The US national economy is finally recovering and employers across the country are hiring again. Yet even as the supply of jobs increases, the demand for skilled, highly intelligent applicants for these increasingly complex jobs has also increased. Education and training have never been as important as they are today in the job market, and job seekers are responding by turning to online educational institutions.

In the first three months of 2011, close to a half million new jobs were created in the US, with the majority of those coming from private businesses. The Labor Department states that over two-thirds of the industries it tracks have shown job gains. This is the highest that statistic has been in over a decade.

Opportunity, however, does not guarantee success. Even during the depths of the recent recession, nearly one out of every three US manufacturers reported problems finding qualified applicants. Labor analysts predict that as the job recovery continues, employers will struggle to find skilled laborers and qualified technical workers. Career counselors are advising job applicants to sharpen their skills, to demonstrate that whether they’re unemployed or under-employed, whether they’re looking to land their first job or are interested in changing careers, they have the knowledge and skills that employers need.

Online education is becoming increasingly popular among job seekers. While overall growth in higher education has been minimal for some time, online enrollment has experienced double-digit expansion in the past decade. The affordability and convenience of distance learning is especially attractive to people looking for the skills and certification required to start or advance their careers.

Many online institutions have responded by offering programs specifically designed for job seekers. Almeda University (http://www.almedauniversity.org/), a leading online educator for more than a decade, even offers academic credit to students based on their personal histories. New students at Almeda University are encouraged to take a Prior Learning Assessment, which identifies the student’s academic achievements, military service, job experience, and volunteer work. Based on the results of this assessment, students can earn credit that can be applied to a Life Experience Degree, which is earned through what Almeda describes as a "hands-on" kinesthetic learning curriculum. Another program that was initiated in response to the needs of career-minded professionals, the Life Experience Degree is awarded to Almeda students based on workplace experience, career development, and academic expertise. More information about Almeda’s Life Experience Degree program can be found at http://www.almedauniversity.org/life/how-it-works.html.

For job seekers requiring more traditional academic programs, Almeda University also offers Associate, Bachelor, and Master degrees in highly skilled fields such as Legal Studies, Computer Information Systems, Security Management, Civil Engineering, and Industrial Technology. For people interested in administrative and management careers, Almeda provides a School of Business Administration, which awards Associate, Bachelor, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. Non-degree and continuing education programs are also available. The full range of academic programs offered by Almeda University can be viewed at http://www.almedauniversity.org/about-our-programs.html.

The job market promises to remain competitive even as job opportunities continue to grow. And as job seekers continue to pursue online education to gain a competitive edge, institutions such as Almeda University will continue to offer programs that meet the needs of today’s job seekers.