Dawn Career Institute Career training can meet employer needs, fill skills gap

Traditionally, a four-year university or college has been the ultimate goal for students seeking a professional path forward. It’s often even seen as a rite of passage into adulthood. But for some individuals, a four-year degree may not be the right fit — and it also may not be required for the career or field they want to pursue.

The U.S. economy is shifting. Of the 55 million job openings between 2010 and 2020, 65 percent of these openings will not require a four-year degree, according to the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University.

These are known as “middle-skill jobs,” which require education beyond high school but not a four-year degree, and they make up the largest part of both America’s and Delaware’s labor market. In Delaware, the National Skills Coalition found that more than half of all jobs in 2015 were “middle skill,” but only 43 percent of the state’s workers are trained to that level.

The current shortage of skilled workers means that many jobs for career training graduates, specifically in health care, are in high demand.

Serving the community since 1976, Dawn Career Institute offers career-focused programs through traditional and online courses, striving to meet the needs of regional employers by preparing students to pursue a new career in the health care and wellness fields.

Each program — Advanced-Esthetician, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Nursing Assistant or Therapeutic Massage Practitioner — focuses on specific skills and knowledge related to a particular career. Curriculums are industry modeled and combine classroom learning with hands-on training that mimics situations a graduate will find in the workplace. Skills-based training is supplemented with classes that teach soft skills employers are seeking, including the interpersonal skills that are vital to succeeding in the professional world.

At Dawn Career Institute, not all of our students enroll directly after high school. We also see students who are returning to school to pursue a different career path, either after a job loss or in pursuit of a career change. Many individuals choose career training programs because they can provide more flexible opportunities and are often shorter than traditional four-year programs. Accelerated programs get graduates to work faster, with a diploma that can lead to opportunities to test for professional certifications and licenses desired by employers.

In all programs and for all students, our Career Services department keeps its finger on the pulse of the needs of regional employers. Although job placement is not guaranteed, Dawn Career Institute networks with regional employers and matches employer needs with graduates suited for those positions.

It is our commitment to provide an environment that enables students to thrive in the pursuit of their personal and career goals, while meeting the employment needs of businesses in the tristate region and contributing to efforts to build a strong and stable economy in New Castle County.