OCEANSIDE — MiraCosta College and the city of Oceanside are teaming up on a new initiative allowing Oceanside residents to enroll tuition-free, in MiraCosta Community Education & Workforce Development job-training programs for the skills and know-how needed for in-demand trades at Oceanside businesses.
The Hire Local initiative was launched on July 6 and classes begin with the new fall semester. MiraCosta College programs that are part of Hire Local are biomedical equipment technology, welding, computer numeric control (CNC), engineering technician, machinist technology, electronic assembly technician and phlebotomy.
Hire Local job-training programs were targeted after the city of Oceanside conducted a needs assessment among local businesses and discovered a set of high-demand jobs that have been hard to fill.
The city is covering MiraCosta College’s administrative costs and student tuition is being covered by a MiraCosta College grant.
“With so many people out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic and with so many local businesses facing challenges in hiring skilled workers, the Hire Local program presents an unprecedented opportunity for Oceanside residents to get the training needed for in-demand jobs,” said MiraCosta College President Sunita Cooke.
Phlebotomists are earning an average income of more than $47,000 annually in the region, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the profession is looking at a 23 percent increase in hiring during the 10-year period ending in 2028.
Mechanical engineering technologists are earning an average annual wage of more than $55,000 locally, medical equipment repairers are earning more than $60,000 per year on average, and CNC operators are taking home an average wage of more than $61,000 annually in the region. In addition, the city will pay those who earn a certificate and are hired at an Oceanside company a bonus of $500 each.
All but the welding program are being taught at the MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute in Carlsbad. Welding is being taught at the John Landes Recreation Center in Oceanside.
stafThe Technology Career Institute is part of the college’s Community Education & Workforce Development department. Learn more about the Hire Local initiative at TCI.miracosta.edu or HireLocalOceanside.com.
