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STATE PROFILE
Mississippi
Mississippi Career Resource Network

Program Goals and Emphasis

The Mississippi CRN plans to: 1) continue support for a career guidance and academic counseling program designed to promote improved career and education decision-making by individuals, especially in areas of career information delivery and use; 2) provide teachers, administrators, and counselors with materials, training, and activities to assist students and parents with career exploration, educational opportunities, and education financing; and 3) improve coordination and communication among administrators and planners of programs in other state entities.
State Economic Profile

Economic and Environmental Profile

In the 1990s, Mississippi saw employment growth, mostly from the automotive, distribution, and tourism industries. Manufacturing is a larger sector in Mississippi than in other Southern states. Prospects for growth are strong among several of the state’s key industries, including electrical equipment, automotive, machinery, defense and security, and transportation and warehousing.

The January 2006 unemployment rate was 8.4%, as compared to 6.8% in April 2005.
Key Economic Sectors

• Government
• Health Care & Social Assistance
• Leisure & Hospitality
• Manufacturing
• Professional & Business Services
• Retail Trade
State Career Resource Activities

Highlighted Activities

Mississippi delivers career information through two versions of a computerized system called Choices®. The first, Mississippi Choices® CD Edition, is used on computers in schools and the second is a new Internet version, Choices® Planner that can be accessed at home. High school students (9 – 12) use both versions for career exploration, career decision-making, and educational/training planning. The Internet version, Choices® Planner also promotes parental involvement by providing home access and informative reports. This version reaches more students, makes personalized planning more effective and measures student plans and reports the success. Accountability reports provide the site, district, and state level usage summaries.

The early introduction of this valuable career resource helps students identify skills required within a career field and plan for transition to postsecondary education and training. Students can relate educational preparation to career goals and expectations.

A new book, Nontraditional Careers: The Fallacies & Facts, was developed especially for a nontraditional workshop for special populations teachers. It has been disseminated to vocational education directors, vocational counselors, career center managers, Tech-Prep coordinators, program supervisors at the Mississippi Department of Education, and WIN Job Center managers.

Ninety-three thousand copies of the career tabloid, Directions, were distributed during PY 2004. The comprehensive ninety-five-page publication covers the career planning process, financial aid, career clusters, skills for the workplace and a self-interest quiz. Occupational information and steps to a job search are additional content topics. A teacher and tabloid users survey was included to obtain feedback on its usefulness.
 
Primary Activities and Trainings

Mississippi has conducted the following activities and trainings:
• Nontraditional Occupations
• Career Day
• Career Fairs
• Job Fairs
• Career Information Delivery System
• Conference Presentations
• National Career Information Activities
• Facilitating Career Development
Career Information Delivery Systems (CIDS)

CIDS are computer-based systems providing local, state, and national information about careers and employment opportunities. State sites for CIDS include:

Elementary Schools40
Middle Schools 400
High Schools 307
Community Colleges 36
4-Year Colleges/Universities 1
Other 94
 
Primary Resources

Mississippi has published the following resources:
• American Careers Parent Edition Magazines
• Career Tabloids
• Clusters Videos & Posters
• Communications & Information Technology Posters
• SCANS Skills Posters
• Increasing Occupations in MS by Career Clusters Posters
• MS CRN Fact Sheet
• ACRN Fact Sheet
• Career Awareness Activities
• Nontraditional Careers: The Fallacies & Facts books
Program Funding and Partnerships

YearAmount
2005$134,414
2004$136,305
2003$137,114
2002$143,245
2001$124,948
Cumulative$676,026
Other Funding Sources

The program does not report any additional funding sources.
Significant Program Partnerships

• Mississippi Department of Employment Security
• Mississippi Department of Education
Resource Allocation

Contact Information

State Contact

Project Director
Sherry Hobbs
Mississippi Career Resource Network
Mississippi Department of Employment Security
1235 Echelon Parkway
Jackson, MS 39213
Phone: (601) 321-6508
Fax: (601) 321-6085
e-mail: shobbs@mdes.ms.gov
Web Site: http://www.mscareernet.org
State Administrative Location

Mississippi Department of Employment Security

Regional Contact Information

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