As many of us are learning to face the realities of the current economic recession, some members of the workforce are being hit especially hard. Among those groups struggling to stay afloat are teenagers and recent high school grads. The unemployment rate for teenagers is nearly double that of older workers, and in some companies in which layoffs are impending, younger workers may be some of the first to get cut.

For years, many experts have expressed the idea that a college education is the best bet for career success. But has a new economic landscape made anyone consider the less expensive, less time-intensive alternatives? Across the country, some vocational schools are positioning themselves as institutions that help teenagers and young adults learn real-world skills.

Depending on who you ask, vocational schools get a bad rap. Critics who don’t understand the inner workings of good vocational schools often label them as places for students who aren’t necessarily college material.

But at Sollers Point Technical High School, near Baltimore, Maryland, instructors and staff members are working to combat this negative image. To gain admittance, students must pass an admissions test, and to stay in the program they have to keep their grades up. Sollers Point also has ties with a traditional high school in the area, and students here earn their regular diploma in addition to any extra certification.

The school’s principal, Diane Young, says she hopes all of her students continue on to earn a college education. But for students who choose a different path, she knows they will still walk away with one of the most important rewards of an education: marketable skills.

So, though the job outlook may be especially uncertain for younger members of the workforce, don’t give up! Whether or not a four-year school is the right choice for you, marketable, specialized skills will always be in style, no matter where you learn them.

Keep lawnmowers running like new, jet skis riding the waves, and motorcycles cruising the streets this summer. You can make all this and more happen with a career in small engine repair. And as an added bonus, knowing how to keep all these gadgets running will probably earn you the title of “coolest guy in the neighborhood”.
Small engine repair workers not only fix a variety of things, they also perform routine maintenance of equipment. Some of the objects you can work on in a small engine repair career are:
• Lawnmowers
• Jet skis
• Motorcycles
• Pressure washers
• Motorboats
• Chainsaws
As a small engine repair worker, your work includes indentifying problems, repairing parts, ignitions and electrical systems, and taking apart and recreating several types of engines. Finding success in a small engine repair career takes training. Get the education you need and search for a technical school near you now for a degree in small engine repair!

Right after you add The White House to your Facebook or Myspace social network (assuming that someone who works there is interested in your terrible band or latest Mobsters acquisition), have a look at how Obama is stepping up the funding related to education. You might like what you see.

On the Organizing America page of his website, Obama outlines his plan for a return to civic responsibility and volunteerism. But it’s also civic service with something in it for you! Here’s how Obama’s plan features a way for high school students who need a head start on education funds to make a positive impact in their communities.

Integrate service into learning
Obama will set a goal that all middle and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year. But there is more offered for kids who show a little more ambition. He will establish a new tax credit that is worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year. That’s a big head start on your tuition for college or career training.

The tax credit opportunity is continued once the student reaches their college or training center of choice. It is also another $4,000 based on 100 hours of community service. Since it’s a tax credit and not a school loan, you aren’t confined to spending it only on education. It can be used for whatever you need. For some people, this could mean anything from a new laptop, to babysitting service money, to car repairs. It can be for whatever you need to make a better change in your life.

Another option - College Serve-Study
Obama wants to ensure that at least 25% of College Work-Study funds are used to support public service opportunities instead of jobs in dining halls and libraries. This means they are trying to open up private and public sector roles so you can gain valuable work experience while in school. You can even choose to contribute your service to emerging energy technicians or green collar job corps to get practical experience in fast-growing career fields.

It’s up to you. Will you take this opportunity to make your communities a better place to live, in exchange for a leg up on your dreams? How will you spend your tax credit? Let us know!

Most of us are already familiar with “white collar” and “blue collar” jobs. Now, there’s a new collar in town – the green collar. What does having a green collar really mean? Career experts explain that green collar workers often work in many of the same industries and career fields as their blue and white counterparts. The difference is that green collar jobs contribute directly to generating energy cleanly and improving the environment.

Some green collar jobs require specialized training, but President Obama’s administration wants to help. In addition to allocating about $20 billion for creating a greener economy, the President’s stimulus plan supplies $500 million to green training and education programs.

Every time wind turbines pop up, or new solar panels are installed, knowledgeable workers are needed to construct, maintain and repair them. In a shaky economy, people want to achieve employment and financial stability more than ever. Many people see the green industry as a step in this direction.

In March, Vice President Joe Biden said people who made $20 an hour before a green jobs training program can make $50 per hour after. Additionally, these green jobs pay an average of 10 to 20% more than similar work outside the green industry.

For many workers and students, the choice to join in on the green movement is an easy one. With rising energy costs, some homeowners have no choice but to improve their energy efficiency. To environmental and career experts, this means an increase in demand for skilled green collar professionals.

Want to be a part of the green movement? You have lots of options! Whether a green career in business, construction and manufacturing, or engineering most interests you, you can contribute to a healthier planet. Check out the programs offered at schools in your area and get creative. There are countless ways to turn green ways of life into a rewarding career.