The economy shows signs of picking up and manufacturing is one sector that's hiring. In fact, students in City Colleges of Chicago's high-tech manufacturing programs are in such demand that employers are snapping them up before the completion of their programs.   

"The manufacturing sector is one of the sectors leading the economic recovery and there are some really hot jobs available right now," said Ray Prendergast, Director of Manufacturing and Logistics programs at Richard J. Daley College. According to a U.S. Department of Labor study released in January, the industry added 225,000 jobs in 2011, growing for the second consecutive year. In 2010, the field added jobs for the first time since 1997.   

Many of these openings, however, can't be filled with workers laid off from the assembly line, without additional education. "Factories need employees who are qualified to run their computerized machine tools and assembly systems, rather than to manually build the product," explained Prendergast. "Applicants need to have a number of skills taught in our programs including math, CNC programming, robotics technology and the ability to read blueprints and measure parts with high precision."           

Daley College, its satellite campus Arturo Velasquez Institute, and Wilbur Wright College's satellite campus Humboldt Park Vocational Education Center all offer programs in manufacturing technology.   

"Most students taking these classes find jobs before graduation, and in fact, many students don't finish the associate degree because they find a good-paying job once they gain the necessary skills and certifications," said Prendergast. "If they completed the associate degree, they could command an even higher salary - starting around $60,000 a year."  

Learn more about City Colleges' College to Careers initiative that partners industry leaders with City Colleges faculty and staff to align programs with market demand.