Hard times are still upon us, and many careers once thought of as untouchable are now facing huge budget cuts, but one field is still looking as solid as ever.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries, and both student and those looking for a career change are taking notice.
Michael Farris is in the industry of saving lives.
He's currently a paramedic but is taking classes at South Texas College to become a registered nurse.
"Here at the STC Nursing and Allied Health building, they have some of the finest equipment to work with as far as training goes," said Michael Farris.
Like Simon who blinks, breathes and goes into cardiac arrest.
"The simulation mannequins that we get to have from the emt program…the simulations that they can put us through to practice on things that cannot be harmed," said Farris.
The nursing program also consists of pediatrics where students get to use "Sim" babies to learn how to care for newborns, but these mannequins aren't the only thing luring students through STC's doors.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare accounts for roughly half of the 20 fastest growing occupations, and by 2018, the healthcare and social services sector is expected to add roughly four million jobs.
"There's a fair boost in our nursing population here. There's a lot of employment offered for our nursing programs....anybody in healthcare for that matter," said Vincente Martinez the campus's student service specialist.
Martinez said each year roughly 600 people apply to the college to study a career in healthcare but only about 200 are accepted.
"So there's a fair amount of students who have to re-apply the following year," said Martinez.
And although Farris enjoys that he saves lives in his career, he also feels safe to know it's a secure industry that he can count on for years.
"Even if the economy goes South, people are still going to get sick, there's still going to be a need for nurses, there's still going to be a need for healthcare providers," said Farris.
To learn more about the healthcare industry, South Texas College is inviting the public to an open house at the Nursing and Allied Health Campus at 1101 E. Vermont in McAllen.
The open house is Thursday, July 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT