{"id":38,"date":"2018-06-12T14:36:33","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T14:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baycollege.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2018-volume-2-issue-1\/no-bachelors-degree-no-problem\/"},"modified":"2018-07-10T17:52:48","modified_gmt":"2018-07-10T17:52:48","slug":"no-bachelors-degree-no-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baycollege.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2018-volume-2-issue-1\/no-bachelors-degree-no-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"No Bachelor\u2019s Degree? No Problem."},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a new generation in town: Generation Z. Born between the mid-1990\u2019s and mid-2000\u2019s. These young people are either just about to finish high school or recently graduated. They grew up during a time of on-going economic and political upheaval, and as they come of age they\u00a0want to take control of their destiny. They understand that we are in the midst of the \u201cgig economy,\u201d and are looking for a pipeline that can lead them toward a meaningful career – a job that offers the skills training, flexibility, and agility needed to succeed now and in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gen Z-ers aren\u2019t the only ones looking for greater control over their careers. Baby boomers in career transition, millennials looking to get ahead, and Generations X and Y exiting out of the military all have a place in the pipeline.<\/span><\/p>\n

How can they get in the pipeline? Their local community college is a great place to start.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to LinkedIn Learning\u2019s Insider Survey, \u201cOver 60% of insiders believe that more employers will make the move to skills-based hiring: choosing candidates based on what they can do, rather than degree or pedigree.\u201d Further, survey results indicated that employers will begin to shift towards skill-based or competency-based hiring, with digital badges and \u201cmicro-degrees\u201d serving as an alternative type of credential. In fact, many high-demand, high-growth jobs will require post-high school education, but not necessarily a four-year degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce report \u201cGood Jobs that Pay Without a BA\u201d, the authors note, \u201cThe reported death of the middle economy is greatly exaggerated. There are 30 million good jobs in the United States today that pay without a BA. These good jobs have median earnings of $55,000 annually.\u201d There are outstanding local opportunities for those who have the requisite skills or who enter a training program that imparts those skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michigan community colleges are well aware that employers are intrigued by the concept of skill-based hiring \u2013 and of course, these colleges already have many outstanding, well established career-focused training programs that culminate in a certificate or associate\u2019s degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a 2017 report by the Michigan Economic Center, the six best industries for employment in the future are:<\/span><\/p>\n