BILLINGS - What do electricians, nurses, auto mechanics and welders have in common? Well, they are all in very high demand right now, and finding such workers isn't easy.

At the Billings Career Center, high school students get a chance to train in fields they may want to pursue after graduation. Fields that take a lot of training and education, but not the traditional 4 year college degree. And at the moment, there seems to be a lot of interest in that route. Stan Barr, the Director of the Career Center, says, "We've increased again another 150, 200 students for next year."

But the story isn't the same in the industry these students are training for. "We are seeing a dire need for skilled laborers. Electricians, carpenters, auto technicians; there's a shortage." says Barr. Montana has one of the lowest percentages in the country of students enrolled in post secondary or trade programs.

Officials say, that, combined with the fact that we have one of the oldest populations, could spell work force disaster in the coming years. "The misconceptions are that the trade related industry jobs are for people who can't make it anywhere else and are low paying jobs and the opposite is true. For example, someone graduating our diesel technology program will start out at around 22 dollars an hour." says John Cech, the Dean at the College of Technology.

Stan Barr says that's why it's his job to show students those options are out there. And they're reaching that goal. Enrollment at the Career Center has more than doubled in the past 6 years. "We're bursting at the seams." Says Barr. Still with the baby boomer population getting ready to retire, it's going to take a lot of new workers to fill their shoes.

Governor Schweitzer is holding a workforce conference Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Thursday at 7:30 a.m. to discuss solutions to these challenges. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza.