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List Announced of Hottest Jobs in the Permian Basin, Odessa College Offers Fast Track Training
List Announced of Hottest Jobs in the Permian Basin, Odessa College Offers Fast Track Training 1/15/13
Ashley Melnick
amelnick@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News
January 15, 2013
ODESSA- A list of the hottest, in demand jobs here in the Basin will shortly be finalized by the Permian Basin Workforce Development Board.
Every year, the board release a list of the top jobs in the area all based on the earning potential of $14 dollars/hour and job growth.
Executive Director of Continuing Education, Dr. Floretta Bush, said Odessa College closes monitors the list ever year in order to offer the fast track to get West Texans trained and in the workforce.
“We have been vigilant and looking at the needs of the area and we develop programs as quickly as possible to meet the needs,” said Bush.
Just last year, Odessa College developed a medical office skills program as a direct result of the list.
And although the list is not finalized, Dr. Bush said the top jobs, in her opinion, are a certified nurses aid, pharmacist technicians and truck drivers.
Director of Health Careers, Katherine Presley, said the certified nurses aid program is popular not only for students, but also in the workforce.
“I get calls from nursing homes asking about our students, and they want to speak with our students and are offering signing bonuses,” said Presley.
This program takes 90 hours to complete, but other programs offer an even faster track to land a job.
The new H-VAC classes that train contractors, plumbers and heating and air conditioning specialists only takes 16 weeks.
And the truck driving school is a quick four weeks.
Other jobs on the list include: carpenter, industrial machinery mechanics, engineering techs and service unit operator.
For more information on the programs offered at Odessa College, visit www.odessa.edu.