These Days, Education Is Good Business

Industry ReportAcademic year 2004-2005 has spelled good tidings for private career schools nationally and in New Jersey. Recruiter optimism about the economy has translated into more openings this year and a subsequent increase in career-school admissions.
American School of Business in Fairfield, the largest independent provider of real estate, insurance and securities training programs in the state, is surfing this market tide. President Edward C. Davies says, ?If the market does well, so do schools. The current business environment is hot, employers are hiring and more people want degrees needed to be hired.?
Davies recently opened another site in Fort Lee, his ninth in the state, to handle the increased demand.
The state Department of Labor reported in May that New Jersey nonfarm payrolls grew by 9,600 jobs during April, establishing a record employment level of 4,047,600 jobs.
Thomas M. Eastwick, president of The Eastwick Colleges and governor of the Private Career School Association of New Jersey, which represents the majority of the state?s more than 300 privately owned career schools, lists some of the high-demand programs: ?Health care, technical fields like welding, manufacturing, and construction among others.? He adds that the computer industry, which had slowed down post-911, is witnessing an upswing as well.
Dover Business College?s Paramus Campus has seen a 30%-to-40% increase in enrollment this year. Patricia Graff, academic dean, says employers are looking for workers with a combination of technical and interpersonal skills.
While a rewarmed economy has been helpful, private career schools tend to be recession proof. Says Davies: ?When the market is cold and people are being fired, the out-of-work people look for new career education.?
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The Jobs Teens Want
1 Teacher
2 Doctor
3 Lawyer
4 Sports Field
5 Science/Biology
6 Architecture
7 Business
8 Military
9 Engineer
10 Nurse
Source: Gallup Youth Survey 2005, a part of Gallup Organization.