OpInform 2014
Middle-Skills Learning
Opportunities within
SUNY
OpInform 2014
Jeff Livingston: The Most Neglected Skills
Watch Now
OpInform 2014
What are Middle-Skill jobs?
 Jobs that require more than a high school
education but less than a bachelor’s degree.
 Include occupations such as machinists, technicians
and healthcare workers.
 Account for nearly half of all current jobs in New
York, and the majority of future job openings.
OpInform 2014
The Forgotten Middle
 A growing gap between qualified middle-skill employees
and middle-skill jobs.
 There are approximately 4 million unfilled middle-skill jobs
(Dimon, 2014).
 In 2009, 46% of jobs in NYS were middle-skill (3.8 million
workers)
 Workers with two-year degrees in high demand occupations
can earn salaries that surpass those of four-year degrees
(Carnevale, Rose, & Cheah, 2011).
 Two-year degree holders in STEM subjects (science,
technology, engineering, and math) have greater lifetime
earnings than four-year degree holders in most other career
areas.
OpInform 2014
The “College-for-All” Mentality
 “Encourages all students to plan on college, regardless of
their past achievement” (Rosenbaum, 2001).
 Pushes underprepared students toward a four-year college
at the expense of vocational programs.
 Has created an surplus of four-year college graduates that
exceeds the number of college-level jobs available.
35% of all four-year college graduates currently have
jobs that require less than a college degree (Vedder,
2010).
12 to 24 million U.S. jobs – most requiring middle-skills
training – may go unfilled between now and 2020
(Gordon, 2009).
OpInform 2014
Manpower Group Annual Survey reveals
top 10 hardest jobs to fill in the U.S. in 2013:
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Skilled Trades
Sales Representatives
Drivers
IT Staff
Accounting & Finance Staff
Engineers
Technicians
Management/Executives
Mechanics
Teachers
OpInform 2014
SUNY Middle-skill training opportunities
MiddleSkills
SUNY
OpInform 2014
Computers
Support
Specialist
Information
Systems
SUNY Associate Program Options
Computer
Information
Systems
(Several Tech
Colleges and
CCs)
Information
Technology
(Several Tech
Colleges and
CCs)
Networking
Technologies
(Several Tech
Colleges an
Several CCs )
Cybersecurity
(Alfred and
Several CCs)
Geospatial
Technologies
(MVCC)
OpInform 2014
Construction
Carpenters
SUNY Program Options
Electricians
Operating
Engineers
Plumbers
Diesel
Technology
(Alfred,
Cobleskill,
Morrisville)
Construction
Technology
(Alfred, Delhi,
Morrisville
and some
CCs)
Welding
(Alfred, Delhi,
Jamestown,
MVCC)
Electrical
(Alfred,
Canton, Delhi
and several
CCs)
Building
Trades
(Alfred, Delhi
and some
CCs)
OpInform 2014
Healthcare
Dental
Hygienist
Medical Lab
Technicians
Licensed
Practical
Nurses
Radiation
Therapists
Radiology
Technicians
Surgical
Technologists
Possible SUNY Program Options
Histotechnician
(Cobleskill)
EMT
Paramedic
(Cobleskill,
several CCs)
Nursing
(Alfred,
Canton, Delhi,
Morrisville,
most CCs)
Dental
Hygiene
Polysomnography
(Canton,
Farmingdale,
and some
CCs)
(GCC, HVCC
and MVCC)
OpInform 2014
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Aircraft
Mechanics
Related SUNY Program Options
Auto
Mechanics
Heating and
AC Installation
Heavy
Equipment
Mechanics
Machinists
HVAC
(Alfred,
Canton,
Delhi, and
CCs)
Automotive
Technology
(Alfred,
Canton,
Farmingdale
and CCs)
Advanced
Manufacturing
(Alfred, HVCC
and
Onondaga)
Aircraft
Maintenance (MVCC)
Machinists
(Alfred and
CCs)
OpInform 2014
Public Safety
EMT,
Paramedic
SUNY Program Options
Fire
Fighting
and
Prevention
Criminal
Justice/Homeland Security
Detectives
(Canton, Delhi,
Farmingdale and
CCs)
Chemical
Dependency
Counseling
(Several CCs)
Fire Protection
Technology
(Several CCs)
Economic Crime
(GCC and
Niagara)
OpInform 2014
Service
Chef
Hospitality
Restaurant
Management
SUNY Program Options
Culinary Arts
(Alfred,
Cobleskill,
Delhi,
Morrisville
and some
CCs)
Food Services
(Cobleskill,
Delhi,
Morrisville
and some
CCs)
Hotel and
Restaurant
Management
(Delhi,
Cobleskill and
some CCs)
Gaming and
Casino
Management
(Morrisville
and some
CCs)
Viticulture
and Wine
Technology
(FLCC)
OpInform 2014
Green Energy
Conservation
Forestry
Green
Building
Maintenance
SUNY Program Options
Renewable
Energy
Technologies
(Canton,
Clinton,
Jefferson,
Morrisville)
Wind Energy
& Turbine
Technology
(Alfred,
Clinton and
HVCC)
Green
Building
Maintenance
&
Management
(Erie, Sullivan,
Ulster)
Environmental
Science and
Forestry
(Several CCs)
Alternative
Energy
(Schenectady)
OpInform 2014
Other
Architectural
Drafters
SUNY Program Options
Civil
Engineering
Technicians
Teaching
Assistant
Paralegals
Drafting
(Alfred and
several CCs)
Engineering Tech
(Alfred, Canton,
Farmingdale,
Morrisville and
several CCs)
Early
Childhood
(Canton,
Cobleskill,
Delhi,
Morrisville,
several CCs)
Paralegal
(Several CCs)
Veterinary
Technician
(Several Tech
colleges and
CCs)
OpInform 2014
Sources
Carnevale, A. P., Rose, S. J., & Cheah, B. (2011). The college payoff: Education,
occupations, lifetime earnings. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center on
Education and the Workforce.
Goodwin, B. (2012, April). Research says/don’t overlook middle-skill jobs. College,
Careers, Citizenship, 69, 86-87.
Gordon, E. E. (2009, September). The future of jobs and careers. Techniques, 84(6), 2831.
New York’s forgotten middle-skill jobs. (March, 2011). National Skills Coalition.
Retrieved from http://www.fmsworkforcesolutions.org/MiddleSkills%20Jobs%20report%20(r).pdf
Rosenbaum, J. (2001). Beyond college for all: Career paths for the forgotten half. New
York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Vedder, R. (2010, December). The great college degree scam [blog post]. Retrieved
from Innovations: Insights and Commentary on Higher Education, Chronicle of Higher
Education at http://chronicle.com/blogs/innovations/the-great-college-degreescam/28067