By Jenifer Myers and Tiffani Price
November is National Career Development Month, a month-long campaign that advocates for individuals to achieve their career goals. Midland College and Odessa College are committed to helping recent high school graduates and seasoned members of the workforce, not just during the month of November, but all year long, find gainful employment through continuing education and workforce development training programs.
To meet the need for skilled workers in the area, we have partnered with Skillpoint Alliance Permian Basin, a local nonprofit organization that provides fast-paced, no-cost job training in the skilled trades to members of the Permian Basin community, to offer a free, hands-on training program that prepares participants for work as pre-apprentice electricians.
Our programs are a great alternative option for students who want to learn a craft, enter the workforce quickly and carry less student debt. There is a common misconception among many that skilled-trade jobs earn low wages; however, in reality electricians have a salary range from $36,650-$104,000/year, with the average starting pay in the Permian Basin being $50,768 per year.
When we set workforce development program participants up for success, employers gain skilled and dependable workers, but most importantly, we give them financial freedom and the ability to provide for themselves and their families.
Midland College, Odessa College and Skillpoint Alliance Permian Basin are dedicated to strengthening partnerships with industry leaders, local organizations and government agencies to provide the best education possible to our students. When we work together and hire local, it benefits employers, workers, and ultimately, it boosts our local economy.
Dr. Jenifer Myers is Associate Vice President of Workforce Education at Midland College and Dr. Tiffani Price is Associate Vice President for Adult, Continuing and Workforce Education at Odessa College.
