Flourishing Job Avenues for Those Without Degrees

No degree? No problem! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities are growing rapidly for people without four-year degrees. In addition, many of these opportunities will offer high-paying salaries. In his new book, Top 100 Careers for People Without a Four-Year Degree, career expert Michael Farr discusses several occupations expected to offer many openings and pay well.

Indianapolis, IN (PRWeb) December 4, 2006 -- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities are growing rapidly for people without four-year degrees. In addition, many of these opportunities will offer high-paying salaries. In his new book, Top 100 Careers for People Without a Four-Year Degree, career expert Michael Farr discusses several occupations expected to offer many openings and pay well.

Too often people assume the only route to a good job is through a four-year college or graduate program. Although the majority of good jobs today do require additional education and training after high school, bachelor and graduate's degrees are hardly the only avenues available to aspiring professionals who want an enjoyable job that pays well and offers strong security in the years to come.

"Opportunities abound for people without four-year degrees in almost every career field," says Michael Farr, author of Top 100 Careers Without a Four-Year Degree. This comes as promising news to many workers, considering that people without degrees hold the majority of jobs across the nation--a fact not expected to change anytime soon.

In fact, between 2002 and 2012, job openings for workers entering an occupation for the first time and who do not have a bachelor's degree are expected to total roughly 42 million, more than three times the number of job openings expected for workers with a bachelor's degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Not only are job opportunities expected to be plentiful, many will offer salaries higher than the average median salary of $27,380. "According to information from the U.S. Department of Labor, about 350 of the occupations expected to provide openings for high school graduates had higher-than-average median earnings in 2002," says Farr.

Of the high-paying occupations with the most job openings for people without a bachelor's degree, several relate to construction and manufacturing. Other openings include registered nurses, general and operations managers, sales representatives, and police and sheriff's patrol officers.

Although a four-year degree is not required for many of these jobs, it would give people seeking these career opportunities an edge over competitors. Even without a four-year degree or better, Farr reminds people that most jobs still require workers to pursue various routes of education and training.

"That may mean enrolling in vocational classes at a technical school, taking a few college courses, training on the job in an apprenticeship program, or getting an associate degree."

Top 100 Careers Without a Four-Year Degree, Eighth Edition, is available at all major bookstores and from the publisher (www.jist.com or 1.800.648.JIST). For a free media copy or to speak with the author, contact Natalie Ostrom.

JIST, America's Career Publisher, is the leading publisher of job search, career, occupational information, life skills and character education books, workbooks, assessments, videos and software.

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