Career paths to a brighter future

The close of each year offers a time to pause and to reflect on the past 12 months, as well as an opportunity to look forward, with optimism, toward the future.

For those who reside in our local community, 2009 will be remembered as a time of challenges ­- personal budgets have tightened and many face a lack of career security or job prospects.

However, the new year, 2010, brings the possibility of new hope and change for many. Even in the wake of the recent recession, some careers and jobs may become a reality when coupled with a good foundation of education and training.

Every region has its own particular mix of industries. The Waubonsee Community College district includes a healthy variety of professional, industrial and service jobs. In addition to retail, food service and preparation, and transportation and logistics jobs, Waubonsee's district is projected to have job openings in 2010 for health care workers, information and record clerks, teachers, and construction trades workers.

While recent months have shown that the term "recession-proof" is a misnomer, locally there are some professions experiencing greater growth than others. There are also professions that will represent future employment opportunities for our region. Community colleges are known for being at the forefront of providing job training for the careers of tomorrow, and Waubonsee is developing new educational programs to prepare students for these areas of future growth.

As the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age, health care careers should continue to grow for the foreseeable future. The number and type of careers in health care far exceed the expected roles of nurses, doctors and technicians. There are also opportunities in the related areas of health information technology and health care interpreting - both of which are programs offered at Waubonsee. Health information technology, in particular, shows great promise given the various governmental initiatives in place to increase efficiencies in health care.

Another career path of the future relates to "green" jobs. There are many directions someone interested in this field could explore. Current Waubonsee programs are focusing on the more immediate, local applications most likely to provide job growth in our own communities. Examples include helping homeowners and businesses cut energy costs through renewable energy sources including photovoltaic, solar thermal, small wind, and geothermal technologies. Environmentally friendly and more efficient techniques are also being incorporated into existing industries. Automotive recycling is another program under development at Waubonsee, complementing the college's award-winning automotive programs.

Regardless of your current job or chosen career, it pays to be aware of employment trends and future business opportunities so you can be prepared for changes before they happen. This past year was certainly a time of great change for our community, state and nation. Forecasts indicate 2010 promises to be filled with many possibilities, opportunities and challenges for all of us. Creative ideas, innovation and perseverance will be key elements in realizing success. The Waubonsee Community College board of trustees, faculty and staff are committed to helping our students and community members realize their own brighter futures ­- in any economy, year in and year out.

• Christine J. Sobek is president of Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove.