An increasing number of Americans are returning to school to learn a specific trade and transition into a new type of work. In the changing economy these workers feel that having a specific set of skills will give them better job market opportunities. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the next 10 years, 18 of the 20 fastest-growing job fields will require technical education or on-the-job training.
See "Quick trip to a new career", Lisa Leigh Connors, The Christian Science Monitor, August 2, 2004