The job market tends to work in cycles. When the economy is good and there are more
jobs to fill than people to fill them, employers look for workers with
experience in a particular industry.
When the economy is not so good, the number of available jobs decreases
as the number of available workers increases.
The employer’s emphasis then shifts from experience to education.
Take even the most casual look around and you’ll see we’re
in the second scenario. Yes, the US
lost a lot of jobs because of outsourcing positions overseas and 9-11. Yes, we’re gaining some of those back as the
US reports hiring rates have increased in 2004 and again in 2005. But have you looked at the pay rates for
those new jobs? They’re not anywhere
near what they were before 9-11. Each
of us knows someone who is making less now than they were in 2000.
In an environment where experience counts for less, people
are looking at a college degree to help propel their careers forward. Many working adults, however, don’t have the
time or the money to invest in a bachelor’s degree program. But don’t rule out an alternative which fell
out of favor for a number of years and is now making a surprising
comeback. Welcome to the world of the
two-year degree!
Everything Old Is New Again
The economic circumstances in which we find ourselves
currently are similar to what they were in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Unemployment was high, pay rates were low,
and people were scrambling to figure out what they could do to increase their
take-home pay. Then, as now, a college
education was considered a must. Many
went to technical schools and community colleges to get a certificate of
education or an associate’s degree, using that as a springboard to gain
entrance into a four-year program.
However, in a number of fast-growing, high-tech fields, the two-year
degree was sufficient to get people a good-paying job.
Those industries such as IT now require a bachelor’s degree.
But again, as in the early 1980s, a
number of fields are growing faster than skilled people can be found to fill
them. As a result, having an
associate’s degree more than qualifies a person. For the working adult, taking classes at night or on the weekends
may increase the work schedule a bit, but is preferable to going to school
full-time exclusively. And then there’s
the added benefit of getting into the job market (and earning a higher income)
two years ahead of your four-year friends.
Now, is that incentive or what?
The Cold Hard Facts
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),
physical therapist assistant and dental hygienist are two occupations projected
to be among the fastest-growing job markets in the next ten years. Demand for these two positions is expected
to increase 40 percent between now and 2014.
Both occupations require only an associate’s degree, and both pay very
well. Dental hygienists make an average
of $43,000 a year, while physical therapist assistants earn from $28,580 to
$43,590 annually.
Listed below are some occupations that the BSL says require
either an associate’s degree or two years of college training. The hourly rates given are based on the
median range earned in 2002.
Dental Hygienist $27.09
Funeral Director $24.03
Registered Nurse $21.69
Engineering Technician $20.89
Court Reporter $19.97
Radiological Technician $19.66
Respiratory Therapist $18.69
Science Technician $18.49
Heavy Equipment Mechanic $18.48
Automotive Body Repairer $18.44
Paralegal $17.56
Cardiovascular Technologist $17.51
Sales Worker Supervisor $16.59
Machinist $16.58
Surgical Technologist $15.00
Some will think, “I can’t go to college! I’m no Brainiac!" For those of you who want to go down that road, please note that
only one of the positions listed above (science technician) could be even
remotely considered a “rocket scientist"-type job. Several of these positions involve manual labor, and one involves
sales. Besides, these are only a few of
the possibilities. With the job options
available in our changing economy, you should have no problem finding something
you’d like to do. As far as paying for
school, if you can’t qualify for government grants, check out state, local, and
even private opportunities like businesses and foundations. Sometimes people qualify for grants simply by
being of a particular heritage, or having someone in the family who works in a
specific industry. If you still think
you can’t do it, look at the table above again, and this time be sure to read
down the column that has the dollar signs in it. If the numbers there are higher than what you’re making now…well,
what the heck are you waiting for, lightning to strike?
What The Future Holds
If history is any indication, as people become more skilled
in these fields and positions are filled, additional education will be required
to qualify for them. So if you decide
that one of these career choices is for you, expect to continue your education
at some point by getting that bachelor’s degree. And let’s face it: Education
is a life-long process, not something you cram into a few years in a classroom
setting. Why not use an opportunity to
improve your level of education, increase your income, and embark on a
fulfilling career? Check with your
local community and junior colleges.
Larger universities may also offer two-year degrees. Your future awaits…but it won’t wait
forever!
Additional sources for this article include the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Resumagic.com.
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