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Job outlook remains steady, but those without
education, training will face tougher prospects
By Tyra Pacheco
Standard-Times correspondent
 In
spite of recession threats on the horizon, the job front
in Massachusetts is slowly rising, according to state
and local experts.
Massachusetts had an increase of 25,000 new jobs
statewide in 2007, and an unemployment rate of 4.3
percent, the lowest in six years. Heading into 2008,
officials expect the trend to continue.
According to Linnea Walsh of the Massachusetts Executive
Office of Labor and Workforce Development, employment in
professional, scientific and business services is up by
10,500 jobs statewide since November 2006. Much of that
growth is the result of increases in computer systems
design and related services, as well as management,
scientific and technical consulting.
"In 2008, knowledge and training will continue to be
king for the job seeker and commodities valued by
employers," said Ms. Walsh.
For many years, career counselors have stressed the
importance of schooling for those seeking employment,
but in today's job market, higher education is more
important than ever.
"Sixty-three percent of jobs require college level
skills," said Jean Fox, Literacy Entrepreneur at the
Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board. "A high
school diploma does not give you the options it used
to."
According to the Greater New Bedford Workforce and
Investment Board, some of the fields experiencing job
growth in SouthCoast over the past year are educational
and health services, transportation, utilities, leisure
and hospitality, and professional and business services.
With commercial development on the rise in the
SouthCoast region, one of the hottest employment areas
this year will be in retail.
In the new Wareham Crossing complex alone, 800 jobs are
being filled right now, according to Carl Waal,
operations manager for the Greater New Bedford Career
Center.
"The other big one is anything medical," said Mr. Waal.
"Medical supply and sales, medical software, nursing.
These are good jobs, being filled by folks with
technical skills and quality education."
Recent college graduates who chose a rising field such
as technology or healthcare will have an easier time
finding a job than some of their classmates.
"Computer science majors of all types are very, very
hot, with starting salaries for bachelor degree
graduates increasing 4 to 5 percent over last year,"
said Gail L. Berman-Martin, Ed.D., director of the UMass
Dartmouth Career Resource Center.
In keeping with "the greening of America," civil
engineering and environmental sciences are also hot
fields, Dr. Berman-Martin said, as well as nursing,
accounting and finance.
"Across the country, hiring will be up by 7 percent,"
said Dr. Berman-Martin. "On a more local level, in the
northeast, hiring will be up by 22 percent for college
graduates."
"What's not hot is manufacturing," said Mr. Waal. "But
it's maintaining. You see a lot about businesses that
are closing, but there are businesses that are growing."
"Anything we can outsource to other countries with cheap
labor, those are the areas that are not going to
expand," said Dr. Berman-Martin.
Workers in those fields often find themselves seeking a
totally different kind of job, which can require
retooling of technology skills to match a job market
which has changed dramatically over the last several
years.
"If you don't have computer skills, if you are not
technologically astute, you are really behind the
eight-ball," said Dr. Berman-Martin. "If you don't have
a degree, at least take a few courses. Skills are
transferable and people can add to what they know and
already have. Training is never going to be a waste."
One of the biggest factors in the increasing job market
is the number of baby boomers who will be retiring in
the next few years, vacating more positions than there
are qualified people to take over.
More and more people are going back to school after many
years away, to increase their skill set or make a
complete career change.
"Look for industries where your skills can transfer,"
said Ms. Fox. "More and more companies are requiring
some computer skills. Don't hesitate to check out the
community college and ask for availability of financial
aid."
If finding a new job is on your list of resolutions for
2008, Mr. Waal has some simple advice.
"Get a resume and get some smart folks to look at it. If
you're motivated and want to work, there are jobs out
there."
January 13, 2008 |
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