If you want a good job, stability, and quality of life making good money…
You need skills that pay.
Mississippi has thousands of high-quality skilled jobs that pay well above average in sectors like advanced manufacturing, energy, transportation and logistics, healthcare, information technology, and construction. Jobs in these industries often do not require a four-year degree, which means:
Less debt to keep up with the rising cost of living
Quicker earning potential
More stability for workers going into these fields
Quality of life
With the right skills, you could start out making over $50,000 a year!
Currently, Mississippi faces a significant shortage of workers in these high-demand industries. Surveys show students lack awareness of these jobs and have a negative perception of them believing they are low-paying or low-quality careers – two common, but inaccurate beliefs.
To address these issues, The Skills Foundation launched Skills That Pay – a campaign to educate key stakeholders on the many opportunities in Hattiesburg and throughout the State. Skills That Pay targets parents, educators, industry and community leaders, influencers, and students, empowering a coalition to help share the message to encourage people to consider these high-quality career pathways.
INDUSTRIES IN NEED OF SKILLLED WORKERS
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ENERGY
Mississippi is a net exporter of oil and gas, meaning we produce more than we consume. Producing fuels and maintaining a secure energy grid is crucial to Mississippi’s economy, so jobs in this field pay well above average wages. In many careers in energy, you can make over $100,000 after just a few years!
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HEALTHCARE
Healthcare opportunities are abundant across the state. Starting a career in healthcare is one of the smartest investments you can make for your future. With most positions in high demand, you’ll never need to worry about job security or higher earning potential.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
In an increasingly digital world run by code and computer programs, there is a growing need for professionals with IT-based skills. Jobs in this sector pay well-above-average wages, will always be in high demand, and create significant opportunities for entrepreneurism. Training providers for skills like coding, computer programming, cybersecurity, network analysts, and more exist all across Mississippi.
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MANUFACTURING
According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), manufacturers in Mississippi account for 16.11% of the total output in the state, employing 12.80% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $18.68 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 146,000 manufacturing employees in Mississippi in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $63,226.12 in 2019.