Where the Jobs Are: Healthcare and Energy with a Dash of IT or Manufacturing, Says Hill Group
By Deb Smit, POP CITY

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Job seekers with a blend of skills in healthcare or energy--combined with information technology and advanced manufacturing--are perfectly positioned for jobs in the emerging regional economy, according to a study by the Hill Group.

The Community College of Allegheny County tapped the Carnegie-based consulting firm to identify the local industries and technical professions that promise the greatest growth and job potential in the future. The Emerging Industry Workforce Strategy identified three key high-growth industries: healthcare and life sciences, energy and finance and insurance.

"What is interesting is employers are looking for individuals who not only have skill sets in key areas, but also advanced manufacturing and information technology as well," says Charles Blocksidge, executive director of the CCAC Allegheny County Workforce Alliance. "In the future, individuals need to be adaptable. They need to come on the job site with a blend of job skills."

CCAC, which offers programming in these key areas, will introduce these hybrid offerings into programming, he adds.

The study specifically pinpoints job opportunities that will be in demand:

• Healthcare/life sciences and technology information, the development and application of information systems for the management of patient information in patient care and research settings.

• Healthcare/lifesciences and manufacturing, already a dominant sector, the development and application of technologies that improve patient care and provide tools for the development of healthcare remedies.

• Energy and information technology, such as the measurement, monitoring and analysis of traditional and alternative energy sources.

• Energy and manufacturing, development and application of technologies for alternative energy and/or extraction processes such as natural gas drilling.

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Source: Charles Blocksidge, CCAC Allegheny County Workforce Alliance