Job Shortages
The tables below show the top three occupations that are projected from 2018-2028 of Alabama employers based on the level of education they require. There is no state minimum wage in Alabama. The one highlighted occupation under each of the three education levels has been selected to expand on in terms of potential career advancement.
Potential Career Advancement
1) Food Preparation Worker to Certified Food Manager
Food Preparation Worker Job Description:
- Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking
Entry Level Requirements:
- Food Handler Certification – not required by Alabama state law, but some counties require it
- Jefferson county: Must take a training course offered by the County Department of Health ($15), an online course ($20), or receive training by a Certified Food Safety Manager
- Mobile county: Must obtain a Food and Beverage Handler Card ($20) through training classes
- Classes & online training are offered in many languages including Español, 普通话, 한국어, Việt, American Sign Language, Tagalog, Serbo-Croatian
Certified Food Manager Job Description:
- Responsible for food safety to protect the public from foodborne illness
Career Advancement Requirements:
- Pass the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certification exam ($55)
- Online courses are not required, but provide knowledge for the ANSI exam
2.) Medical Assistant to Licensed Practical Nurse
Medical Assistant Job Description:
- Assist physicians by performing administrative and clinical duties in outpatient care facilities
Entry Level Requirements:
- Certification is not required by Alabama state law, but employers may prefer it
- Four different certifications are available, which typically require a HS Diploma or GED and the completion of a two-year training program
- Accredited training programs in Alabama include Wallace State Community College, South University & Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Licensed Practical Nurse Job Description:
- Provide more extensive patient care with fewer administrative tasks relative to medical assistant
Career Advancement Requirements:
- Complete a one-year accredited Licensed Practical Nurse program with courses in the Fundamentals of Nursing, Human Anatomy, Psychosocial nursing and pharmacology
- Pass the National Council Licensure Exam-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) exam ($200)
3.) Elementary School Teacher to Education Administrator
Elementary School Teacher Job Description:
- Supervising and developing the educational growth of elementary school students
Entry Level Requirements:
- Complete a teacher preparation program at an approved college or university
- Pass teacher certification tests measuring content and pedagogical knowledge
Education Administrator Job Description:
- Provide direction, oversight and day-to-day management of educational institutions
Career Advancement Requirements:
- Professional Leadership Certification requires a master’s degree in educational administration
- 5+ years of experience typically required
Immigration in Alabama
The following are facts about the immigrant community in Alabama:
- Immigrants comprise 3% of the state population and 4% of the Alabama labor force
- Top industries of immigrant employment:
- Manufacturing, 18,050 workers
- Construction, 14,871 workers
- Retail Trade, 12,667 workers
- Accommodation and Food Services, 12,284 workers
- Educational Services, 10,287 workers
- 12,670 immigrant business owners account for 6% of all self-employed Alabama residents
- 41% of immigrants in Alabama are naturalized and another 34% are undocumented
- Top foreign-born countries of origin:
- Mexico, 27%
- China, 6%
- India, 6%
- Guatemala, 5%
- Germany, 5%
- 3% of native-born Alabamians are children of an immigrant
- Educational attainment of foreign born adults in Alabama:
- High School diploma or less – 48.4%
- More than HS diploma, less than Bachelor’s degree – 18.1%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher – 33.5%
- Share of Brain Waste* 20%
* Share of immigrant professionals, who are unemployed, employed at poverty-level wages in High School diploma or less jobs, or significantly underemployed in more than HS diploma, less than Bachelor’s degree jobs
Sources
Jobs
Projections Managing Partnership (PMP), Projections Central – State Occupational Projections, “Long Term Occupational Projection (2018-2028)”; http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates; https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, “Education and training assignments by detailed occupation,” 2019; https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
National Council of State Legislatures, “State Minimum Wages”, December 2020; http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx#Table
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economic News Release, “Employees on Nonfarm Payrolls by State, Seasonally adjusted”, November 2020; https://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.t03.htm
Potential Career Advancement
National Conference of State Legislatures, “The National Occupational Licensing Database”, March 2020: https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/occupational-licensing-statute-database.aspx
Immigration
American Immigration Council, State by State Fact Sheet, August 2020; https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/topics/state-by-state