Hospital Association VP says health care jobs fared well in recent recession
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/5/2011
CLEVELAND, WI –
When Judy Warmuth told the audience at Lakeshore Technical College that health care is the most interesting work they can do — and that there are great career opportunities in health care — she was basing her first statement on years of experience and her second on pure fact.
As the Vice President of Workforce Development at the Wisconsin Hospital Association, it is Warmuth’s job to know what health care jobs are out there and to assure a qualified and adequate staff is available to hospitals in Wisconsin.
“The good news is,” she said, “health care fared better than other parts of economy in the recent recession. Health care continues to add jobs.”
Warmuth spoke at Lakeshore Technical College recently. In her presentation, EnVISION: Health Care and the Health Care Workforce, she shared insights on the current realities and future possibilities of employment in the health care industry.
Of the 10 industries with the most new jobs, the top three are in health care, Warmuth said. While Warmuth made sure to point out that the current vacancies for clinical professionals are the lowest they have been in at least 10 years, she explained that the job openings that are out there don’t fit the health care workers just coming out of school.
“It’s wonderful to have many qualified applicants for every job,” Warmuth said. “But unfortunately, the vacancies we have are not matching up with the skills of our newest graduates.”
Warmuth said she sees the employment picture changing and urged new graduates to be patient.
“My advice to new grads: Take a part time job — and stay at it — because you will be very popular very soon,” she said. “For the workforce, there is a very positive health care employment picture if you are patient.”
The EnVISION event was sponsored by Lakeshore Technical College and the Lakeshore Health Care Alliance, a collaboration of health care, educational and community organizations.
About Lakeshore Technical College
Lakeshore Technical College is a leading provider of technical education offering 100 career programs including associate degrees, technical diplomas, technical certificates, and apprenticeship programs. In addition, LTC offers distance learning, customized training to business and industry, and continuing educational opportunities.
Serving a 200,500-resident population in east central Wisconsin, LTC operates a main campus in Cleveland; additional learning sites at LTC Manitowoc and LTC Sheboygan; Community Education Centers at area high schools in Kiel, Mishicot, Plymouth, Random Lake, Reedsville, and Two Rivers; and 27 distance learning sites. LTC’s mission is to enrich lives and strengthen the economy by preparing a workforce that is skilled, diverse and flexible. On average, 79% of LTC graduates work in the LTC District which includes Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties, and parts of Calumet and Ozaukee Counties. Visit LTC at: gotoltc.edu.
