FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Aug. 12, 2008                                                  Department of Labor & Industry

                                                                        Commonwealth News Bureau

                                                                        Room 308, Main Capitol

                                                                        Harrisburg, PA  17120

                                                                        CONTACT:    Troy Thompson

                                                                                                (717) 787-7530

2008 PENNSYLVANIA CAREER GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

HARRISBURG – The latest edition of the Pennsylvania Career Guide, a publication designed for students, parents, counselors, first-time job seekers and those considering a career change, is now available in Spanish.

“The Career Guide is a valuable tool that can help students, parents, counselors and citizens make informed decisions about career employment in some of Pennsylvania’s most important industries,” Department of Labor & Industry Acting Secretary Sandi Vito said. “Making sure that this resource is available, accessible and useful to Spanish-speaking Pennsylvanians, especially parents who want to take an active role in helping prepare their children for the 21st-century workplace, is a priority.”

The latest Pennsylvania Career Guide has been redesigned to emphasize information about careers in the commonwealth’s nine targeted industry clusters, which are groups of industries closely linked by common product markets, labor pools, similar technologies, supplier chains or other economic ties.

Clusters have strategic importance, because activities that benefit one group member will generally have positive spillover effects on other businesses in the cluster. 

The publication provides job seekers with information about careers in advanced materials & manufacturing; agriculture & food production; building & construction; business & financial services; education; information & communication services; life sciences (includes health care); logistics & transportation; lumber, wood & paper; and other industries.

"Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in our commonwealth and as we move forward in this competitive global economy it is imperative to prepare our labor force to compete effectively and position Pennsylvania as a leader internationally,” said Norman Bristol-Colón, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. “This guide will serve our more than 550,000 Latino residents as they plan for the future and strengthen Pennsylvania with innovation, ingenuity and creativity as we strive to become a beacon of prosperity and progress."

Organizations and institutions serving the Spanish-speaking population are encouraged to call the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Center for Workforce Information & Analysis at 717-787-6466, or toll-free at 1-877-493-3282, to get copies of the Spanish Career Guide.

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