Career Clusters are essential tools for organizing curriculum and instruction. They provide a framework of knowledge and skills across 16 Career Clusters and their corresponding Career Pathways. The Architecture & Construction Career Cluster serves as a guide for developing programs of study that bridge secondary and postsecondary education, while also supporting the creation of individualized student plans for a wide range of career options. This structure helps students explore their interests, discover their passions, and empowers them to choose educational pathways that lead to success in high school, college, and future careers.

Employment Projections: 2016–2026
In 2016, the Architecture & Construction cluster employed around 288,211 workers in Virginia. By 2026, employment in this sector is projected to increase by approximately 23,000 workers, representing 8% growth statewide. The local region is expected to experience even higher occupational growth compared to the state average. These projections are based on analysis by Trailblazers using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This growing demand offers students in the Architecture & Construction Career Cluster the opportunity to develop valuable skills for high-demand jobs and rewarding career paths in Virginia and beyond.

The Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications cluster is about flexing your creativity, design, writing, performing, and multimedia skills.  Prepare for careers from graphic design to broadcast journalism by focusing on advanced technologies used in venues, including corporate boardrooms, hotels and convention centers, classrooms, and museums. Career prospects for producers and directors are expected to increase due to new content delivery methods – such as watching TV online or on a mobile device – and the popularity of reality television.

Employment Projections: 2016-2026*

The Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications cluster employed approximately 49,500 Virginians in 2016 and is expected to employ about 2,600 additional workers in the Commonwealth by 2026. This represents about 5 percent growth in this cluster in Virginia over the decade. These figures are based on Trailblazers analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. *

The Education and Training cluster is about using your ability to motivate and your love of people to provide education and training that reaches individuals of all ages and across various industries. Careers include teaching in a classroom, leading as a college president, and serving as a social worker in your community.

Increased enrollment in middle schools and larger class sizes should increase employment of middle school teachers. During this time period a number of older teachers are expected to retire, which is expected to improve job prospects for younger educators. Employment also is expected to increase for preschool teachers due to higher enrollment. The increased emphasis on early childhood education is driving the demand for pre-school teachers. Job prospects should be better for teachers with bachelor’s degrees and those with prior experience working with preschool-aged children.

Employment Projections: 2016-2026*

The Education & Training cluster is expected to employ nearly 27,500 by 2026.  The Education & Training cluster is expected to have the fourth-highest percentage of job growth in Virginia through 2026 (13%).  These figures are based on Trailblazers analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. *

The Health Science cluster is about using your love of science to help keep people healthy and treat those who are not. Work directly with people as a doctor or physical therapist or independently by researching diseases and other important health information. This field allows you to work in diverse environments such as hospitals, medical and dental offices, or labs.

An aging population is expected to increase, as will the need for radiation therapists. Advancements in cancer treatment and detection also should boost the need for radiation therapists. There will also be a need for new nurses, with increased employment of registered nurses.  The expected increase in jobs is due to many reasons, including an older population likely to have more medical problems and growing access to health care due to federal health insurance reform. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics also should have favorable job prospects. Paramedics and EMTs will continue to be needed to care for sick and injured people during emergencies.

Employment Projections: 2016-2026*
The Health Science cluster is projected to exhibit the second-highest percentage of growth between 2016 and 2026 among all clusters in Virginia (21 percent), based on Trailblazers analysis of information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. * This cluster employed approximately 306,000 Virginians in 2016 and is expected to employ at least 64,000 more by 2026.

Hospitality & Tourism encompasses managing, marketing, and operating restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events, and travel-related services.  There should be a greater need for chefs and head cooks as the population grows and people’s incomes increase. It is becoming more common for consumers to demand healthier food at restaurants, cafeterias, and grocery stores, so experienced chefs will be needed to help prepare these meals. Recreation workers lead leisure activities in recreation facilities, including playgrounds, parks, camps, and aquatic centers. As more resources are put toward fighting childhood obesity, more recreation workers will be needed to help guide children through physical activities. The need for food service managers is expected to increase because people will continue to eat out during this time period, so managers will be needed to supervise food establishments.

Employment Projections: 2016-2026*
The Hospitality & Tourism cluster employed approximately 486,000 Virginians in 2016 and is expected to employ about 58,000 more in 2026.  Based on Trailblazers calculations using data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this represents about 12 percent growth over the decade.  The Hospitality and Tourism Cluster is projected to have the greatest annual job openings among all the clusters between 2016 and 2026. *

The Human Services cluster uses your skills in communication and problem solving to provide support to families and individuals with services from working in early childhood care to providing mental health services for older adults. This diverse Career Cluster allows you to work in a variety of settings including health care, spas, schools, and community centers.

More social workers are expected to be needed in the coming years.  There should be an even greater need for mental health and substance abuse social workers. This is partly due to the fact that drug offenders are increasingly being sent to treatment programs, as opposed to jail, where social workers treat them.  The massage therapy industry also should see a boost in workers. In recent years, the popularity of massage clinic franchises has increased, offering consumers more affordable massages and increasing the need for massage therapists. Job prospects will be better for massage therapists licensed in states that require it. However, professionals entering the field should also know that building a client base takes time. 

Employment Projections: 2016-2026*

According to Trailblazers analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, The Human Services Career Clusters are expected to grow by 27% by 2026 in Virginia, the highest projection of all the career clusters.  More than 109,823 Virginians were employed in this cluster in 2016; about 36,000 more are expected by 2026. *

The Information Technology cluster uses your love of technology to teach you how to design, develop, and manage different software and hardware programs. Though this field requires a solid foundation in math and science and strong technical skills, there are careers in information technology in virtually every part of the economy.

Employment of computer and information research scientists is expected to increase. The demand for new and better technology will continue to grow, increasing the employment of such workers. These professionals will also be needed to combat cyber-attacks, which threaten society more. Database administrators should be needed more in the next decade. As companies store more data, these workers will be needed to manage the data so that analysts and stakeholders can understand it. Software developers also should see good job prospects. Mobile devices and tablets are becoming more popular, so software developers are increasingly needed to develop and upgrade mobile applications. Overall, more consumer products use software, which will drive the need for developers.

Employment Projections: 2016-2026*

The Information Technology cluster is projected to expand by 17 percent between 2016 and 2026, the third highest percentage of growth among all clusters in the Commonwealth based on Trailblazers analysis of information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our local area will experience higher occupational growth rates in the Information Technology Cluster. *

The Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster focuses on the areas of mechanics, mathematics, and design to work in careers related to managing and moving everything from people to company products through a range of transportation services. As people continue to rely on automobiles, more automotive service technicians will be needed to perform vehicle maintenance and repair. Many employers in the automotive field have difficulty finding qualified technicians, so applicants with training or certifications should have better job prospects.

Employment Projections: 2016-2026*

The Transportation, Distribution & Logistics cluster employed approximately 273,000 Virginians in 2016 but is expected to employ about 16,000 in 2026. This increase of 9 percent is based on Trailblazers analysis of information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. * 

Instructor: 
Lisa Svoboda - lsvoboda@spotsylvania.k12.va.us

DO YOU –

• Enjoy working with your hands?

• Do you love Animals?

• Enjoy working with people?

• Have a positive attitude?

• Are you a critical Thinker

  ?

• Want to see tangible results when you learn?

• Then this class might be for you!