Working in the 21st Century

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics:
College graduates age 25 and over earn nearly twice as much as workers who stopped with a
diploma.  College graduates have experienced growth in real (inflation-adjusted) earnings since 1979.  In contrast , high school dropouts have seen their real earnings decline.  From 1970 10 2000 the earnings of college-educated women grew nearly twice as fast as the earnings of men.  The unemployment rate for workers who dropped out of high school is nearly four time the rate of college graduates.

Did You Know?
High School graduates are more likely to go to college today than in the past.  Sixty-three percent of the year 2000 high school graduates had enrolled in college by the following fall, up from 52 percent of the class of 1970.

Employment growth, projected 1998-2008
Ten occupations are projected to add a total of about 5 million jobs during the 1998-2008 period, nearly one fourth of the projected job growth over the decade.  Occupations with the most job growth tend to have a large number of workers already.  Six of the 10 occupations retail, salespersons, cashiers, general managers and top executives, truck drivers, general office clerks, and registered nurses each employed at least 2 million workers in 1998.

Did You Know?
Kids starting working early.  Half of 12 year olds have some work experience, primarily yard work or babysitting.  Nearly four out of ten 15 year olds hold a job with a regular employer sometime the during the year, mostly in service, sales, or laborer jobs.

Percentage Change In Employment;
projected 1998-2008 of the 10 fastest growing occupations, the top 5 are computer related.  Three of the top 10 are health-related: personal care and home health aides, medical assistants, and physician assistants.

Did you Know?
Half of all persons age 35-54 participate in adult education, the majority in career of job related courses.

 

Tips For College Student Safety
Be smart reduce your risk of being victimized protect yourself with some helpful tips from the National Crime Prevention Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice.

• Protect yourself against theft don’t leave your backpacks full of valuables, always keep possession of them.  Always lock your dorm room and carry your room key at all times.  Keep all valuables out of sight in your vehicles and dorm room.  If you wallet is stolen, students should cancel all credit cards and place a fraud alert with the three credit bureaus to prevent identity theft.
• You personal safety should be a top priority, after dark students should walk with friends or find out if their school offers an escort service.  The phone numbers for 911 and campus security should be programed as cell phone speed dials, and students always carry their phones with them.
• While dating recognize the behaviors that indicate abuse.  Abuse individuals may hit or insult their partners, isolate them from family and friends, and pressure their partners to engage in unprotected sex.  If you think you’re a victim of dating violence you should seek support from a college counselor or victim service agency to get out of an abusive relationship.
• Drug abuse and alcohol consumption can raise the risk of injury, intimate partner violence and victimization.  Did you know taking prescription medication in ways not prescribed, constitutes abuse, and can be as harmful as using illicit drugs.  There’s other ways to have fun without using alcohol, such as renting movies.
• All colleges must report crime statistics to the U.S. Department of Education, which can be accessed at www.ope.ed.gov/security/main.asp For more information, visit www.ncpc.org

Making Career Choices
The best way to find out about a career is to investigate it.  We suggest that you select a person working in a field that is of interest to you, and visit that person’s work setting.  Try to spend at least twenty minutes talking with the individual in order to get a feel for what the work involves.  You may wan to ask some of the following suggested questions:

• How long have you worked in this job?
• What are your responsibilities?
• What do you like most about your job?
• Why did you choose this career?
• What is the minimum amount education requited for this job?
• Will there be special on the job training for this position?
• How will your personal qualities help you to succeed in this position?
• What changes would you make if you could redo your education?
• Consider volunteer work in your chosen career.
• Work part-time for a company that may offer internships or cooperative education opportunities that will provide you with experiences similar to those found in the career you’re interested in.

The 30 Fastest-Growing Occupations
According to the U.S. Department of Labor www.bls.gov The Bureau of Labor Statistics Economic News Release - The 30 fastest-growing occupations, 2006-2016:
1.  Network Systems and data communications analysts.
2.  Personal and home care aides
3.  Home health aides.
4.  Computer software engineers, applications.
5.  Veterinary technologists and technicians
6.  Personal financial advisors
7.  Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
8.  Medical Assistants
9.  Veterinarians
10. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors.
11. Skin care specialists
12. Financial analysts
13. Social and human service assistants
14. Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators.
15. Physical therapist assistants
16. Pharmacy technicians
17. Forensic science technicians
18. Dental hygienists
19. Mental counselors
20. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
21. Marriage and family therapists
22. Dental assistants
23. Computer system analysts
24. Database administrators
25. Computer software engineers, systems software
26. Gaming and sports book writers and runners.
27. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
28. Manicurists and pedicurists
29. Physical therapists
30. Physician assistants

Some things you can do is to identify more interesting or better paying jobs that don’t require additional training or education.  Develop a long-term or short term plan and explore and select a college major or educational program that relates to a career objective.  Check out earning information, and be prepared for interviews.

2008-2009 SAT TEST - ARE YOU READY?

To find information to take the SAT Test please visit CollegeBoard to mark your calendars and take note of the registration deadlines.  Go to: http//www.collegeboard.com/student/sat/calenfees.html