FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS

Transcription

1 CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE Inform Connect Advance FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS SACRAMENTO REGION July 2015 Prepared by: Centers of Excellence Los Rios Community College District

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements... 2 Introduction... 3 Industry Composition Labor Market Demand... 5 Wages Education and Certification Requirements for Fire Service Occupations Educational Programs in the Region Training Gap Assessment Summary and Recommendations... 9 Acknowledgements The Center of Excellence (COE) would like to acknowledge and thank the community colleges in the greater Sacramento region who participated in telephone interviews to assist the COE with a better understanding about their fire science and fire academy programs. These include the following individuals: Steve Segura, Dean, Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center/McClennan Center, American River College Bob Johnson, Dean, Careers and Technology, Cosumnes River College Virginia Berry, Dean, Career Technical Education and Instruction, Lake Tahoe College Tim Palmer, Fire Technology Director, Sierra College Cori Gil, Public Safety Administrative Support, Yuba College The COE would also like to thank Rodney Slaughter and Susan Pineau with the California State Fire Training, Office of the State Fire Marshall for generously contributing their time to provide and confirm information about education, training and certification requirements. 2 FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION

3 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this research brief is to assess the labor market demand for employment in fire services in the Sacramento region. 1 Six regional colleges currently offer programs in fire science. 2 These programs are associated with California Community College State Chancellor s Office TOP codes (Fire Technology), (Wildland Fire Technology) and (Fire Academy). Instructional programs in fire science provide training on principles and techniques of preventing, controlling and extinguishing fires in both municipal and forest areas, firefighter operations, fire rescue, use and maintenance of fire fighting equipment, and applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, colleges collaborate with local and state fire agencies to offer fire academies that provide courses and hands-on training to satisfy eligibility for state certifications for employment and post-employment advancement administered by the California State Fire Marshall. 1 The Sacramento region includes the following counties: Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba. 2 Six regional colleges offering fire science programs include: American River College, Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, Lake Tahoe College, Sierra College and Yuba College. FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION 3

4 INDUSTRY COMPOSITION Regionally, local government is the largest employer of fire service occupations followed by state government. Employers comprise municipal and wildland fire services within local, state, and federal sectors including all of the following: city and county fire departments, California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Department of Defense. Exhibit 1: Percent of Industry Employment for Fire Science, Sacramento Region 3 Local Government 86% State Government 11% All Other Industries 3% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Exhibit 2 shows the number of fire service jobs by sector for the six counties in the region. Sacramento County dominates the number of jobs in the region followed by Placer County, a distant second. Exhibit 3 on the following page maps these sector jobs by county. Exhibit 2: Total Fire Science Jobs by Sector and County, Sacramento Region 3 County 2014 Jobs Local Government State Government All Other Industries Sacramento 1,832 79% 17% 3% Placer % 1% 1% Yolo % 2% 4% El Dorado % 1% 1% Sutter % 1% 1% Yuba % 4% 11% EMSI: QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, and Self-Employed. 4 FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION

5 INDUSTRY COMPOSITION Exhibit 3: Total Fire Science Jobs by Sector and County, Sacramento Region 4 Yolo County Sutter County Yuba County Sacramento County Placer Country El Dorado County Local Government State Government All Other Industries EMSI: QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, and Self-Employed. FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION 5

6 LABOR MARKET DEMAND Six community college programs in the Sacramento region provide fire science training leading to entry-level careers with municipal and wildland fire services (forests or vacant public lands). They also offer training for currently employed and volunteer firefighters to promote and advance to supervisory-level and/or specialist careers. Programs prepare students for the following four occupations: First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers (SOC ) Directly supervise and coordinate activities of subordinates engaged in fire fighting, fire prevention and control, and rescue efforts. Occupation includes both municipal and wildland locations. Firefighters (SOC ) Control and extinguish fires, protect life and property, and conduct rescue efforts. Locate and rescue victims from burning buildings and accident sites and administer first aid and CPR to the injured. Operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment. Includes both municipal and wildland firefighters. Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC ) Inspect buildings and equipment to locate potential fire hazards and violations and enforce regulations. Conduct investigations at fire sites to collect and analyze evidence to determine the cause of a fire or explosion. Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (SOC ) Inspect forests for fire hazards and make recommendations related to prevention or control measures, and enforce fire regulations. Communicate information pertaining to forest fires and weather conditions. 5 Over the next three years, employers in the region will need to hire more than 400 firefighters, supervisors, and inspectors to keep pace with industry growth and replacement needs. As shown in Exhibit 4, firefighters comprise the largest group with more than 2,650 positions in 2014, and are projected to have the most job openings, as many as 340 over the next three years. Conversely, employment for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists is projected to have the least growth within this period with virtually no new jobs or replacements anticipated. For each of the four occupations, replacement estimates include retirements and general separations, but not turnover within the occupation. As such, replacements and new job growth combined is a good measure of demand for workers. Exhibit 4: Fire Service Employment Projections, Description 2014 Jobs 2017 Jobs New Jobs Replacements Total Openings First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers Firefighters 2,687 2, Fire Inspectors and Investigators Forest Fire Inspectors and <10 <10 Prevention Specialists Total 3,122 3, Source: O*NET, EMSI: QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, and Self-Employed. 6 FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION

