A Million Ways to Succeed-- Without College!
Harlow Giles Unger
Author, more than 30 books, lecturer, historian. Former syndicated columnist; broadcaster; magazine and newspaper news and features writer/editor. Former assoc. prof. journalism
Assoc. Prof. H. G. Unger
[Excerpted from his book of the same name.]
Part II
WHERE THE JOBS ARE …
American industry needs millions more workers right now! Today! And the workers needed only have to have high school diplomas or equivalent to qualify—even for jobs that pay as much as $60,000 a year to start. But remember, even jobs that pay you only minimum wage to start can be doors to opportunities to high-paying supervisory positions and even management and ownership opportunities after you’ve learned enough about your new craft or trade. Almost all owners, managers, and supervisors started out as beginners. Many restaurant owners were once bussed or waited tables; many store owners and managers started out as stock clerks and salespeople; and many successful building contractors started as laborers or apprentices.
So where are these jobs? What are they? What will you have to do on the job and what kind of training will you need? To keep things simple, 120 occupations need more workers right now. Of these, more than 40 are growing at average or above average rates. Among the fastest growing are broadcast and sound engineering technicians, computer support technicians, fire inspectors, medical records and health information technicians, millwrights, pest-control workers, phlebotomists, solar photovoltaic installers, and wind turbine technicians. These and millions of other opportunities—all growing faster than average—are listed and explained in detail in my book A MILLION WAYS TO SUCCEED WITHOUT COLLEGE which you can get on Amazonbooks.com
…AND HOW TO GET THEM
Although all jobs require some on-the-job training, almost all require some form of additional skill-training, or “alternative education.” The two most common and most successful forms areon-the-job training sponsored by employer companies and apprenticeships sponsored by bother employers and labor unions. Apprenticeships lead to more than half the jobs for folks whose formal schooling ended with only a high-school diploma, and on-the-job-training is required by about 75% of all jobs in America...
Sponsored by both employers and labor unions, most apprenticeships involve about 2,000 hours, or about a year of five-day work weeks, seven hours a day. More than 500,000 men and women are now enrolled in 21,000 apprenticeship programs. Here are some of the best programs with the number of workers in each occupation and the rate of annual growth:
1. Carpenters, 1 million jobs, 8% annual growth, $48,500 median wage.
2. Construction laborers, 1.2 million jobs, 12% growth, $33,500 median wage.
3. Electrical power line installers and repairers, 120,000, 14% annual growth, $68,000 median wage.
4. Electricians, 700,000 jobs, 9% annual growth, $53,000 median wage.
5. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 6% annual growth, almost 2 million, $41,000+ median wage.
6. Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, 16% annual growth, 480,000, $51,500 median wage.
7. Sheet metal workers, 9% annual growth, 140,000, $47,000 median wage.
Like any form of education or training, beware of fraud. All legitimate apprenticeship programs in the United States register with the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in each state. More than 800 types of legitimate apprenticeship programs are registered. If you find one that isn’t, walk away. It may be a fraudulent operation.
To check, key in USDL-BAT on the internet, click “contact us” followed by your state or any other, and you’ll find all information you need to contact the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in that state.
In addition to apprenticeships, other forms of skill-training include cooperative vocational education, trade schools, technical institutes, community colleges. These and other forms of skill training are described in detail in my book A MILLION WAYS TO SUCCEED WITHOUT COLLEGE at Amazonbooks.com
As you’ll see from the numbers below, more than half the jobs available to folks who only have high school diplomas are through apprenticeships. Sponsored by both employers and labor unions, an apprenticeship usually offers the best vocational training—especially in such industries as construction, where trainees earn while they learn. Most apprenticeships involve about 2,000 hours—about a year of five-day work weeks, seven hours a day. Some apprenticeships also include some related supplementary instruction—with self-study, correspondence, or in a classroom.
More than 500,000 men and women are now enrolled in 21,000 apprenticeship programs. Here are a few of the best programs with the number of workers in each occupation and the rate of annual growth:
8. Carpenters, 1 million jobs, 8% annual growth, $48,500 median wage.
9. Construction laborers, 1.2 million jobs, 12% growth, $33,500 median wage.
10. Electrical power line installers and repairers, 120,000, 14% annual growth, $68,000 median wage.
11. Electricians, 700,000 jobs, 9% annual growth, $53,000 median wage.
12. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 6% annual growth, almost 2 million, $41,000+ median wage.
13. Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, 16% annual growth, 480,000, $51,500 median wage.
