Now’s the Time to Start Planning for a Career

Every year I watch a senior class trot across the stage at graduation and I cry--not only because I’ll miss those who were my students, but also because I know that the world they’re about to enter is less than fair and friendly.

Especially when it comes to finding a job.

Indeed, many friends my age (I just turned 30) still haven’t found substantive jobs with genuine career prospects, despite college degrees, impressive skills and relentless hunting.

Even so, there are some ways that today’s high school students can boost their chances of landing serious employment after their school years.

First, figure out which occupations are likely to be in demand when you finish school. Then, make the most of an early start to get the necessary education and training.

Probably the best research on future jobs comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projections about the work force, economic growth and employment. They’re formulated every two years to project a 10- to 15-year period.

Most significant in this year’s report is the increasingly crucial role that education will play. “Projected rates of employment growth are faster for occupations requiring higher levels of education or training than for those requiring less,” the Bureau’s “Occupational Outlook Handbook” declares.

“Three of the four fastest-growing occupational groups . . . require the highest levels of education and skill,” it says. These are executive, administrative, and managerial; professional specialty; and technicians and related support occupations.

Simply put, workers with the most education and training will have the most opportunities for high pay and advancement.

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Let’s take a look at the job fields expected to grow the most by 2005.

* Services: Numerically, this is the sector with the most promise. Employment in the area is expected to grow 34.7%, and services will account for about half of all new jobs. The field includes health (in-home or nursing care, health technicians, offices of physicians or other health professionals); business services (especially computer programmers, data processors, paralegals); education (teachers, aides, counselors, administrators); and social services (especially child day care, elderly care, family social services).

* Retail and wholesale trade: These two categories are expected to grow by 26% and 16%, respectively. Most of the increase will be in apparel and accessory stores, eating and drinking establishments, food stores, auto dealerships, gas stations and general merchandise stores.

* Finance, insurance and real estate: A 20.6% increase is predicted in this field. Investment offices, finance companies and mortgage brokers are expected to offer the most abundant employment opportunities.

* Construction: The bureau projects a growth of 18%, or about 923,000 jobs. Road and bridge construction will blossom, although building of homes and offices will wane.

* Transportation, communications, and public utilities: This diverse field, which includes jobs in truck and air transportation, travel agencies, water supply and sanitary services, is expected to increase by about 15%.

* State and local government: This category is expected to grow by 14% (the federal government, meanwhile, is projected to shrink slightly).

Bear in mind that, although all of these fields offer some positions that will not require much education or training, most of the jobs--and all of the best ones--will.

For example, work experience, special training and graduate study will be required more often for administrative and managerial jobs. Knowledge of computers will be more needed too.

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At the same time, “unskilled” workers (handlers, laborers, helpers) will find a slim job market, since automation now often does the same work more cheaply.

Manufacturing, another haven for unskilled or scarcely educated workers, will also be bleak. It’s expected to shrink by 4%, due to automation, increased imports and more overseas production by American companies.

Next week I’ll give some tips on how you can work with your teachers, counselors, people in your community and other resources to start preparing now for the jobs of the future.