What Industry to Choose
When it comes to choosing a job, the industry you pick can make a big difference. But here's the cool part: every industry offers a wide range of jobs, not just the ones you see upfront!
Industries like healthcare, technology, and hospitality have distinct roles, but they also have essential folks behind the scenes managing tasks like accounting, human resources, and administration.
Before you dive in, explore what environments you'd thrive in, what topics get you excited, and the kind of people you want to work with. This awareness can help you narrow your job search and serve as a filter for future career decisions.
Two great tools to help you explore: O*Net and AAWDC Career Portal
Job Seekers Solve The Challenges
Check out these eye-opening workforce skills gap stats:
- Middle-Skill Opportunities: According to the National Skills Coalition, by 2025, nearly half of job openings (46%) will be middle-skill roles. But get this – only 32% of workers are currently trained for these positions. There's a big opportunity waiting! What’s a “middle skill job”? Roles that require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree. These positions typically involve specialized training, certification, or an associate degree, and they often exist in industries like healthcare, information technology, construction, manufacturing, and skilled trades.
- Digital Skills Crunch: The digital landscape is evolving fast. A whopping 54% of employees will need significant upskilling or reskilling by 2022 to keep up with the pace, says the World Economic Forum. Time to level up those tech skills!
- Soft Skills Dilemma: Soft skills are the real deal! 59% of hiring managers surveyed by Linked In agree they're hard to find. Plus, 57% of leaders say soft skills trump hard skills. It's all about communication, teamwork, and adaptability!
- Healthcare Heroes Needed: Brace yourself – the U.S. could be short 139,000 physicians by 2033, reports the Association of American Medical Colleges. That's a huge gap in the healthcare workforce and employers will be searching far and wide for skilled professionals to step in.
- Cybersecurity Crisis: Hold onto your hats – there will be a staggering 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide by 2022, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. Yep, you read that right. It's time to lock down those digital defenses and become a cyber superhero!
These statistics highlight the challenges present in today's job market. However, this is advantageous news for you because, with the right education and pathway, you can play a vital role in bridging this gap in workforce talent! That’s called “job security”.
What is Career Pathing
Career pathing, also known as career planning or career mapping, is like plotting your journey through the professional world. It's about setting goals, figuring out what skills and interests you bring to the table, exploring different job options, and making a plan to reach your career dreams.
Think of it as your personal roadmap to success – a guide to each step of your career journey, helping you notice and reach those big milestones along the way. Plus, it's a great complement to skills-based hiring, ensuring you're not just landing a job, but building a fulfilling career.
Benefits of Career Pathing
Career pathing isn't just beneficial for one party – it's a win-win-win, for the employer, the employee, and the training program. This approach to career navigation sets stage for long-term success, fostering a culture of growth, engagement, and excellence within the organization and the apprenticeship program.
