The University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics presents New Thinking on Career Success February, 2006

... is always under construction! “The road to success…

Today’s Jobs Registered Nurses Doctors Retail Sales Clerk Lawyers Electricians

Show Me the Money! How much does our region’s workforce earn? 9% 38% 19% 20% 7% 7% $15,000 and under $15,000-$25,000 $25,000-$35,000 $35,000-$50,000 $50,000-$75,000 $75,000 and up Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pittsburgh MSA Fact: 80% of high school students expect to earn $50,000 or more

What’s Available… for $15,000 and under Pharmacy Aide $13,000 / year 570 employed H.S. plus on-the-job training Cashier $13,920 / year 31,160 employed H.S. plus on-the-job training Fast Food Cook $13,600 / year 3,240 employed H.S. plus on-the-job training Waiter/Waitress $13,420 / year 22,280 employed H.S. plus on-the-job training Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pittsburgh MSA 9%

What’s Available… for $15,000 - $25,000 Secretary $23,040 / year 23,240 employed H.S. plus on-the-job training EMT / Paramedic $22,970 / year 3,560 employed H.S. and certification Security Guard $17,310 / year 8,820 employed H.S. plus on-the-job training Hairdresser $17,540 / year 6,780 employed Post-Secondary Training, License 38% Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pittsburgh MSA

What’s Available… for $25,000 - $35,000 Highway Maintenance Worker $29,680 / year 1,780 employed H.S. plus on-the-job training Machinist $31,550 / year 3,950 employed H.S. and certification Bookkeeper/ Auditing Clerk $25,230/ year 13,950 employed Associate’s Degree 19% Private Investigators $27,430 / year 270 employed H.S. plus law enforcement experience Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pittsburgh MSA

What’s Available… for $35,000 - $50,000 Electrician $43,220 / year 5,900 employed H.S. + 2 year certificate Kindergarten Teacher $37,750 / year 600 employed Bachelor’s Degree and License (public schools) 20% Real Estate Sales Agent $43,480 / year 1,590 employed Post-Secondary Training and License Social & Community Service Manager $44,380 / year 970 employed Bachelor’s Degree Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pittsburgh MSA

What’s Available… for $50,000 - $75,000 Financial Analyst $53,940 / year 1,230 employed Bachelor’s Degree Chemical Engineer $69,580 / year 200 employed Bachelor’s Degree Computer Systems Analyst $59,330 / year 3,620 employed Bachelor’s Degree 7% Registered Nurse $49,780 / year 26,260 employed Associate Degree and License Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pittsburgh MSA

What’s Available… for $75,000 and up Physicians & Surgeons $127,560 / year 1,320 employed Professional Degree Fish and Game Warden $124,040 / year 80 employed H.S. plus long term on-the-job training Lawyer $100,610 / year 6,200 employed Professional Degree & License Chief Executive Officer $132,190 / year 5,800 employed Bachelor’s Degree/Professional Degree 7% Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Pittsburgh MSA

2014 Projected Education Requirements for Jobs Source: U.S. Department of Labor

What are our students expecting to do after high school graduation? Source: PA Department of Education *Data from the PA Dept of Education Public Schools High School Graduates by County, School, Racial/Ethnic Category, Gender and Post-High School Activity Report

Playing the Odds: Straight to Work 8% EMPLOYMENT + Immediate Earnings + On-the-Job Training + Gain Valuable Work Experience – Low Skills = Low Wages – High Risk for Unemployment – Lower Lifetime Earnings

Playing the Odds: 2 Year College 23% 2 YR COLLEGE + Fastest Growing Segment of Job Opportunities + Earning Potential Can Meet and Exceed Earnings of a 4 Year Degree + Can Acquire Skills Quickly for Current In Demand Jobs – Less Flexibility to Change Fields –$5,000 Average Debt – More Education Needed for Career Advancement

Playing the Odds: 4 Year College 58% 4 YR COLLEGE + Broader Career Choices + Graduates Have Higher Lifelong Earnings + Greater Opportunity for Advancement – Half of Students Who Start College Drop Out – Half of College Graduates are Underemployed – Average of $19,000 debt

Blue Collar White Collar Not Just… Anymore! &

Offer High Wages Require Intelligence In-Demand Reward Innovation Provide Growth Opportunities Recognize Skilled Employees Smart Jobs

Characteristics of Smart Jobs Blue Collar Repetitious work Manual labor Follow directions Task Focus White Collar Corporate bureaucracy Corporate decision- making Managerial Focus Smart Jobs Dynamic workplace Problem solving skills Divisional decisions Outcome Strategy

What Do Smart Employers Want? Employees who… Rely on intelligence, imagination and well developed skills Identify and solve complex problems that are not well defined Derive original solutions to problems that are unique Use creativity to reach practical outcomes Cross-functional knowledge of the workplace Are crucial to the profitability and success of the organization

Sample of Smart Jobs in SW Pennsylvania JobMedian SalaryNumber Employed Minimum Educational Requirement Machinist$31,5503,950 Associate Degree/Work Experience Real Estate Agent$43,4801,590 H.S and Training/Certification Electrician$43,2205,900 HS and Training/Certification Registered Nurse$50,66026,260 Associate Degree, License Systems Analyst$59,3303,620Bachelor’s Degree Radiology Tech$37,2601,940Associate Degree Source: PA Center for Workforce Information & Analysis

Playing to Win- The Smart Way! Chad Toulouse 18 years old Community college Working at a gas station $12,000 / yr Struggling to find a career goal Leaves school and enters 18 week machinist training Source: The Wall Street Journal, Online, Tuesday, July 1, 2003

Chad Toulouse 27 years old Employed by Flowserve Team Leader: Directs 70 Staff Earns $40,000 / yr Manages Work Process and Customer Satisfaction High-level Troubleshooter Production Logistics Planner Prioritizes Complex Tasks Playing to Win- The Smart Way!

1.High Impact Work: Demand Supply 2.By 2014 only 26% of jobs will require a bachelor’s degree 3.The fastest growing job market segment requires an associate degree 4.Well paying to high paying jobs are not restricted to 4 year college graduates 5.Only 15% of workers make more than $50,000

Next Steps: Acting Now! 1.Participate in career exploration activities to identify possible career paths and interests 2.Examine the different education options more in depth to understand courses need and costs 3.Read newspaper and magazine articles about jobs in the area and trends in the job markets 4.Talk to a mentor about money, both coming in and going out 5.Participate in school and community programs that focus on career development and job- readiness

“Success is never a destination…it is a journey” ~ Satenig St. Marie Visit us online at: