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Remarks Prepared for Delivery By
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Pinellas County Job Corps Center Groundbreaking
St. Petersburg, Florida
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thank you, Esther [Johnson, National Director, Office of Job Corps] for that introduction. And thank you for your great leadership of the Job Corps program.
Let me also recognize Congressman Bill Young, who is a strong supporter of this center, as well as Mayor Rick Baker and Commissioner Bob Stewart [Chairman of the Board, Pinellas County Commissioners]. Welcome, as well, to the many Job Corps and Department of Labor regional staff who are joining us.
I am so pleased to be here in St. Petersburg to participate in this groundbreaking ceremony for the Pinellas County Job Corps Center. And, this afternoon I'd like to talk about how this center will help young people embark on a positive path, and prepare them for the jobs of the 21st Century economy.
Officials and residents of Midtown are already working hard to help the young people in this community access education and opportunities. This new Job Corps Center will add a new resource to the many successful partnerships that local government agencies, employers, nonprofits and others have already built.
The Pinellas center will help 300 at-promise youth ages 16 through 24. It will help them complete their high school education and secure the training needed to build a solid career path. The Center will provide housing, education and training — all under one roof. And this training will be geared towards high-growth fields such as the automotive industry, technology, nursing, hospitality, and the building trades to name a few. This curriculum was specially designed with the future of our young people in mind. It emphasizes industries that have a high demand for workers and a shortage of available talent.
I've brought with me some copies of a new publication just released by the Department of Labor that outlines which sectors of the economy will be producing the most jobs over the next decade. It's called "Charting the Projections: 2006-2016." This publication not only highlights growing occupations, but it also gives the level of education needed to access these opportunities. Many require some kind of post secondary education. Now that doesn't necessarily mean a four year college degree. Some of the fastest-growing opportunities are for workers with two-year degrees from community colleges or for workers who participate in long-term, on-the-job training. So there is plenty of opportunity for those willing to invest in themselves through education — either formally at school, through apprenticeships, or on the job.
A two-year degree can qualify workers for solid, well-paid careers in high growth occupations in such areas as health care, legal services, and computer support. By the way, in 2006, the median annual wage for jobs requiring an associate degree was just over $50,000.
On-the-job training, especially long-term on-the-job training, also provides a gateway to a good future. Many Job Corps students who choose careers in the building trades participate in apprenticeship programs through valuable partnerships with the building trade unions. They learn valuable skills that are the foundation of a rewarding career. So the message that Job Corps will continue to convey to our young people is this: stay in school, and get your high school diploma. Then take advantage of the many opportunities right here in your own community to get more training and education.
Employers tell us that one of the most important things that workers can bring to the workplace today is a good set of social skills, sometimes called "soft skills." That's why this center will also help students brush up on their social skills, such as learning how to be part of a team and to express differing opinions in a constructive manner, so they are ready for work when they graduate. Skills training is part of the new approach — the New Vision — for Job Corps that the Department is implementing to better serve students. In addition, this new approach emphasizes increased academic skills and student enrichment programs such as tutoring and mentoring opportunities. And we're also updating Job Corps training certifications to meet national standards. This will ensure that the Job Corps offers the best possible teaching and training to its students.
Along with a new center, the Department is providing Midtown with Florida's first centrally-located Job Corps Center. There are currently four Job Corps Centers in Florida — Gainesville, Jacksonville, Homestead and Miami. With the addition of this center, the entire Tampa Bay region will benefit from additional resources to help young people in need of special attention.
Let me also add that the new Pinellas County Job Corps Center will have the additional benefit of creating new jobs in the local economy. Construction on this $40 million campus will create 150 to 200 temporary jobs for workers in local firms. And once completed, the center will create more than 100 permanent jobs for staff and faculty. In all, the center is expected to make an annual contribution of $7 million to the local economy.
Programs such as the Job Corps empower students to meet their goals. But it also has the added benefit of encouraging students to reach out to others in need. I'm very proud of the fact that over the last two years, Job Corps students have generated $20,000 in hurricane relief through various fundraising efforts. They've volunteered countless hours with the American Red Cross. And they've partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build 11 new houses for families who lost their homes as a result of Hurricane Katrina. So the Job Corps is teaching young people to help others while they are helping themselves. This is in the best American tradition of compassion and volunteerism.
So thank you very much for joining us on this very special day for the community of Midtown St. Petersburg, and beyond. And thanks to all of you for everything you are doing to create hope and opportunity for others.
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