Worker retraining for older folks - Where are the jobs?

[AmandaRuth]

Can someone help me, or point me to an information source? A lot of older people are finding themselves forced to retrain for the new economy, (whatever that is), as technology and the job market changes, myself included.

What type of jobs offer the greatest opportunities for people who don't have a lot of time left to invest in education and are interested in getting technical training rather than a degree? A few of my friends are in this boat, and we have been discussing options. Computers and the Internet seem to be the flash words, what plastics was back in the 60's, but outsourcing is a fear.

Of course the health, and sadly, criminology professions seems to be growing, but what else? In other words are there any sure bets for a two year technical training program for a guaranteed job with a livable decent income? Thoughts, anyone?

[whistle]

1. Retrain people over 65 to work as greeters at Wal-Mart....

...for minimum wage and a reason to discontinue Social Security

[sam sarrha]

2. actually the training is a lobotomy...

[AmandaRuth]

3. thanks for the smiles, but I'm serious

a percentage of our workforce will need to be retrained for the "jobs of tomorrow", but what/where are the jobs of tomorrow.....?

[elehhhhna]

4. Hospital work. It's all medical, baby, cuz' they can't export healthcare

They stripped the Green Thumb program for elderly workers, btw.

[area51]

6. Er...

They can "inshore" healthcare profession people. Every time my dad goes in the hospital, I meet his nurses, & usually several are from other countries. They can bring in people from other countries to take American jobs. Also, I've heard something about sending radiology films (I probably don't have the lexicon correct) over to India to have them "read".

[solarspa]

5. Healthcare?

Thats what I heard anyway. Don't know if its true.

[shrike]

7. Any chance you can become an independent contractor?

Freelance, sell the skills you already have on that basis?

I hate to be a downer, but "older" people are the last to be hired. I knew a woman in banking with impeccable credentials -- no one wanted her. Fortunately she had the wherewithal to retire and then open her own business.

[Robert Oak]

8. hospital work, do NOT get a technical degree, outsourcing n/t

[yella_dawg]

9. Computers, tech is definitely a no-no.

The industry is offloading workers like mad. By the time you could get training, there probably won't be any computing jobs.

[DaedelusNemo]

10. I've been told multimedia is still going well

Confirm or correct?