Employment Opportunities in North Dakota

Opportunity Ahead!

It is predicted that 30-40% of the current North Dakota labor force will retire within the next 10-15 years. The result? There will be many openings for those who are seeking employment in the state. If you are looking for enjoyable work, time to be with family, and an excellent community atmosphere, working in North Dakota becomes even more inviting.

Employment opportunities cover the entire job market, from providers of supplies or equipment and office support through technical and management positions, and for workers with a variety of education and training levels. In addition to the positions tied directly to an industry (such as engineers in the energy industry), each career field uses products and services from other career fields, such as business and finance, health, legal, environment, construction, transportation, communication, and human resources. Every time a business is started or expanded, the impact on the North Dakota economy is magnified.

For specific information on any of the following career options, contact a school career counselor, a local Job Service office, the career center at a college or university, or the North Dakota Career Resource Network office – ndcrn.ndcareer@sendit.nodak.edu or www.ndcrn.com.

Agriculture!

Agriculture is the leading industry in North Dakota. Nearly 24% of North Dakota workers are farmers and ranchers or are employed in agriculture-related jobs, and these jobs are much different than they were a generation ago. Today’s farmer or rancher works with genetically improved crops, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Global Information Systems (GIS), yield monitors, and computers that pull all of this information together for more precise management of the farm/ranch operation. To make the best use of this new technology, modern farmers and ranchers increasingly rely on the support of trained technicians, managers, dealers, and applicators.

Who provides these support services? Agribusinesses! Exciting careers in plant protection, machinery service, soil science, animal nutrition, marketing, and other crop and livestock services are growing along with the new innovations in agriculture.

Technical skills are essential for careers in both production agriculture and agribusiness. Students should have a background in the sciences, especially biology and applied physics, as well as in computer science. High school courses in Agriculture, Agriscience, and Technology Education are a big plus, as are “hands-on” experiences, such as internships. Active participation in student organizations such as FFA, 4-H, and PAS will help to develop the leadership, communication, and human relations skills that are valued by today’s employers.

Education!

Have you ever:
• Helped a child learn to tie a shoe or button a coat?
• Earned a few dollars babysitting for a friend or neighbor?
• Helped a classmate understand a homework assignment?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you have been a teacher.

Nationally, the demand for qualified education professionals exceeds the supply, and in recent years 50 or more North Dakota classrooms have been without a teacher at the start of each school year. Forty percent (40%) of the state’s educators have twenty or more years of teaching experience, which means that the current shortage is likely to increase dramatically within the next ten years.

Teachers may work in a variety of settings, not just the typical “classroom,” and may serve diverse student groups:
• Do you enjoy physical activity and playing one or more sports? How about becoming a coach, physical education teacher, or an occupational/physical therapist?
• Do you have a favorite subject that you excel in? Are you able to help others understand concepts in this subject that seem difficult to them and are easy to you? If so, you might consider becoming a teacher of this subject.
• Are you a very patient and creative person, and do you relate well to persons who have special needs? If so, you might consider a career in special education, speech therapy, or other specialized services within the school.

If you are curious about a career in education or want to start developing “teacher” skills now, consider volunteering as an aide in one of your school’s special programs, reading with younger children in their classroom, or participating as a coaching assistant. These and similar experiences are an excellent way to gain first-hand knowledge about the career field before making a formal commitment.

Energy!

The energy industry includes the vast network of operations that produces, refines, and distributes the energy we use in our daily lives – electricity, petroleum products, and many other products necessary to keep vehicles moving, equipment and appliances operating, and the climate controlled in businesses, homes, and other locations.

The energy industry projects that 40% of its employees will retire in the next 8-10 years. Some businesses are facing retirements of 50% of their employees in the next 5 years. Skilled job seekers will find excellent job opportunities at $24 to $44 per hour, plus the option to move into management and supervisory positions.

What occupations are needed in the energy industry?
Industrial electricians
Instrument control technicians
Power plant operators
Millwrights
Diesel mechanics
Engineers (electrical/geological/chemical/mechanical)
Heavy equipment operators and mechanics
Boilermakers
Truck drivers
Rig hands and roustabouts
Landmen
Geologists
Environmental scientists and specialists
Soil and crop scientists
Carpenters
Plumbers and pipefitters
Brick masons
Ironworkers
Insulators
Mechanical maintenance and repairers
Welders

Health Careers!

Exciting and challenging health careers are available in settings from large research hospitals to small rural clinics. If science is one of your interests and you enjoy solving problems and helping people, consider a health related career.

The demand for workers in health related careers is growing at a higher than average rate, and that demand will continue as the population ages. The shortages that the industry is beginning to experience mean future career opportunities for today’s students.

Begin your journey toward a health related career by taking science, math, and health careers courses in high school. Then, earn certification or licensure at one of the two-year colleges or enter a university and build the foundation for a health career that requires a baccalaureate or advanced degree.

Health careers are divided into five career pathways that have common knowledge and skill requirements:

Therapeutic Services – Anesthesiologist, athletic trainer, audiologist, chiropractor, dentist/dental assistant, dietician, emergency medical technician, licensed practical nurse, massage therapist, mortician, occupational/physical therapist, optometrist, pharmacist/pharmacy technician, physician/physician assistant, registered nurse, respiratory therapist, surgical technician, veterinarian.

Diagnostics Services – Cardiovascular technologist, clinical laboratory scientist/technician, cytogenetic technologist, diagnostic medical sonographer, electrocardiographic (ECG) or electronic diagnostic (EEG) technician, exercise physiologist, geneticist, magnetic resonance (MR) technologist, mammographer, medical technologist, nutritionist, pathologist, phlebotomist, radiologist.

Health Informatics – Admitting clerk, applied researcher, community services specialist, data analyst, epidemiologist, ethicist, health educator, health information coder, health care administrator, medical assistant, medical biller, medical librarian, patient advocate, risk management coordinator, transcriptionist.

Support Services – Biomedical/clinical engineer or technician, central service administrator, environmental health and safety administrator, environmental services technician, facilities manager, food service manager, hospital maintenance engineer, industrial hygienist, materials management specialist, transport technician.

Biotechnology Research and Development – Biochemist, Bioinformatics Associate or Scientist, Biomedical Scientist, Cell Biologist, Geneticist, Lab Technician, Microbiologist, Molecular Biologist, Pharmaceutical Scientist, Quality Assurance Technician, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Research Assistant, Toxicologist.

Information Technology!

Information Technology (IT) careers involve the design, development, support, and management of hardware, software, multimedia, and systems integration services. IT professionals may work for others or become entrepreneurs. Exciting, challenging, and ever-changing IT careers are available in every sector of the economy and in several areas of specialization:

Network Systems – Network administrator/technician, computer support specialist, telecommunications network technician, data communications analyst.

Information and Support Services – Database administrator/analyst, help desk specialist, technical support engineer/writer, instructional designer, application integrator.

Interactive Media – Web designer, Webmaster, 3D animator, virtual reality specialist, multimedia producer, graphic artist.

Programming and Software Engineer – Software applications architect, computer programmer, game programmer, applications engineer.

The Information Technology Association of America reports that U.S. employers have 900,000 jobs to fill immediately, and that opportunities are expected to grow over the next 3 to 5 years.