Another Symptom of a Strengthening Pittsburgh Job Market

There is still some debate about whether Pittsburgh is finally breaking out of a 6 year down trend in the creation of new jobs. We at the Employment Guide's Pittsburgh office, based on our business climate, are in the camp of optimism. Another symptom pointing us in this direction is what we are seeing with Pittsburgh area career training schools. We are not speaking of four year programs, but specifically those schools who offer one to two year programs and associate degrees. These are schools most likely to be used by an unemployed or underemployed job seeker to retrain themselves in order to pursue a different career. For the first time in 6 years, as a generality, we are seeing response rates to ads go down, that is, leads generated for the schools. Adding to this dilemma is we are hearing consistently Pittsburgh area schools are not converting as high a percentage of leads into students regardless of the lead source.

This is a direct symptom of more jobseekers in the Pittsburgh metro being gainfully employed. It is mirroring what we have seen in southern and western areas of the country over the past 2 years as the job markets in those areas tightened. The business of running a school can be cyclical opposite to the strength of the job market. When the job market turns for the worse, more people are unemployed and when new job opportunities do not materialize, jobseekers wisely turn to new career paths and seek retraining. It is simple supply and demand.

What is a school to do? The only advice that could come from any media is changing the message they want to deliver. It is no longer OK to only line list programs and wait for leads to call. The message must be turned to creating dissatisfaction in those currently employed to wanting something better. Schools need to start asking if you are making as much as you are worth. Are you in the career you want to be for the rest of your life? Other areas to look at (which we are beginning to see) are shaping new programs to better fit this market. With two major casinos opening over the next year or so, what training could be offered now to better afford an underemployed jobseeker a better chance of landing a higher paying job?

The job market is certainly improving in Pittsburgh. The outlook for the next five years is good. The career schools that survive and even continue to grow are going to be those who can adapt their message and programs the best.