The US Department of Labor (DOL) reported Wednesday that metro Atlanta lost 82,000 jobs in the last year, a 3.3 percent decrease in jobs, placing it fifth among metropolitan areas with the largest over-the-year decreases in employment. With well-regarded companies such as Home Depot, IBM and others forced to lay off employees, the problem does not appear to be going away anytime soon. Atlantans must begin to actively protect their job security, or prepare for a job search, whether in the same field or in a completely new industry. “Lifelong Learning is the key,” DOL Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond said Thursday. He went on to express his support of Emory’s career open house, saying that it “presents an excellent opportunity for the employed and unemployed to access career training that will increase their ability to succeed in a downturned economy and improve their marketability when the economy rebounds.”
ECLL’s Professional Learning Open House will begin with a short general session, during which participants will hear from ECLL Executive Director, Stoffle about ECLL’s role in supporting Atlantans through professional and career training programs. Next, participants will have the chance to hear details about two programs of their choice in thirty-minute breakout sessions. The event will end with a general question and answer session for those who have additional questions. Complimentary coffee will be provided.
According to Jennifer John, EPLP Program Manager and co-planner for the event, EPLP staff chose the programs to emphasize in the open house “based on the popularity of the field and the potential for future job growth.” In fact, according to statistics from the Georgia DOL Workforce Information and Analysis Division’s publication “Georgia Workforce Trends: An Analysis of Long-term Employment Projections to 2014,” many of the career tracks included in the open house event are listed as some of the fastest growing occupations in Georgia. Computer, legal and financial advisor jobs are three examples of fast-growing occupations, while management positions account for eight of the fourteen “hot” jobs on the Georgia DOL list of jobs with highest projected job growth that require a bachelor’s or higher degree plus some work experience.
In addition to the career track programs that will be discussed at the event, ECLL will provide information about its career development classes, including resume writing, interviewing skills, career assessment, and how to manage your career in uncertain times. Because of the current economic climate, many people are searching for jobs, but are not sure exactly how to go about it. Doug Solomon, EPLP Program Manager, suggests that “career development training is essential to a successful job hunt and can help improve an applicant’s position over other applicants in such a competitive market.”
Another obstacle in the path of actively seeking out new opportunities or increasing the security of your current situation might be a lack of funds. According to Stoffle, while ECLL “encourages pursuing job and career training in order to improve your position in the job market, we understand that availability of funds can limit one’s options.” Stoffle explained that this understanding led ECLL to enroll in Georgia’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program for the Certificates in Paralegal Studies, Financial Planning, and Web Design and Development. If an individual meets WIA eligibility requirements, they may receive grant-based funding towards completion of one of the above programs at Emory. Continuing education loans are also available through Sallie Mae. For more information about funding options, call 404-727-5413 or email jjohn2@emory.edu.
For more information about the Professional Learning Open House: Reinvent your Career, visit www.cll.emory.edu/
