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Highland Helps Technical Careers Rise in Kansas

published May 5, 2016

Highland Helps Technical Careers Rise in Kansas

Highland Community College has been one of Kansas’ top sources of postsecondary technical training since 2008. Today the College recognizes the state’s increased need and support for technical careers.

Most technical careers in Kansas will see favorable growth through 2022, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.  With its Technical Center in Atchison, its Western Center in Baileyville, and Precision Agriculture to start in the fall at Wamego and Baileyville, the College is prepared to train Kansas residents and out-of-state residents for technical-based Kansas employment.

Between 2012 and 2022, Kansas construction trades jobs and those that help with the trades expect 20 percent and 31 percent job growth, respectively. This outlook coincides well with Highland’s building trades program.

Electrical technology, which is another Highland program that works closely with building trades, trains electrician helpers and electricians. Kansas expects a 31 percent job growth for electrician helpers and 20 percent growth for electricians by 2022.

Kansas’ 2012-2022 outlook for heating and air conditioning mechanics and installers is a 21 percent growth. The outlook for plumbers is the same.  Interested Kansans can learn all of these trades through Highland’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and plumbing program.

Highland’s engineering graphics and technologies program trains people to become drafters. Kansas expects a 2 percent growth in this occupation from 2012 to 2022. The College’s Associate in Applied Science degree also prepares students for eventual advancement into engineering management, which expects a 7 percent growth in Kansas.

Kansas sees continued employment growth – 9 percent – for automotive specialty technicians, which Highland can train through its automotive technology program. Highland also trains automotive body repairers – 13 percent Kansas job growth – through its automotive collision repair program.

One of the College’s most popular technical programs is diesel technology, where graduates become bus and truck mechanics as well as diesel engine specialists. Kansas expects a 9 percent job growth in this area from 2012 and 2022.

Highland’s industrial welding program trains welders, cutters and welder fitters, who can expect 6 percent job growth in Kansas from 2012 to 2022.

Kansas anticipates 12 percent job growth for secretaries and administrative assistants from 2012 to 2022. One may consider Highland’s administrative assistant program to fulfill this job need.

Occupations pertaining to the nursing and allied health fields see substantial growth in Kansas by 2022. Highland’s nursing program prepares students for a variety of careers: licensed practical nurse (25 percent job growth), registered nurse (19 percent job growth), medical office assistant (29 percent job growth), emergency medical technician and paramedic (23 percent job growth), certified nursing assistant (21 percent job growth), certified medication aide (21 percent job growth), medical records and health information specialist (22 percent job growth).

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