N.Ky. Chamber of Commerce talks job market forecast for students in seminar

FORT THOMAS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce officials are trying to guide high school students to the best paying and most plentiful jobs and a seminar in Fort Thomas is aimed to point students in the right direction.

On Tuesday, Fort Thomas Independent Schools held it’s third session in their 2012-13 seminar series "Forecast 2020: Show Me the Jobs."

Steve Stevens, CEO, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, discussed the regional employment outlook through the year 2020 as well as the skills and competencies necessary for today's graduates to be globally competitive.

“Health care is an expanding area that we know for sure. There will be engineering jobs, manufacturing jobs. They’re plentiful now. We have about 700 jobs in Northern Kentucky that are unfilled in the manufacturing sector,” said Stevens.

Parents and students learned which jobs will be in high demand and which postsecondary options will lead to success in the new economy.

“I figured we’d get one step ahead of everybody and start preparing for what he should be doing this year,” said Amy Roberts who attended the seminar with her 15-year-old son.

The session was held in the Performing Arts Center at Highlands High School.

According to research used during the session, 90 percent of jobs paying $35,000 or more are going to require post secondary education and at lease one year experience.

The session also covered information needed for education professionals to effectively advise students on their best postsecondary options and help prepare them for the future job market.