There’s a common belief that in order to find a job in this economy, or in the future, one must have a college degree. So, it’s no surprise that an emphasis has been placed on higher education in the recent years.
But, it turns out, that’s not the full story. A new study shows demand for workers to fill jobs in the middle of the labor market will continue to grow.
The Workforce Alliance and Bureau of Labor Statistics have conducted the study about “middle skill” jobs and how they are still an important part of the workforce and are even seeing growth in some areas. “Middle skill” jobs require technical training beyond high school but not necessarily earning a Bachelor’s degree or higher. These middle skill jobs have seen a slight decrease in recent years, but still make up roughly half of the workforce, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Workforce Alliance concluded that the healthcare, various construction-related, and maintenance/repair professionals will see the most increase through 2014. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states:
- Healthcare jobs with sub-baccalaureate education and training requirements will vary from 20 to 40%
- Employment in 5 skilled construction crafts is expected to grow by 10 to 15% and provide 4.6 million job openings
- Employment in installation/maintenance/repair and transportation will grow at similar rates and together generate more than 4 million additional openings
These jobs can range in occupation - from respiratory therapist to dental hygienist to construction. The Workforce Alliance is also reaching out to state policy makers to craft legislation to guarantee two years of training beyond high school to help meet the demand.
