The recent economic recession has resulted in significantly increased enrollment across the state’s postsecondary institutions. Some of these students are recent high school graduates while others are working-age adults in need of new skills and careers.
Postsecondary education is becoming increasingly important for Mississippians looking for a job that pays adequate wages. Data from the MS Department of Employment Security reveals that the top 10 occupations with the fastest growth and wages above $20,000 all require one year or more of postsecondary education.
Increasingly, Mississippians need a postsecondary credential to find employment in occupations that have:
- High levels of growth;
- A large number of annual job openings and;
- Pay adequate entry wages to cover basic expenses for 1 adult.
Mississippians will need substantial postsecondary education to acquire jobs in all 10 of state’s fastest growing occupations that pay self-sufficiency wages upon entry. Many of the occupations with high growth and adequate wages are in the healthcare and information technology sectors (see below).
Top 10 MS Occupations* with Fastest Growth and Entry Wages above
Self-Sufficiency Standard** for 1 Adult
| Occupation | Percent Growth 2006 - 2016 | Projected Job Growth 2006-2016 | Entry Wage | Education Required |
| Computer Software Engineers | 48.2% | 550 | $43,760 | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | 38.8% | 400 | $35,850 | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Medical Assistant | 36.6% | 750 | $19,230 | Vocational Education or Associate’s degree |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistant | 32.4% | 600 | $27,920 | Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree |
| Dental Hygienists | 32.3% | 400 | $32,580 | Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree |
| Industrial Engineer | 31.7% | 600 | $48,720 | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Physical Therapists | 30.4% | 450 | $47,100 | Doctoral or Professional Degree |
| Dental Assistant | 29.1% | 550 | $20,340 | Vocational Education or Associate’s Degree |
| Computer Support Specialists | 27.9% | 900 | $25,400 | Vocational Education or Associate’s Degree |
| Registered Nurses | 27.1% | 8,050 | $41,680 | Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree |
| Source: MDES Occupational Employment Projections, Year 2006 Projected to Year 2016 | ||||
| *Occupations must have over 30 projected annual openings.
**$20,000 is above the Self-Sufficiency Standard for one adult in 76 of Mississippi’s 82 counties. |
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A list of Top 10 ‘Hottest Occupations’ highlighted by the Clarion Ledger on Sunday reveals a similar trend with all but 1 occupation requiring a postsecondary certificate or degree, and 8 requiring a 2-year associate degree or higher.
In Mississippi, there are over 348,000 adults (age 25-54) with no formal education beyond high school, and over 186,000 adults without a high school degree.¹ Many of these adults will pursue postsecondary education in order prepare for occupations that support themselves and their families. Opportunities exist for Mississippi to build on its foundation in postsecondary education to increase persistence and connect adults to credentials and quality careers.
Over the next few weeks, MEPC will highlight educational pathways of adults and nontraditional students, and describe frameworks that have been implemented within Mississippi and in other states to connect adults and nontraditional students to postsecondary education and into in-demand occupations that pay self-sufficiency wages.
¹Working Poor Families Project. Analysis of data from the 2008 Current Population Survey.
Author: Sarah Welker, Policy Analyst
Good work Sarah! That is super interesting…especially working with the kids I am working with!
Comment by Abby — October 15, 2010 @ 12:45 AM