SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Graduating seniors opting not to take the college route have myriad options available to prepare them for the work force, and some local experts believe those options should be made more readily available.

“There’s a real disconnect being communicated out there that says you graduate high school, you go to college and you get a job, but the real world and the labor market don’t necessarily support that line of thinking,” said Michele Rumpf, director of development for the Eastern Shore Chamber Foundation.

To be clear, Rumpf is not suggesting anyone not attend college.

Quite the contrary, she simply wants to be certain students—and the educators helping guide their professional paths —are aware of training and educational opportunities available that don’t necessarily require a four-year college degree.

“What I’m talking about has nothing to do with intelligence or ability. It’s a matter of finding a program—and a career—that’s the right fit for each individual person, and telling kids they have this single option of going to college and getting a four-year degree really doesn’t show them all of the options that are available to them.”

Indeed, of Spanish Fort High School’s 173 graduating seniors, 121 are college bound with 10 opting to join the military. That leaves 42 who have either deferred college enrollment until they can raise the necessary funds—meaning they will enter the work force immediately—or who have no designs at this point for pursuing a degree.

Rumpf, former director of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Workforce Development, has invited guidance counselors from SFHS as well as Bayside Academy and Daphne and Fairhope high schools to hear a more detailed presentation June 17, addressing labor market trends and the increasing demand for skilled labor as well as other emerging trends within the bay area’s expanding employment base.

Shipbuilding is an obvious boon for the Port City, she said, but the need for skilled electricians, plumbers and HVAC specialists also remains steady in both Baldwin and Mobile counties.

“Technical skills overall are certainly going to be on the forefront,” she said.

Of course, some sectors, such as health care, straddle the line between traditional four-year degrees and alternative paths, and Rumpf said the obvious growth sector remains a good bet for students of varying interests.

 “Health care is the best bet because with the graying of America and the baby boomers starting to retire, they’ll never be without a job,” she said, noting health-care employment in both Baldwin and Mobile counties remain among the most prolific and most stable.

“While they don’t have the number of open positions they used to have, there’s always going to be a need for experienced health-care providers,” she said.

Principal Beverly Spondike said she is confident the SFHS Class of 2009 will be successful in whatever they choose to pursue because of the leadership, maturity and adaptability exhibited consistently over the past four years.