Greenville Magazine July 2009 : Page 35navigating the current and future job market SaLeS a low of $15,820 for counter clerks to a high of $66,720 for technical sales a recession, but specialized education is the key. Michele Brinn, vice president of workforce education at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, says new high tech manufacturing will require specialized and advanced skills. Education programs like Greenville Tech’s new associate’s degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology are designed to train a new breed of multi-skilled operators and technicians in a fi eld called mechatronics. According to Cynthia Eason, vice president at Greenville Tech, these are “technically astute problem solvers and troubleshooters” who need to master electrical systems, fl uid power, electronics, computer controls, PLCs, instrumentation, and robotics. With certifi cation or an A.A. degree,workers can command an average starting salary of $38,500. John Uprichard also sees Greenville’s manufacturing tradition evolving. Those with a generalized skill set, he says, will continue to fi nd that “the job market will be very hard for them.” His advice, “Don’t go get a job. People need to think about getting a career.” industry. In fact, 77 percent of the green jobs the Pew report cites as created in SC are in the area of conser- vation and cleanup. The defi ning characteristic of a green job is one that reduces waste and pollution and/or benefi ts the environment. Existing jobs here, such as those GE employees designing wind turbines, would be classifi ed as green. An increasing number of architects, builders and others are also jumping on the green bandwagon by earning LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council in order to make themselves more marketable. Skilled Trades Skilled tradespeople are always in demand, even in Right now, that may involve putting time out of work to work for you with retraining. Julie Brown, president of Godshall Staffi ng, says you can “come out of the recession a more marketable individual” if you’ve used this downtime to “sharpen your tool set.” GM July 2009 | Greenville MaGazine 35 MEDIAN SALARY Publication List |
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