Labor market analysts predict that by 2010, at least half of all employees in the United States will hold new century jobs. New century jobs are those created by the employee either by starting his or her own company or by piecing together several positions, says Dr. Jacquelyn Robinson, a community workforce development specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Many new century jobs are high tech and allow for tremendous flexibility, creativity and mobility between jobs and companies. Nontraditional workers, such as on-call workers, independent contractors, temporary help or contingent workers, make up about 10 percent of today's job force. However, this number is predicted to increase five times the current level by the end of this decade.
Parents can help middle or high school students prepare for a career.
Robinson offers the following tips. Talk with teens about jobs or careers that are interesting to them. Go with teens to interview persons in each job or career on a teen's list. Arrange an opportunity for teens to job shadow someone in each field of interest. Research each field and find out the salary structure and amount and kind of education required.