This article is from Inside Higher Ed.

“WASHINGTON – To the chagrin of many in technical education, the bachelor’s degree still hogs the spotlight in the minds of most students. Now, days after President Obama challenged the government to assist everyone in attending at least one year of college, many scholars and business leaders are hoping to make a strong public case for the value of the associate degree and work skills credentials.

“The Brookings Institution on Thursday held a panel discussion to coincide with the release of a policy brief from its Center on Children and Families on “The Future of Middle-Skill Jobs” – or those that do not require a bachelor’s degree, but do require some education or training following high school. Many in attendance bemoaned the promulgation of the “hourglass economy” image, which argues that there is a growing gap between highly skilled workers and unskilled workers. All the scholars present seemed to agree not only that there remain a large number of jobs for those in the middle of this spectrum, but also that this group is likely to balloon in the near future.”

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from Fox News.

“President Obama called on all Americans to commit to at least one year of higher education or career training Tuesday, as he stressed the importance of better schooling in reviving the nation’s economy during his first address to Congress. 

“The president, arguing that a high school education is no longer adequate in the global economy, said the federal government just made a ‘historic investment’ in education with its $787 billion stimulus plan. He said that while lawmakers and educators are responsible for making the system work, individuals are responsible for participating in it. 

” ‘So tonight I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training,’ Obama said. ‘This can be a community college or a four-year school, vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma.’ ”

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from Careerbuilder. 

“Ryan Saale was in a bind. He was planning to move back to St. Louis from Santiago, Chile earlier this year but, with the job market taking a downturn, it wasn’t an ideal to a start a job search — much less from 5,000 miles away.

“In preparation for the big change, he started doing freelance public relations for a large arts organization in St. Louis, while still in Chile. “Taking on the extra work was challenging, but freelancing for three months before moving helped get me revved up for job searching, building contacts and networking,” Saale says. By trying a different approach to job hunting, Saale ended up finding a permanent position after a colleague on the freelance project recommended him.

” ‘During a recession it is best to move forward with force, while your competition is moving slowly. It is easy to use the economy as an excuse,’ says Roberta Chinsky Matuson, president of Northampton, Mass. based Human Resource Solutions. ‘Successful job seekers know that even in tough economic times, there are opportunities. You just have to dig a bit deeper.’ ”

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from Inside Higher Ed.

” Stephanie Jamiot is a community college transfer student, but not the kind one might expect. Instead of following the steady flow of students who move from two-year institutions to four-year institutions, she is one of a growing number of so-called “reverse transfers” who leave four-year universities to attend community college.

Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland — Ohio’s largest two-year institution and the one Jamiot currently attends — had an 11 percent increase in the number of “reverse transfers” this spring compared to last. These students mostly come from public and private institutions around Ohio. Nationally, the American Association of Community Colleges notes that a third of all two-year students previously attended a four-year institution. The recession has led to surge in community college enrollments this year, and some experts believe these “reverse transfers” are an important and sometimes overlooked portion of that growing student body at two-year institutions.” 

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from TMCnet.com.

“(Ventura County Star (CA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 21–John Lampara is worried about being laid off from his job cleaning and preparing operating rooms for surgery at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard.

So Lampara, 34, has enrolled in the surgical technology program at the Simi Valley Adult School, hoping to turn his job into a recession-proof career assisting surgeons.

“It took being scared of being laid off for me to do this,” said Lampara, a Ventura resident. “I’ve been thinking about going to school for years, but you get comfortable with whatever you do.” People like Lampara, looking for new jobs or trying to hold on to the ones they have, are flooding classes at local community colleges and adult schools, taking courses in everything from auto mechanics to bookkeeping.”

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from MSN Careers. “While many factors come into play as reason why you might not be landing a job — the economy being the No. 1 reason to speak of — one thing job seekers often don’t think of as being a cause is the state they live in.

State unemployment rates play a huge role in whether or not you are likely to find work; the higher the unemployment rate, the more difficult it is to find a job. With today’s national unemployment rate at a dismal 7.2 percent, there aren’t many states with unemployment rates much less than that.”

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from News-Journal Online.

“DAYTONA BEACH — Some businesses thrive even in a recession. One of them is MacroTransport, an international transportation brokerage at 101 Executive Circle.

The 10-year-old firm posted a 13-percent increase in business in 2008 and is looking to open offices in China, Germany and India in 2009.

“When product and service meet a customer’s needs and expectations, business can flourish, even in tough economic times,” said Chuck Casey, company president.”

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from MSN Careers. 

“There’s no two ways about it: The economy is depressing. But like any grim situation, it has its silver lining.

Despite high unemployment rates, major job losses and decreasing employment numbers, the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics* showed 22 states recording measurably lower unemployment rates than the national average — 7.2 percent — in December 2008.”

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from the Austin American-Statesman.

“Area, national colleges report more interest in remote learning.

Demetria Barksdale tried unsuccessfully to earn a bachelor’s degree at three different colleges while she was in the Navy. It was ironic because she enlisted 22 years ago mainly to finish her education, she said.

“It was just really crazy trying to take courses while I was moving that much,” said Barksdale, 41. “Every year, I got a little closer.”

Barksdale earned an associate’s degree in 2003, thanks to online courses. Now living in Round Rock after retiring from the Navy in 2008, she is earning a bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College online as well.”

Click here to read the full article.

This article is from PR Web.

“According to research by online degree program expert Sheila Danzig, owner of TheCollegeDegrees.com and Degree.com, CPA firms and universities are continuing to be steady, reliable employers of new graduates, indicating two smart career choices.

Fort Lauderdale, FL - With interest in higher education sharply increasing in the wake of today’s economic slowdown, students are keenly eager to know which careers hold the promise of financial security - even in troubled economic times. According to research by online degree program expert Sheila Danzig, owner of TheCollegeDegrees.com and Degree.com, CPA firms and universities are continuing to be steady, reliable employers of new graduates, indicating two smart career choices.”

Click here to read the full article.