Charting a Career Path for Success
"No individual should go into the workforce without getting some
kind of post-secondary education or training. There's a great demand in the
market today that may not require a four-year degree but does require some
kind of post-secondary education."
So says Kentucky Governor Paul Patton is his National Business Alliance report.
Paul Kaihla confirms Governor Patton's statement in his article "The Coming
Job Boom," (September 2003, Business 2.0). He explains that in 1982, an entry
level plant operator at Intel needed only a high school education, and while
Intel still employs plant operators, that 1982 worker's skills today are obsolete.
Entry-level applicants for this job now require at least a two-year degree in
applied science.
TABLE 1. EDUCATION and JOB GROWTH, EARNINGS, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
| DEGREE |
JOB GROWTH
(thru 2008) |
MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS |
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE |
| Highschool |
11.5% |
$506 |
3.5% |
| Associate |
31.2% |
$598 |
2.7% |
| Bachelor's |
21.9% |
$956 |
1.7% |
| Master's |
18.6% |
$1,174 |
Unavailable |
| Doctoral |
23.3% |
$1,538 |
Unavailable |
By 2010, a 15% increase in jobs is forecast by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Two-thirds of those jobs will require post-secondary degrees and most will be only in specific industry sectors. The 10 fastest growing occupations, according to BLS, will be in technology and healthcare, with social and human services close behind. Sector activity is being driven by:
- Technology - increased security solutions and wireless application demands
- Technology - enhanced infrastructure requirements by small- to mid-sized companies
- Healthcare medical service needs for aging Baby Boomers medical service needs
TABLE 2. 2000-2010 FASTEST GROWING OCCUPATIONS and EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
| INDUSTRY |
OCCUPATION |
% Growth |
Education
Expectation |
| Computer |
Software engineer-applications |
100 |
Bachelor's |
| Computer |
Support specialist |
97 |
Associate |
| Computer |
Database administrator |
66 |
Bachelor's |
| Healthcare |
Physician assistants |
53 |
Bachelor's |
| Healthcare |
Audiologists |
45 |
Master's |
| Healthcare |
Speech-language pathologist |
39 |
Master's |
| Healthcare |
Dental hygienists |
37 |
Associate |
| Social |
Teachers - post-secondary |
23 |
Doctoral |
| Healthcare |
Teachers - elementary |
13 |
Bachelor's |
| Other |
Accountants and auditors |
19 |
Bachelor's |
Basic job skill requirements include computer literacy and mastery of math,
reading and writing. Workforce Economics, a National Alliance of Business publication,
states that workers are expected to process information, respond to changing
environments, work in teams and manage complex projects. Employers are increasingly
relying on workers at all levels to master technical job demands and use critical
thinking to make key decisions. By 2010, 65% of the workforce will have attended
some college either through choice or necessity. Existing workers are returning
to complete second degrees to advance their status, increase their earning potential
or avert a lay-off.
About the Author
A freelance writer, Liz Carlock runs her own business, The Write Resources,
providing writing, editing, and market strategy services to businesses, government
agencies and individuals. She has over 15 years experience in senior level marketing
positions in a variety of industries, and has worked for companies such as Sun
Microsystems, ConferTech International, and Marquest Medical Products. Liz earned
a B.S. degree in Business/Marketing at the University of Colorado and makes
Boulder, CO her home.
