Great Time For New Job Skills, Expert Says

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Increasing unemployment and a turbulent economy have some adults heading back to school.

California's unemployment rate jumped to 8.2 percent in October, the highest rate in 14 years.

The largest hit came in the construction industry, which has lost 65,900 jobs in the last year, followed by manufacturing.

According to the California Job Journal, some areas seeing the biggest job growth are the government, medical and educational sectors.

"We're seeing a big increase right now in our corrections program and our heating, air-conditioning and ventilation program, where older people that have been laid off maybe in construction and they're coming back to learn some new technical skills in a whole new field," said Debbie Jones, with San Joaquin Community College.

Toni Roy is learning respiratory therapy after working for five years as a real estate agent.

"The market is volatile -- everyone is aware of that," Roy said. "There always is going to be a job in health care. You just can't go wrong."

She said going back to school was scary, but it's a short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain.

Reported by: Suzanne Phan
Web produced by: Joe Rosemeyer