McRae: Finding the Right Career
By Treasurer David McRae
Note: The following column is provided by Treasurer David McRae. Any opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily that of this publication.
We started this summer with a series that aimed to educate young people (and their families) about good money management. Today, I wanted to bring you one final piece for the series – a piece that is at the center of our spending, budgeting, and saving discussions: Finding the right career.
As State Treasurer, I spend a lot of time talking about education. After all, our team manages the state’s College and Career Savings programs. I believe education is critically important, although I don’t believe it comes in the form of a four-year degree for everyone. That’s one of the reasons we expanded our 529 education savings programs to help families pursue non-traditional education paths, such as apprenticeships, certifications, and community college programs.
Of course, picking the right education program means you must know the career field you want to pursue. Parents, grandparents and family friends can play a massive role in helping young people find the right path. The Kelly MacLean Achievement Center, which specializes in college recruitment, encourages parents to ask a few questions to get their children thinking: How much do you want to work directly with people? How much responsibility to do you want? Do you want to own your own business, manage employees, or take direction? What amount of money could you live on? What long-term goals do you have?
Once you can answer those questions, review career fields that may fit into your lifestyle choices and have employment opportunities. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shares occupational outlooks to help folks find the highest paying fields, the fastest growing industries, and the careers with the most new jobs. Depending on your selection, they provide guidance on the amount of schooling needed, states with the most availability, and more. To explore these resources, please visit www.bls.gov/ooh.
Once you’ve established your career field and gotten the training necessary, it’s time to begin your career – and I hope you find that beginning in Mississippi. As of April 2024, Mississippi had about 70,000 job openings, meaning there are opportunities to put your roots down near home. If you’re in the market for a job, I encourage you to visit jobfairs.ms.gov to connect with local employers who are looking for hardworking Mississippians.
I’ll close by saying this. We live in a wonderful state. Whatever your career, whatever your ambitions, I hope you put those skills to work here in Mississippi.
As you consider that, if you would like to discuss opportunities to save for the education required for your dream career, please visit treasury.ms.gov/collegesavings.
Mississippi Treasurer David McRae is the 55th Treasurer for the State of Mississippi. In this role, he helps manage the state’s cash flow, oversees College Savings Mississippi, and has returned more than $85 million in unclaimed money to Mississippians. For more information, visit Treasury.MS.gov.
