Once upon a time, young people had opportunities to go straight from high school to a career that would provide enough money to have a life.  In Hawai'i it might have been working for a sugar plantation, a walboard manufacturing plant or the iron works.  Unfortunately, those days are gone with those industries.  And it's not just Hawai'i.  Across the nation, our industrial base has been shipped overseas where wages are a fraction of what American workers used to earn.  So the bottom line is, while not impossible, finding a viable job right out of high school has become the exception rather than the rule.

 

So even if you intend to go to work after high school, higher education should remain part of your long terms plans and here's why:

 

 

As can be seen at right, the more you learn, the more you earn!  It's not a joke.  It's not something teachers say just because they want you to work harder in their classes.  It's reality.

 

And one more thing to think about...image those differences multiplied by 10, 20 and 30 years.  For example:  Over a 30 year period, someone with "Some college or associate's degree" will earn $494,130 more than "Not a high school graduate" and $237,210 more than a "High school graduate".

 

And it gets better for those with a four year college degree!  Someone with a "Bachelor's degree" will earn $934,620 more than "Not a high school graduate".  That's almost a million dollar difference!  And the four year college graduate will earn $697,680 more than someone with some college or a two year degree.  

 

Hey, money isn't everything, but imagine the difference in your lifestyle with that much extra cash over the course of your life!  Think of how much easier and less stressful life would be.  And think about how much you could do to help your family and your family to come! 

 

We always say you owe it to yourself, right?  While that's true, what is even more true is you owe it to your family!  Not in the sense that you should pay your parents back (although that's not a bad idea!), but more in the sense that you need to "pay it forward" and take good care of your spouse and children you will likely have some day.  Prepare now while you are yound and strong!  It does not get easier as you get older, you know.

 

With that said, lets' look at what's happening on the Big Island.  Click here to see a list of the largest employers.

 

As you can see, the largest employers by far are the different levels of government; Federal, State and County.  You can also see the career pathways of Human Services, Business Management, Marketing and Technology, Health Sciences and Natural Resources and Agriscience.  All of these employers, since they employ the most people on the Big Island would be a good place to look for a job!

 

And here's another way to see where the jobs are projected to be by the year 2014 (Keep in mind that these projections were were made based on 2004 data.  The economy has slipped a lot since then, so the outlook is probably lower).  Check the column on the far right to see how many new jobs there are expected to be every year.  Doesn't look like a lot, does it?  The competition for those jobs is likely to be stiff. 

 

Not planning on staying on the Big Island?  OK, check the Occupational Handbook website.  You can find a ton of information specific to Hawai'i and the nation.  Here's some interesting info.  The charts below show the projected decreases and increases in specific job types.  This information is good to know before one invests 10 or more years in a profession only for that job sector to fade away over time.  Also, does it look like more of the jobs that don't require more than a high school education are on the left?  Um, yeah...you know what that means, right? 

 

    

 

 

Google "best job outlook" and you'll find plenty of sites with solid advice on jobs with the best long term prospects.  Here's a couple to get you started: 

 

 U.S. News and World Report, 30 Best Careers for 2009.

 

 

After those, you're on your own.  Get to googling!

 

Though it's pretty old school, you can always check the local paper's "Help Wanted" section.  Here's a link to the Hawai'i Tribune Herald's help wanted ads.

 

I suppose Craigslist is more where this generation might look for everything and anything.  Click here to go to the Craigslist Big Island help wanted pages. 

 

And finally, with all the resources available today, probably the best way to find a job is the old fashioned way...through contacts!  Good old friends and family!  After all is said and done on this page, if you seriously intend to find a job on the Big Island, talk with everybody and anybody that you know and that knows you.  Of course, people will only help you in this way if you have a good reputation...which brings us to an whole nother topic which will have to wait for another time and place. 

 

Good luck, job seekers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

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