14. Sheet metal workers, 9% annual growth, 140,000, $47,000 median wage.
Like any form of education or training, beware of fraud. All legitimate apprenticeship programs in the United States register with the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in each state. More than 800 types of legitimate apprenticeship programs are registered. If you find one that isn’t, walk away. It may be a fraudulent operation.
To check, key in USDL-BAT on the internet, click “contact us” followed by your state or any other, and you’ll find all information you need to contact the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in that state.
Here are a few occupations that are growing so much faster than average and deserve a quick look:.
Broadcast and Sound Engineering Technicians, $45,500
Number of Jobs: 140,000
Job outlook: 9% (++average)
What they do: Set-up, operation, and maintenance of electrical equipment for media programs.
Training: On the job
Computer Support Specialists, $55,000
Number of Jobs: 900,000
Job outlook: 8% (++average)
What they do: Help, advice, table-top repairs to computer users.
Training: Post-high school classes, technical schools.
Fire Inspectors, $60,000
Number of Jobs: 16,000
Job outlook: 8% (++average)
What they do: Inspection of building plans to ensure adherence to federal, state, local fire codes; inspection of building to detect fire hazards
Training: Experience as firefighter; on the job.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, $42,500.
Number of Jobs: 340,000
Job outlook: 8% (++average)
What they do: Organization and management of health information and medical records.
Training: On the job.
Millwrights, $53,000
(Includes industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers.)
Number of Jobs: 525,000
Job outlook: 13% (+++average)
What they do: Installation, maintenance, and repair of a wide range of factory equipment and industrial machinery.
Training: Apprenticeships
Pest Control Workers, $37,500
Number of Jobs: 88,000
Job outlook: 9% (++average)
What they do: Removal of unwanted pests in buildings and surrounding areas.
Training: Apprenticeships.
Phlebotomists, $35,500
Number of Jobs: 132,600
Job outlook: 17% (++++average)
What they do: draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations.
Training: Post-high school certificate program from phlebotomy program.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers, $45,000
Number of Jobs: 12,000
Job outlook: 51% (+++++average)
What they do: Assemble, set up, maintain roof-top and other systems that convert sunlight into energy.
Training: Apprenticeships.
Wind Turbine Technicians, $53,000, or $25/hr.
Number of Jobs: 7,000
Job outlook: 61% (+++++average)
What they do: Install, repair, maintain wind turbines.
Training: Technical school + on-the-job.
…and How to Get Them:
If, after graduating from high school, you explore jobs offering only on-the-job training and can’t find what you like, there are a many other ways—sure ways--to get good jobs with bright futures. Often called “alternative education,” the most successful is apprenticeship, which provide more than half the jobs available to folks who have only high school diplomas
Sponsored by both employers and labor unions, an apprenticeship usually offers the best vocational training—especially in such industries as construction, where trainees earn while they learn. Most apprenticeships involve about 2,000 hours—about a year of five-day work weeks, seven hours a day. Some apprenticeships also include some related supplementary instruction—with self-study, correspondence, or in a classroom.
More than 500,000 men and women are now enrolled in 21,000 apprenticeship programs. Here are a few of the best programs with the number of workers in each occupation and the rate of annual growth:
15. Carpenters, 1 million jobs, 8% annual growth, $48,500 median wage.
16. Construction laborers, 1.2 million jobs, 12% growth, $33,500 median wage.
17. Electrical power line installers and repairers, 120,000, 14% annual growth, $68,000 median wage.
18. Electricians, 700,000 jobs, 9% annual growth, $53,000 median wage.
19. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 6% annual growth, almost 2 million, $41,000+ median wage.
20. Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, 16% annual growth, 480,000, $51,500 median wage.
21. Sheet metal workers, 9% annual growth, 140,000, $47,000 median wage.
Like any form of education or training, beware of fraud. All legitimate apprenticeship programs in the United States register with the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in each state. More than 800 types of legitimate apprenticeship programs are registered. If you find one that isn’t, walk away. It may be a fraudulent operation.
To check, key in USDL-BAT on the internet, click “contact us” followed by your state or any other, and you’ll find all information you need to contact the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in that state.
Other forms of alternative education include cooperative vocational education, trade schools, technical institutes, community colleges. You’ll find details about these and other forms of alternative vocational education and job training opportunities in my book A MILLION WAYS TO SUCCEED WITHOUT COLLEGE which is available at Amazonbooks.com
© 2021 Harlow Giles Unger