Finding Opportunities in a Down Economy Fast-Track Training Programs Can Boost Employability By Kristine Hartvigsen
S
ince South Carolina’s unemployment rate reached 10.9 percent in July, it seems reasonable to conclude that the jobs just aren’t there in this down economy. But workforce experts say there are jobs to be had, just not where many are looking. File photo.
A study released during the Southern Governors Association’s recent annual meeting in Asheville found that 52 percent of U.S. employers are having trouble finding qualified people to fill what they termed “mission critical” positions in such areas as health care, energy, infrastructure construction, and advanced manufacturing. These “middle-skill” occupations require specialized education beyond high school but less than a four-year university degree. Many of these positions pay well and will comprise a free-times.com | September 7-13, 2011
fast-growing portion of the job market over the next decade. “I have heard about the need for middleskill workers more and more over the last three years,” says Marshall “Sonny” White Jr., president of Midlands Technical College. “There are all kinds of middle-skill jobs in the health care industry. In fact, today that is where most of the jobs are.” Examples of middle-skill jobs in health care support include phlebotomist, nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse, medi-
cal office and billing specialist, and dental assistant. Non-health middle-skill jobs include HVAC (heating and air conditioning or refrigeration) technician, machinist, office manager, paralegal, project manager, plumber, and welder. The report, prepared by the National Skills Coalition (NSC) and titled “MiddleSkill Jobs in the American South’s Economy,” presented state-by-state analyses for the South. It found that middle-skill jobs account for more than half (53 percent) of
South Carolina’s labor market. It indicated that two-thirds of people who will be in the state’s workforce in 2025 already were working adults in 2010, so training programs for the next generation of workers should focus not solely on those coming out of high school but on seasoned workers as well. White said that, overall, 20 percent of jobs require a four-year degree; 20 percent continues on next page
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File photo. Finding Opportunities, continued from page 41
require a high school diploma; and the remaining 60 percent — the vast majority — require some sort of middle skill certification. Meanwhile, only about 43 percent of South Carolinians have some form of middle-skill certification, according to the National Skills Coalition, creating a gap between positions and people qualified to fill them.
uate in a health care field. New Carolina, the Council on Competitiveness, predicted several years ago that 65 percent of future jobs in South Carolina would require an associate’s degree or advanced technical training. And the South Carolina Department of Commerce projected that health care would be the fastest-growing workforce sector. “Seventy-five to 80 percent of my time is spent out in the business community understanding where those jobs are,” White says.
Fifty-two percent of U.S. employers are having trouble finding qualified people to fill what they termed “mission critical” positions in such areas as health care, energy, infrastructure construction, and advanced manufacturing. Many laid-off or displaced workers who are highly qualified have gone many months without a job interview and growing increasingly frustrated. A common anecdote they tell is that employers tell them simply that they are “overqualified.” “We see a lot of people with bachelor’s and master’s degrees who can’t find employment in their field,” said Lee Ann McRaney, director of admissions for Centura College in Columbia. “They are having to come in and retrain in careers that we offer.” According to the South Carolina Technical College System, 44 percent of students enrolled in the state’s technical schools are aged 25 or older, and nearly one-third grad-
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“Now, with the changing laws, particularly in health care medical records, we now need health records information people. There’s a need to combine medical assistance with information technology. The good thing is that we can quickly adapt for that.” Another area with tremendous job creation potential is in the energy industry, including nuclear plants as well as alternative energy sources such as wind and solar. “To build a nuclear plant, it takes 3,600 skilled craft workers — people like welders, electricians, and pipefitters — 10 years to build,” White says. “Then you need people with the skills to run those nuclear reactors. continues on page 44
September 7-13, 2011 | free-times.com
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Finding Opportunities, continued from page 42
Medical Assisting
HVAC Computer Technician Networking
Medical Billing & Coding
Unsure about a four-year program? We offer career training in months, not years!
