| Employers, employees and job seekers all want to | | | | solve problems we don't even know are problems |
| know: "What are the important job skills for the | | | | yet." CCi (Corinthian Colleges, Inc.) has many initiatives |
| future?" The problem is-nobody knows! | | | | to address these challenges, including technology, |
| The Trouble with Job Forecasting | | | | curriculum, modes of student contact and instructional |
| Every few weeks a business magazine, Internet site, | | | | interface. Most importantly, recognition of the challenge, |
| or popular press publication produces an article | | | | a willingness to change, an investment in classroom |
| forecasting the jobs and careers most in demand over | | | | technology, and a "can do" attitude pave the way to |
| the next year, few years, or even decade. The | | | | the future. |
| problem is that these predictions are based on current | | | | This is not to say that other firms and educational |
| data and trends, and often rely on straight-line | | | | institutions do not share this vision of the future, or a |
| extrapolations of current employment data. Frequently | | | | willingness to change. But it is an example of a |
| demographic and technological information is | | | | progressive and proactive approach. |
| incorporated into the equation. Additional projections | | | | How does One Prepare? |
| and analysis may be performed but none of these | | | | It's challenging to prepare for a future when there is so |
| techniques are particularly accurate for forecasting | | | | much uncertainty, and things are changing so rapidly. |
| future conditions. This is because the "explosion" in | | | | What is needed is not only a "skill set" but a "mindset." |
| technology means that many jobs that don't even | | | | The technical skills you need to make a living in |
| exist today will represent major career opportunities in | | | | business, criminal justice, medical or legal fields are |
| the future. | | | | important, but given the rate of change, other abilities |
| The Job and Career Situation | | | | are at least of equal value. |
| The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that today's | | | | You've probably guessed that one of the keys to |
| graduates will have 10-14 jobs by the time they reach | | | | success in the emerging environment is education. But |
| age 38! In the current workforce, only 25% of | | | | education is not enough. You must have an attitude of |
| employees have been in their present job more than a | | | | openness, flexibility, and eagerness to learn, along with |
| year; while 50% have been there less than 5! | | | | willingness, even desire, to embrace change. And, your |
| The top 10 "in-demand" jobs for 2010 did not even | | | | education must be enriched with learning technologies, |
| exist in 2004" (statistics from "Did You Know?" video | | | | and approaches designed to engage the student and |
| created by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod and Jeff | | | | teach them to be a "lifelong learner." It must include |
| Bronman, for Corinthian Colleges, Parthenon IV, 2009). | | | | technical skills, information technologies, interpersonal |
| Corinthian Colleges (which includes Everest Universities, | | | | and communications skills. It must also incorporate |
| Colleges and Institutes as well as WyoTech) says that | | | | planning, critical thinking and analytical skills. This is a |
| they are "preparing students for jobs that don't yet | | | | good foundation for any career. |
| exist...using technologies that haven't been invented"..."to | | | | |