Predicted market for "mid-level" jobs (w/out BA)

Parents Forum
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<p>Here is an interesting article about a study that shows that Massachusetts will have a growing need for workers who have "mid-level skills," meaning a high school diploma and specific vocational training, but not a college degree. The article advocates for more funding and support for this type of training, including practical nursing, paralegals, claims adjusters, mechanics, construction and many others. This segment of the job market can account for 45% of jobs, but there is not sufficient training for them.</p>

<p>Training</a> needed for mid-level jobs, study says - The Boston Globe</p>

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<p>I’m not a MA resident, but I would have a problem with funding 2 years of education after high school.</p>

<p>Why can’t we as a country teach these things DURING high school?</p>

<p>I know our region cut “shop” classes out of most schools long ago and our county tech high school is under constant budget cuts, so even if you are lucky enough to get into it, your program may not continue through all years of high school.</p>

<p>Way back in my parents day our local high schools taught secretarial courses (short hand, basic accounting). I would love to see our local high school come up with a curriculm that taught specific job skills again.</p>

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<p>To keep people out of the job market for another few years.</p>

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<p>some of them are fairly involved programs, I am not sure they can all be squeezed in during HS. Aside from that, many 15 YO’s don’t yet know what they want to do.</p>

<p>Note many public school systems offer vocational courses in HS. I am not sure how effective those programs have been’</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/OCTE/index.htm[/url]”>http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/OCTE/index.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Good reading on options that don’t require a BA (or in many cases even an AA):</p>

<p>“200 Best Jobs Through Apprenticeships” by Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin</p>

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<p>We have an aceeptional vocational education system in our region. Many kids (of all academic levels) arrange their schedule so that they can take classes there during high school. The pharmacy program is interesting as it cuts a year off the “local” college pharm program for the kids that go through it at one of several vo-techs in the area. Some of the art classes receive college credit from our area art college etc. etc. I fully support this transition education and I cringe when I read a post every year or two from someone who has “done” a 4 year degree and then decides they want to go back and start over on a career studies program.</p>

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<p>Community Colleges typically teach tech, academic or both. In our area, ours does tech. There are many businesses that hire tech students for internships. Community College is pretty low cost given the tax credits available for college tuition and books.</p>

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<p>I live in MA and work in a manufacturing plant. I have noticed over the past 6 months a lot of young kids (early 20’s) hanging outside having a smoke who weren’t there last year. So at least in my facility (we manufacture electronics) hiring is going on at a good wage. (and just to be clear, I do not smoke! but do have to leave the facility for meetings etc)</p>

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<p>Fox News in Boston picked this article up and ran a story on the 10pm news, with two opposing points of view. The title of the segment was “Is a degree really necessary?”</p>