Westchester Career Guide

Facing the prospect of a layoff amidst the economic downturn, many jobseekers find themselves on the defensive.

Some employees have found that they must distinguish themselves in their current profession, while others have decided to change fields altogether, looking to promising new industries such as health, technology and other growing areas.

In response, educational and career training institutions have had to expand to meet growing demand for career training.

Criminal justice instructor Carol Sciannameo at Everest University in Largo, Fla., explains that a large number of jobseekers are returning to school, despite the recession. “Even though you might think that the recession makes higher education less affordable, we have actually seen increases in our enrollments despite economic difficulties,” he says. Sciannameo explains that students of all ages understand that education is an investment in their future.

Much of the growth in career education comes from workers who are seeking specialized skills or certifications needed to get a raise or promotion. Others simply want to keep their skills up-to-date in the face of changing technologies. And for others interested in entering a new career, a bachelor’s degree is now necessary, when once an associate degree or on-the-job training would do.

Long-term employment trends confirm students’ perceptions that higher education is more important today than ever before. In fact, a 2006 Department of Education report finds that jobs that require only on-the-job training are expected to see the greatest decline. In contrast, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports more than 90 percent of the fastest-growing jobs require individuals to have some form of post-secondary education.

According to a July 2008 study by the National Center for Educational Statistics, the most common areas of study for adult work-related coursework are health, business, trades and computer technology. The report finds that 35 percent of adult students participating in career-related coursework took courses in business and 32 percent in health.

Many higher education institutions are rushing to fill this demand. The NCES reports that in 2005, more post-secondary institutions offered coursework in the field of health care than any other field, with 3,700 institutions offering career programs in health care. Business and marketing was the second most common field, with 3,500 institutions offering business programs.

The focus on upgrading skills has meant that more adults are going to school than ever before, in all fields. Many educational institutions are trying to meet the unique demands of non-traditional students, by offering fast-track programs, night classes and online educational programs. With the growth of adult education, many institutions have tried to work around students’ busy lives. Students can often complete degree programs in a matter of months, as opposed to the years it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree, which helps account for the emergence of more career-training institutions and the explosion of online education. While most of the research on higher education tends to focus narrowly on universities, the 2008 NCES study reported that of all career-related credentials granted in 2005, a full 21 percent were associate degrees, and 36 percent were certificates from career-training institutions. And 13 percent of the career-related certificates came from career training institutions with programs shorter than two years.

Despite the additional time and cost needed upfront, research shows that higher education tends to benefit individuals who invest the needed time and effort. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that while a high school graduate on average earns about $1.2 million over his or her lifetime, an associate degree holder earns about $1.6 million and a bachelor’s degree holder earns about $2.1 million — almost $1 million more than high school grads.

The possibility of increased salary is a powerful motivator for many potential students, even amidst a recession, says online instructor Chris Cozzolino from Everest University Online. “Our students recognize that education truly is the best investment they can make. They are willing to invest the time and effort needed to get a certification or degree that is necessary to find a stable career,” Cozzolino says.

Courtesy: ARAcontent

Tags:

bureau of labor statistics, business trades, certification, criminal justice instructor, educational programs, employment trends, fastest growing jobs, General, health technology, layoff, online education, post secondary education, recession, returning to school, Training, training institutions

 

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