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Business & Tech

Lehigh Valley Growth Industries Highlighted

Despite sluggish economy, there are jobs that offer a good salary and security, industry leaders say.

Despite a sluggish economy, there are careers that offer a bright future in the Lehigh Valley.

Whether just starting out in life, or choosing a new career, the fields of health care, energy services, financial services and the food and beverage industry all have been marked as good bets for long term security, said Cindy Evans, of the Lehigh Valley Work Investment Board.

About 100 people gathered Tuesday evening for “Show Me the Money: Hot Careers in the Lehigh Valley” at Liberty High School in Bethlehem to hear first hand from industry leaders in these fields. Speakers covered which jobs are most in demand, typical salaries and the education needed to achieve career goals in their fields.

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Health care is the fastest growing industry in the nation, said Sharon Schierer, human resources director for St. Luke's Health Network, the Lehigh Valley's second largest employer.

Particularly in demand are positions that combine computer technology with medicine, in the field of “Health Care Informatics,” she said. These positions usually require either an associates or a bachelors degree plus appropriate IT certifications.

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But whether in a support position or directly involved in patient care, health care offers an excellent salary and security, Schierer said. With starting rates for a pharmacy technician at $23 per hour, and most positions paying more, the field offers a wage that can sustain a family with many perks, she noted.

“Usually the benefits in health care are outstanding. I don't pay anything for my health insurance,” she said.

The field of sustainable energy is also a good bet for a career with a future. State and federal officials have recently invested more than $10 billion into the industry, and 115,000 jobs are expected to be created, said Jennifer Hopkins, of Allentown's Sustainable Energy Fund.

Specialists in energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, pollution prevention and environmental clean up and natural resource conservation are all growing industries, she said, noting that energy efficiency is an especially in-demand field.

“Energy efficiency is the biggest, because the most inexpensive energy is the energy you don't use,” Hopkins said.

Education and experience requirements vary, but demand should keep salary levels high for some time to come, she said.

Food and beverage manufacturing is also a growing industry, and a field where one can work one's way up, said Sandy DeMarco, assistant human resources manager for Kraft Foods. The Lehigh Valley plant is the sole producer of A1 steak sauce and Grey Poupon mustard, as well as other well-known food products, she added.

A high school diploma or GED is absolutely necessary, even to be a laborer, but ambitious employees can take advantage of the company's tuition reimbursement plan and move into more lucrative supervisory roles in just a few years, she said.

“At Kraft, the sky's the limit. You set your own career path,” she said, adding that an applicant's success is largely dependent on the impression they make on their potential employer.

“You need to stand out above every other applicant to get that position,” DeMarco said. “The choices you made yesterday and today and tomorrow will affect your employment.”

A path to a financial career often starts with becoming a bank teller, said D. J. Kormanik, of Lafayette Ambassador Bank. A high school diploma and some cash-handling experience, along with passable credit, is all one needs to get started, he added.

“A bad credit check can be a problem,” Kormanik said. “But if you're not sure what you want to do...banking might be for you.”

Starting as a teller allows employees to learn the entire industry from the ground up, he said. Starting salaries range from $10 to 12 per hour, but go up rapidly as the employee gains experience and is promoted.

Going into a supervisory position or customer service is a common path for advancement, he said.

Attendees included students with parents, adults looking for a new career and educators seeking to pass the information on to their students.

Attended by both high school students considering their futures and adults exploring new opportunities, the seminar is held annually at a different county high school each year. The event was sponsored by Liberty High School, Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School, Lehigh Valley Tech Prep and Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board.

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