Most of the people who will support those kinds of industries will be technicians that colleges like ours will train.” As the economy lags, the advantages of middle-skill jobs become more apparent. Primary among them is stability. “Many middle-skill jobs are local, hands-on jobs, meaning that they are unlikely to be outsourced to other countries,” the NSC report stated. In addition, as middle-skill jobs are filled, those workers pay taxes and purchase goods, helping elevate local economies and create even more jobs. While he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemistry from Clemson University, White has two brothers who are employed in middle-skill jobs, one as an HVAC technician and the other as a machinist. “They have never been unemployed in their lives,” White says. “What we need to change is how people look at [tech degrees]”, he adds. “High school counselors in the education environment need to understand that technical colleges are a good choice.” The South Carolina Technical College System, a partnership among the state’s 16 technical colleges, is working with economic development officials and employers to grow business opportunity in South Carolina through its ReadySC and Appren-
ticeship Carolina programs. ReadySC helps incoming employers recruit and train qualified workers for their new or expanding facilities in the state. Apprenticeship Carolina helps employers create flexible training apprenticeship programs that are registered with the federal Department of Labor. Such programs qualify South Carolina employers for tax credits while providing paid, onthe-job training for workers who are filling critical talent gaps. The Brookings Institute has projected that by 2014, sub-baccalaureate health care support jobs will increase as much as 40 percent, computer specialist jobs will increase by 20 percent, and jobs in the construction trades, installation, maintenance, and repair all will grow about 20 percent. With an estimated five job seekers for every job in the United States right now, competition is fierce. Public technical schools, as well as smaller for-profit colleges, offer courses that can land the longterm jobless in specialized jobs in as little as three weeks to six months. It’s never too late to go back to school and expand one’s professional profile. “Our school is kind of small. There are a lot of people who don’t even know what we offer,” McRaney said. “We hope word gets out there.” For more information about the Richland County Public Library’s Job Center and its services, call 929-3401 or visit the website at myrcpl.com/rcpl/job-center-rcpl.
• Rapid Path to Graduation • Financial Aid if Qualified • Job Placement Assistance • Day and Evening Classes
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Located on 7500 Two Notch Road in Columbia. Accredited School, ACCSC. Additional Certification May Be Required.
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Learn to be competitive Make yourself employable fast
QuickJobs! Pick up a paycheck sooner than you think 4 4 4 4
Start a new career or move up to a better one. Fast-paced Continuing Education programs offer Career Training. Despite the current economy, there is still a demand for skilled workers in SC. Industry experts agree that 70% of jobs projected through 2012 will require specific or occupational training, not a four-year degree.
4 4 4 4
QuickJobs programs have been developed for fields where job growth is expected. Many programs can be completed in less than three months. Some programs have annual earning potentials over $60,000. You may be eligible for tuition assistance.
Take a look at the QuickJobs training MTC offers: Business Accounting and Payroll Specialist Customer Relations Specialist Office Administrative Specialist Project Manager Computer Technology Information Technology Professional Server Administrator Computer Technician Database Manager Desktop Publisher/ Document Specialist Desktop Support and Network Administration Web Designer
Construction and Trades Building Analyst/Energy Auditor Building Construction Manager Industrial Electrician Landscaper/Horticulturist NCCER Pipefitter Residential Electrician Small Engine Mechanic Truck Driver/CDL Weatherization Technician Welder
Healthcare Cardiac Care Technician Certified Nursing Assistant Clinical Massage Therapist EKG Technician Emergency Medical Technician Health Information Technician Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Medical Transcriptionist Patient Care Technician Phlebotomist
Manufacturing Machinists/CNC Operator Six Sigma Green Belt Careers/Special Programs Audio Engineer Cake Decorator Court Interpreter Floral Designer Interior Decorator Locksmith Photographer Veterinary Assistant
Interested in something else?
There are hundreds of other certificates, programs, and even online courses offered by MTC. Check them out at mtctraining.com/quickjobs.
Start now. Don’t wait. To begin, go to mtctraining.com/quickjobs or call (803) 732-0432 for more information. Additional assistance for those receiving unemployment benefits or eligible for WIA The Midlands Workforce Development Board works in partnership with Midlands Technical College to help job seekers build the skills they need for jobs that are in demand. Call your nearest Midlands Workforce Center in Columbia, Lexington or Winnsboro and ask about the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and tuition assistance for QuickJobs training as well as other training available at MTC. In Columbia, call 737-5627. If you live closer to the Lexington One Stop, call 359-6131 or go by and ask to speak to a WIA case manager. In Winnsboro, call 635-2812 and ask about WIA.
Working Together for Tomorrow’s Workforce
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Go Where the Jobs Are Healthcare, Nuclear Industries Among Fields Growing Locally By Kristine Hartvigsen
M
idlands job seekers might find employment as nearby as their doctor’s office. Growing medical practices and hospitals continually need support employees such as licensed practical nurses and nurse assistants, phlebotomists, radiology technicians, medical transcriptionists, medical office coding and billing staff, EKG technicians, and the list goes on.
File photo.
columbia campus 607 Bush River Rd. Columbia, SC 29210 803.214.9090 Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri, 10am to 3pm Fri, 10am to 2pm Sat (Appt only), 9am to 12pm (Hours May Vary)
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Available through September 30, 2011. First come, first serve. Appointments are recommended. Cannot be combined with any other offer. One coupon per visit.
