Hopeful

This post might be of interest to Michigan readers, who are struggling mightily with their own economy.

If you are on unemployment, or know someone who is - who previously worked in a field that is no longer in demand - there are two unemployment-related programs to financially assist workers gain valuable, in-demand skills. These programs are not new - just new to us. You still have to keep up with your efforts to find suitable work, and you still can't turn down work, during your studies.

One plan pays up to $4000 of an educational program lasting up to four months. You can typically get certified for low-level health care jobs, such as an STNA, in this amount of time.

Another program requires that you prepare a report detailing the job-market outlook and the educational costs of an Associates Degree program, such as one for a Computer Network Technician certification, or other lucrative fields requiring only two-year degrees. A representative of this assistance program meets with you to review your options.

My husband is right now meeting with a representative regarding a Computer Network Technician Associates Degree. We don't know the extent of the financial assistance, but degrees of this type can cost $6,000 - $30,000, depending on whether one chooses a better known college, such as DeVry, or lesson known ones. Payment plans and financial aid through the colleges are available as well.

I'll keep you posted on how things go with this. I am feeling hopeful today. Very hopeful. The fact that one can earn a degree online is just amazing, isn't it?