The Shawnee Dispatch / State releases job outlook guide

Archive for Tuesday, June 3, 2008

June 3, 2008

The Kansas Department of Labor recently released its 2004-2014 Kansas Occupational Outlook, which examines the fastest growing jobs and industries in Kansas at this time.

The handbook is intended to help anyone who is looking for a new career or has a student graduating high school in the near future. The resource can help people discover an occupation to choose as a career or what curriculum to study in college. It contains information about education requirements and median wages for each occupation and the future likely demand for a particular career path.

This year’s publication shows five of the top 10 fastest growing occupations in Kansas are in the healthcare field. Occupations expected to grow the most are home health aids, dental assistants, dental hygienists and physician assistants. Another fast-growing industry is transportation equipment manufacturing, which includes aerospace production.

The report also indicates which fields are growing the fastest by education and training requirements. For example, the occupation which is projected to have the most openings available that usually require a Bachelor’s degree or above is elementary school teachers.

More information can be found at dol.ks.gov or by calling (785) 296-5058.

How often do you go to the library?

“I almost never go there at all — only with my wife, Kim. She checks out, I’d say, at least three books a week. The kids go with her, and she teaches them how to find things.”

— Chris Lopez

More responses