, W.Va. “People know they need to get the skill set that
employers are interested in.”
For example, vo-tech schools
typically offer training in fields such as welding or auto repair— and
still do— but the coursework has moved into more professional fields
such as dental or pharmacy technicians and paralegals. These jobs can
typically offer salaries in the high mid-$40,000 range and have tens of
thousands of openings across the country.
“Right now, we are
saturated with people who have business degrees,” Wyant says. “As the
workplace changes, we’re going to see more professionals needing
technical assistance than they have in the past.”
At the same
time, Wyant says “more than ever” mid-career professionals are going
back to vo-tech or community colleges to learn new skills because they
can’t find work in their current industry
(
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Tags: vocational schools, schools, technology, training, economy, skills
Categories: News | The Economy