Young people need skills, not always a college degree
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Today's 10th graders will be applying for their first real jobs before they know it. With our nation's economy challenged, a great deal hinges on the ability of these young people to find meaningful, challenging work when the time comes. For this to happen, students must be prepared with the skills needed to succeed -- not necessarily in the jobs they think they might want, but in the jobs that will be needed.
One challenge that must be addressed is that most kids aren't aware of which jobs are driving today's economy. In a local survey of 20,000 high school students conducted this year by Smart Futures, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization, the favored occupations were lawyer, criminal science investigator, child care worker, actor and athlete. But the real demand is for jobs critical to our future -- jobs in health care, science and engineering, information technology and finance.
A second challenge for our nation and region is that most high school students are not exposed to a realistic picture of the preparation needed for today's and tomorrow's careers.
Nationally, 95 percent of ninth graders still aspire to a four-year degree as their main ticket to success, according to Penn State Prof. Kenneth Grey in "Other Ways to Win." But the paths to career success in today's job market are far more rich and varied than in the past and require specific skill sets. In fact, only 25 percent of all occupations nationally require a four-year degree or better. The fastest-growing segment of today's job market requires skills learned with a two-year degree or less.
On a regional level, career opportunities at UPMC reflect this national demand for "skills over a degree." In the survey of high school students, the average 10th grader was not aware of jobs available in health care, except for doctor or nurse. And yet, of our top 10 hiring priorities for positions at UPMC, only three require a four-year degree or more. A full seven of the 10 in most demand -- nursing assistant/home health aide, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, certain types of nurses, medical lab technician, respiratory therapist and radiological technician -- require less training than a four-year degree. Of course, a bachelor's degree enhances a professional nursing career.
First Published March 28, 2010 12:00 am
