getahead Guide to Career Advancement
Surveying the Landscape for Hot Jobs What Jobs are Most in Demand in Columbia? By Rodney Welch
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or anyone wondering where all the good jobs are, a recent report from the University of South Carolina mapped out some high demand areas for the next decade and a half. According to the report, “South Carolina’s Education-Workforce Matchup: 2013-2030,” authored by economists at USC’s Moore School of Business, the state is looking at a serious shortfall in the number of people available in critical jobs over the next decade and a half. “Specifically,” the report states, “by 2030 there will be a shortage of 44,010 workers with associate’s degrees and 70,540 workers with bachelor’s degrees or higher.” Universities and technical schools offer a number of different routes to these jobs, and determining which path to take is very much a matter of individual ambitions and resources. Both directions vary widely in costs: in tuition and textbooks, a four-year bachelor’s degree at the University of South Carolina typically costs about $12,000 a year, while a two-year degree at Midlands Tech generally runs about $12,500 total (depending on the course of study). Some of the following critical jobs demand a university degree, but in several cases technical schools allow an affordable alternative that can give people a start in the same career field. Here are some of the top jobs of the future, and what they require in both money and time.
registered nurse by way of either university or technical schools, both of which deliver classroom instruction as well as hands-on training in hospitals and health care facilities. For people just testing out the career, MTC offers the Certified Nursing Assistant
(CNA) program — a five-week program, costing just over $800, that provides clinical experience and leads to state board certification. “Many times individuals like to start there,” said Cathy Pitts, Midlands Tech’s executive director of programs in corporate and continuing education, and “become gainfully employed as they work toward becoming a registered nurse or even a licensed practical nurse.” Also, they may find work along the way by gaining the skills necessary to become an EKG technician or a phlebotomist (people trained in drawing blood). Although both technical colleges and universities generally graduate nurses with similar skill sets, both degrees have distinct advantages. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) certainly costs less, but a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree gives graduates the advantage of a broad fouryear education, and is increasingly preferred by hospitals. “The American Nurses Association has
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stood behind the concept of BSN education for the nurses of the future since 1965,” said Judith Curfman Thompson, CEO of the S.C. Nurses Association. “The ANA position has always encouraged easily accessible education to assist in obtaining the BSN degree.”
General and Operations Manager As this is a broad category, the education level varies accordingly, and the general rule of thumb is that if you want more, you need to learn more. While a bachelor’s degree in business or finance could qualify you for a managerial position, Tom Halasz from the USC Career Center said many students choose to continue on to an advanced degree in management, broadening their opportunities in the process. Midlands Tech also offers a number of opportunities for students aiming for careers in management, and they attract many who are already employed but are hoping to
Nursing As people live longer, health care demands increase, and trained nurses rarely lack for employment. Students can pursue a career as a March 26-April 1, 2014
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Nursing is a growing field in the Midlands. twitter.com/freetimessc
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