Several studies have come out in the last few years documenting the aging of the workforce, both in the North Country region and the state of New Hampshire as a whole. These studies highlighted the challenges that would face the region and state as the professionals who are a part of the baby boom generation, those who were born between 1946 and 1964, retire.
When some of those studies were done the problem still seemed far off. The bulk of the baby boomers, those born between 1954 and 1964, were still a ways from reaching 60 years old, their peak earning years still in front of them. But time has a way of quietly marching on and many of those professionals are now retiring.
We don't have any hard statistics, but judging from personal observations there are two fields that have been particularly hard hit by retirements: education and law enforcement. Legislative changes to the New Hampshire Retirement System that were effective July 1 2009, have spurred many of those employees to retire earlier than they normally would have. The NH Retirement System's membership is comprised of police officers, teachers, and state and local government employees.
These retirements create opportunities for those in the generations born in the years after the baby boomers. School boards across the state are looking for qualified teachers, both in traditional classrooms and in special education. The retirements are affecting all school departments, with boards looking to hire teachers in the academic disciplines of English, Chemistry, History and more. Teachers are needed in grade schools, middle schools, and pre-schools, too.
Law enforcement agencies need more than a few good men and women, too. Because of the demanding nature of the work, police and safety personnel often can retire at a younger age than the general workforce. There are many opportunities for young people in the public safety sector.
At White Mountains Community College we offer associate degrees in Criminal Justice and Early Childhood Education. Students can use these degrees to immediately enter the workplace after graduation, or they can use the degrees as the base of their education and go on to a four-year institution to earn a higher degree and thus increase their future earning power.
We also offer a two-semester Special Education Certificate and a two-year Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation. Our Liberal Arts degree offers a strong base for students to go on and earn a bachelor's degree in another subject so they could teach that subject matter on the junior or high school level. In this, we partner with the colleges that make up the University System of New Hampshire, to make transfer more seamless to those institutions. If you haven't already done so, check out www.nhtransfer.org for information regarding transferring college credits. We also have a close relationship with Plymouth State University, partnering with the University in the North Country Teacher Certification Program. This program allows students to stay in the North Country while earning their bachelor degrees and teaching certification.
If you are ready to prepare for the future, our faculty and staff are ready to assist you. Stop by WMCC at 2020 Riverside Drive in to get started. Or visit one of our academic centers right in your backyard. Our Conway center is located off of Route 16 at 53 Technology Lane. In Littleton we are at 646 Main Street, in Woodsville at 9 High Street. For more information go to www.wmcc.edu, or give us a call at 752-1113.
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