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Area hospitals are listing dozens of openings for allied health and administrative personnel, including medical office assistants, patient care technicians, medical laboratory technicians, nurse technicians, occupational therapists and pharmacy technicians. These jobs require special training and pay from $10 to $16 per hour. Those involving computer
College, Remington College, Strayer University and the University of Phoenix offer various degree and certificate programs in allied health, information technology, construction and HVAC fields. Midlands Technical College can turn out a certified nursing assistant in as little as five weeks, with tuition and books totaling about $715. A phlebotomist
This past year ... 18 percent of new Midlands Tech enrollees already had a four-year degree and were seeking additional credentials. specialization, such as database management or network administration, can pay from $20 up to $35 per hour. Becoming qualified for these jobs need not take an enormous investment in time and money. Aside from technical colleges, private institutions such as Centura College, Fortis
(someone who draws blood) can be certified and ready to work in nine weeks at a cost of about $1,140. Be sure to compare costs before enrolling; public technical colleges will usually cost less than for-profit colleges. Also ask about financial aid programs, graduation rates and September 7-13, 2011 | free-times.com
Here is a sampling of some in-demand fast-track certification courses provided through Midlands Technical College’s Quick Jobs program. For full details, visit www.midlandstech.edu. Program
Timeframe Estimated Cost*
HEALTH CARE Certified Nursing Assistant Cardiac Care Technician Phlebotomist EKG Technician Emergency Medical Technician Patient Care Technician Medical Transcriptionist/Editor Medical Office Billing and Coding Specialist
5 weeks 6 weeks 9 weeks 5 months 5 months 9 months 9 months 15 months
$714 $1,034 $1,135 $1,574 $870 $2,835 $2,769 $2,945
Schools & Instruction
Revitalize Your Career Path Train TODAY for an exciting future in:
Professional Clinical Massage Therapy • Medical Assisting • Medical Billing & Coding
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY Computer Technician Database Manager Desktop Support and Network Administration Web Designer
3 weeks 4-6 months 7 weeks 3-4 months
$3,498 $2,692 $4,999 $2,901
CONSTRUCTION AND TRADES Pipefitter Welder (daytime program) Residential Electrician Industrial Electrician
8 weeks 16 weeks 8 months 10 months
$4,750 $5,995 $2,536 $3,294
BUSINESS Customer Relations Specialist Office Administrator Project Manager
6 weeks 8 weeks 6 months
$479 $1,681 $2,621
* Cost includes tuition and books. (Source: Midlands Technical College)
job-placement rates. It’s important to make sure that going back to school will make sense financially in the long-run, rather than leave you saddled with more debt and still unemployed. At Midlands Tech, for example, financial aid is available through Pell grants and the Lottery Tuition Assistance program. “Fifty percent of our students are lowincome, first-generation students,” says president Sonny White. “They wouldn’t have the opportunity for an education otherwise.” As famously hot as Columbia is, there’s always work for heating and air condition (HVAC) technicians. Jim Reynolds, CEO of Total Comfort Solutions, a commercial HVAC company employing about 80 people in South Carolina, knows firsthand the difficulties of finding qualified HVAC technicians to hire. His company approached local high schools to try and attract students interested in entering the field. And whether it’s coincidence or not, Midlands Technical College has seen enrollment in its HVAC program nearly double in recent years. With SCANA planning two nuclear reactors in Fairfield County, White expects to see enormous job growth for positions supporting the nuclear power industry. Kelly Steinhilper, spokeswoman for the South Carolina Technical College System, agrees. “We hear quite a bit when we are working with companies looking to locate here that not only do they need the engineers, free-times.com | September 7-13, 2011
but they also need the engineering technicians to support those engineers,” she says. “The Midlands has put a lot of emphasis on the nuclear industry and is providing a lot of training around that particular industry. Welders in that industry have to have certain certifications.” “One of the things that makes the technical college system unique,” Steinhilper continues, “is that we can work together as a system and have all these programs accredited across the state.” The popular cliché that a rising tide lifts all boats is only partially accurate in a roughsailing economy. Updated training can shore up career prospects. “If you don’t have a pathway to a boat, or if your boat is leaking, you have no chance when the tide actually rises,” White says. White says that about 35 percent of Midlands Tech graduates go on to attend fouryear-institutions. This past year, however, 18 percent of new Tech enrollees already had a four-year degree and were seeking additional credentials. So, students move in both directions to follow their dreams. “The technical colleges in South Carolina are well-designed, and that is why I think they have been so successful,” White says. “But we still need to keep the focus and remind people that there are still jobs out there.”
SOUTHEASTERN I N S T I T U T E COLUMBIA Main Campus:
1420 Colonial Life Blvd. W., Suite 80 Columbia, SC 29210
1.888.547.4131 Admissions Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8a.m.-8p.m., Fri. 8a.m.-5p.m., Sat. 9a.m.-1p.m.
www.SoutheasternInstitute.edu
For information on graduation rates, student debt levels, and other disclosures, visit www.SoutheasternInstitute.edu/ConsumerInfo 540-1112-CFT-clinic-mt-5x7.indd 1
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