Jobs Open In Technical Fields In Mobile

Alabama Mobile Bishop State officials talk about the job market at commencement ceremonies Tuesday night.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Tue, May 12, 2009 - 8:49 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, May 12, 2009 - 9:25 pm CST

There's some good news on the job front in Mobile.
The assistant dean of Bishop State's Technical School said there are jobs available, especially in specific technical areas.
Roderick McSwain said, "There is still a lot of need for technical education, air conditioning workers, and refrigeration workers. We're in the South, so that naturally is going to be a major demand at this time of year, as well as electrical workers."
Bishop State held its graduation Tuesday night.
Some graduates are ahead of the game in the job market.
Zuleika Pettaway already has a job.
She said, "I have my degree in electrical, my minor is in air conditioning. I want to become an electrician. I'm the first female maintenance mechanic for the Mobile Housing Board now."
Khan Sayasane has worked for the Mobile Housing Authority for almost 30 years, but wants to go out on his own specializing in air conditioning.
He said, "I've got maybe three or four more years left so I can retire from where I'm recently working right now. Hopefully, one day, I'm planning on having my own business."
Students and administrators at Bishop State received good news earlier this year when the school retained its accreditation.
But there was concern when state officials had to cut $60 Million out of the Two Year College System.
However, Bradley Byrne, the Two Year College System Chancellor, said they were able to do without cutting academic or workforce training programs or even closing schools.
Byrne said, "The future will get better. As the Alabama economy improves, which it will, the Education Trust Fund goes with that. Funding will come back in the future, but we need to continue to manage ourselves well."
Byrne was the speaker at Bishop State's commencement.
More than 300 students received degrees or certificates this year.

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