“If you thought 2009 was a year that green took over, then think again. Over the next 10 years, the green industry is predicted to experience growth in the neighborhood of 1.5 trillion dollars. Green will continue to shape the foods we eat, the products we buy, and the way we get around — and increasingly the jobs we have.

“According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, by 2007, more than 68,200 businesses across the country accounted for more than 770,000 jobs in clean energy, ‘despite a lack of sustained government support in the past decade.’ This is expected to increase with fresh help from the Obama administration. In 2008 alone, private investors directed $5.9 billion into American businesses in this sector, a 48% increase over 2007. This rate should continue to accelerate.

“Here are five green careers that are not entirely new, but are now being completely reinvented. If you want to keep a competitive advantage in the workforce, one must learn how these top-growing jobs are ‘going green.’ These fields, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), are expected to see a growth from 6% to nearly 30%.”

Click here to read the full article.

“Online college education is expanding—rapidly. More than 4.6 million college students were taking at least one online course at the start of the 2008-2009 school year. That’s more than 1 in 4 college students, and it’s a 17 percent increase from 2007. 

“Turns out it’s the economy, stupid.

“Two major factors for the soaring numbers in the 2008-2009 school year are the sour economy and the possibility of an H1N1 flu virus outbreak, according to the seventh annual Sloan Survey of Online Learning report, titled ‘Learning on Demand: Online Education in the United States in 2009.’ But, the survey’s authors say, there is a lot more work to be done, and there’s huge potential for online education to expand, especially at larger schools.”

Click here to read the full article.

 ”When most of us think of post-secondary education, our first thoughts are about four-year degree programs where we can earn a bachelor’s degree. We may even be thinking about a master’s degree, which involves an even greater time investment.“Many people overlook associate degree programs — which generally involve two years of classes — when they consider their options. But there are a surprising number of options for graduates with associate degrees.

Success stories

“Saideh Browne has explored these options. ‘I have an associate degree from Hudson County Community College, and I am now a published author and own a speakers bureau,’ she says.

“The New York City-based Browne says her degree serves her well. ‘I’ve been self-employed for most of my life, and my business law, corporate finance and accounting courses really helped me. But practical, hands-on experience and trial by fire has taught me the most,’ Browne asserts.”

Click here to read the full article.

“Over the past year, bad news - bank failures, job loss, and a down housing market - has hovered over the economy like a dark cloud.

“But good news is on the horizon. According to Newsweek magazine, the stock market has rallied up 44% since March 2009.

“And it gets better… despite the rocky economy, there are some bright spots in the job market.

“Here are four fields that are hiring.”

Click here to read the full article.

“If there was ever any doubt about the importance of a good education, a glance at the latest employment data should be enough to dispel it.

“As the national jobless rate hovered at 10 percent last month, it was 15.3 percent for workers who never graduated high school; 10.5 percent for high school graduates; 9 percent for workers who attended some college; and 5 percent for those with a four-year degree or better, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“And workers who lack an education are fated to earn less money than their better-schooled peers. Nationwide, high school dropouts in 2008 made median earnings of $426 per week, compared with $757 for high school grads and $1,072 for college grads.”

Click here to read the full article.

“Stephen Balzac got his undergraduate degree the old-fashioned way at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but when his career focus shifted from software engineering to management and, eventually to psychology, he joined the tens of thousands of people who are earning advanced degrees online.

“‘Personally, I hate sitting in lectures, so I really liked the opportunity to arrange my time as I saw fit,’ said Balzac, who earned a master’s degree in organizational psychology from Capella University and now serves as president of 7 Steps Ahead LLC, a consulting company in Stow.

“The National Center for Education Statistics expects the number of students enrolled in distance learning courses to reach 18.2 million by 2013, up from 3.1 million in the 2000-01 academic year. About two-thirds of all post-secondary schools now offer courses online, and many offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs that can be completed without ever setting foot on campus.”

Click here to read the full article.

“No job is guaranteed to last forever, but certain industries offer more hope for longevity, an especially attractive quality these days. The health-care industry employed 14 million workers in 2006, making it the largest sector in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Its outlook is promising, with the potential to add 3 million new jobs between 2006 and 2016.“Many jobs in health care require an extensive education that combines formal schooling with on-the-job training. Naturally, you want surgeons to have several years of practice before they begin operating on patients. You might be surprised to learn how many jobs — none of which allows you to perform a transplant, thankfully — you can find in health care with a moderate amount of formal training.

“Here are seven jobs in health care that offer plenty of on-the-job training or require less than a bachelor’s degree. Not only do these jobs allow you to work in a thriving field, but you also have the satisfaction of helping someone’s well-being.”

Click here to read the full article.

“At least twice a month throughout the recession, headhunters have dangled job opportunities in front of Ryan McAllister, an actuary for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. in Novato, Calif. ‘If I were ever unhappy with my employer, I could pick up the phone and find something else very quickly,’ says the 28-year-old Mr. McAllister. He joined the high-net-worth property and casualty insurer after graduating in 2005 from the University of California at Davis, with a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics.

“Being in high demand is just one reason actuary landed at the top spot on a newly released study ranking of the 200 best and worst jobs in the U.S. The findings were based on five criteria: environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands and stress. Les Krantz, author of ‘Jobs Rated Almanac,’ compiled the rankings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau, as well as studies from trade associations and his own expertise.”

Click here to read the full article.

“This year was not kind to the U.S. worker. Layoffs, furloughs, reduced hours and decreased benefits took a toll on our work force. And while not everything will bounce back quickly in 2010, experts say a few bright spots exist for those looking for work.

“Here are some places to look if you’re in the job market.

Health Care

“Market research firm Borrell Associates says health care, which topped the list in 2009 with more than 500,000 job openings, is expected to continue to hold first place next year as well, with job openings expected to exceed 600,000.”

Click here to read the full article.