Matthew Mann is a voice for technical schools throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Here is a short list of job opportunities with immense job openings in the vocational field.

1. V O C A T I O N A L
W O R K E R S
B Y M A T T H E W M A N N
I N D U S T R I E S I N N E E D O F

2. THE CONCEPT
With the rise of technology and its
ability to threaten certain industries,
you would think that several vocational
industries have been negatively
affected. However, that is not the case
because new technologies and tools
have actually made production more
efficient and vocational positions are
still needed to maintain and operate
everything. With faster production
rates, an aging vocational worker
population and a decrease in young
people entering the vocational
workforce, this has left several
industries in desperate need of
workers.

3. TRUCKING
The American Transportation Research
Institute estimates there are more than
30,000 trucker job openings that could
be filled immediately — if workers
were willing to apply. Combined with a
turnover rate of 90 percent, job
openings for this occupation could
skyrocket to 240,000 by 2022.

4. TRUCKING
Several factors have led to this trucker
shortage: long hours on the road
means workers are away from their
families, highways have gotten
increasingly more congested, and our
country’s infrastructure has been
falling apart — leading to tough road
conditions and constant construction.
This crucial link in America’s supply
chain is so important to our economy
that last year, many of America’s truck
drivers received a wage increase of 7.8
percent, which is the biggest jump
among 60 common professions
analyzed by Glassdoor.com.

5. ELECTRICIANS
Although you would never guess, a
skilled electrician are key people to
keep our society running.
In an article on angieslist.com, Mike
Rowe, host of the former Discovery
Channel series, “Dirty Jobs” and
spokesman for tradespeople, said
“When you flick a switch and the lights
don’t come on, you’ve got about 48
hours before people riot,” he says.
“Electricians are on the front lines …
they are the most important part of our
workforce.”

6. ELECTRICIANS
Now that Rowe has put it into
perspective, he’s certainly right. How
would most of us do our jobs without
adequate lighting and an internet
connection?

7. DENTAL ASSISTANTS
According to the Career Education
Colleges and Universities (CECU), well-
trained dental assistants are in dire
need across the country. The field is
expected to grow much faster than
average at 18 percent over the next 10
years, and 58,600 trained dental
assistants will be needed by 2024.

8. DENTAL ASSISTANTS
Combined with the connection
between general health and oral
health, more patients will be visiting
the dentist than ever before. Diseases
like diabetes, heart disease, HIV,
cancer, and some eating disorders can
be linked with oral health problems,
which will prompt many patients to
make more visits to the dentist.

9. TRUCKERS,
ELECTRICIANS, AND
DENTAL ASSISTANTS
ARE JUST A SMALL
SELECTION OF
VOCATIONAL JOBS
THAT ARE IN NEED OF
WORKERS. WILL THIS
BLOG PROMPT YOU
TO PURSUE A CAREER
IN ANY OF THESE
FIELDS?

10. M A T T H E W M A N N . N E T
V I S I T