7 LABOR MARKET DEMAND Exhibit 5: Fire Service Employment Projections, Jobs 3,300 3,250 3,200 3,150 3,122 3,200 3,232 3,260 3,100 3, Year WAGES As shown in Exhibit 6, the four fire service occupation wages in the region increase with promotion and advancement from firefighter to supervisory and specialist jobs. The median wage for firefighters is $26.81 per hour, higher than the overall median hourly wage in the region. 7 Their wages progress to $46.00 per hour for the top ten percent working in this occupation. First-line supervisors of fire fighting and fire prevention workers earn the highest wages, $45.20 per hour as the median, progressing to as high as $67.99 for the top ten percent in supervisory, management and specialist positions. Exhibit 6: Fire Service Percentile Earnings, Sacramento Region 7 $80 $70 $60 $50 $40 $30 $20 $10 $0 First-Line Supervisors of FireFighting and Prevention Workers Firefighters Fire Inspectors and Investigators Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists Average All Occupations Pct. 10 Pct. 25 Median Pct. 75 Pct. 90 $29.81 $36.97 $45.20 $55.37 $67.99 $12.01 $20.20 $26.81 $35.76 $46.00 $23.28 $28.04 $38.09 $44.40 $52.64 $15.81 $19.12 $26.28 $35.99 $40.22 $15.13 $18.31 $22.69 $28.51 $ EMSI: QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, and Self-Employed. FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION 7

8 EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE SERVICE OCCUPATIONS The following education and certification requirements are required for entry-level fire service employment. Fire Science Educational Certificates and Degrees: The State Board of Fire Services has increased the level of professionalism for entry-level job applicants and those seeking career promotions and advancement. Previously, only a high-school diploma plus on-the-job training was required to compete for entry-level firefighter positions, and minimal academic coursework and on-the-job training was required to compete for supervisory, management or specialist positions. Now, candidates applying for firefighter jobs are more likely to successfully compete for a job if they possess either a certificate or associate degree in fire science. To apply for supervisory and management level positions, an associate or bachelor s degree is required to meet minimal qualifications, in addition to possessing certifications. EMT Certification: Fire fighter jobs at a minimum require an Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) certification that is acquired by completing an EMT course with an acceptable grade and passing the National Registry EMT Basic examination. California Firefighter 1 Certification: To be certified as a Firefighter 1 by the State Board of Fire Services, students must enroll and complete an academy training program plus either six months full-time paid work experience or one year of volunteer experience as a fire fighter. According to the California State Fire Marshall, the total length in hours for the academy program is dependent upon meeting the specific needs of local fire agencies and is also determined by the number of students enrolled in each academy class. Physical or Legal Limitations: Fire academy courses are physically demanding and a health clearance is required. Also, to become certified as a Firefighter 1, a criminal background check is conducted and applicants with certain convictions will be unable to be employed. Paramedic Certification: This additional certification may give candidates preference in the hiring process. Revised Curriculum and Certification Requirements Fire academy programs at community colleges follow California State Fire Marshall Firefighter 1 curriculum and certification standards. To insure uniformity and compliance in meeting recognition with national standards, the State Fire Training and Education System adopted new curriculum and certification standards in The revised curriculum and certifications are based on current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards for accreditation and qualifying applicants for certification examinations (written and skills test) from both the International Fire Science Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) 8 and Pro Fire Service Professional Qualifications System. 9 To meet the certification changes required, programs offered at community college are being phased-in during a transition period for full implementation by the end of Currently, the only regional accredited college to offer the revised certification requirements is Sierra College, which is a beta test site in northern California. Their program fully satisfies IFSAC and Pro Board requirements and meets the California Fire Service for content and delivery. Other regional colleges are currently underway in their efforts to meet the new requirements by the phase-in date.technician is the fastest growing occupation, followed by assistant vineyard manager/vineyard manager, cellar worker, and assistant winemaker/winemaker. 8 International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, 9 Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System, International Accreditation for Fire Service Organizations, 8 FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION

9 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE REGION There are six community colleges in the region that offer fire science programs. As shown in Exhibit 7, these colleges confer an average of 113 associate degrees and certificates annually. This estimate is based on data reported to the California Community Colleges Chancellor s Office (CCCCO) Data Mart. Additionally, all but two colleges, Folsom Lake and Yuba, 10 offer a fire academy program. The academy programs confer an average of 226 certificates annually. Therefore, the combined degree/certificate programs and the fire academy programs confer a total of approximately 339 education awards annually in fire science. While the CCCCO Data Mart provides student completion data through 2014 for degree and certificates in fire science, it does not provide either any or accurate student completion numbers for fire academy programs. To determine the number of students completing fire academies, colleges were contacted directly and requested to provide this data to the Center of Excellence. [Note: Degrees and certificates conferred represent a three-year annual average through 2014, the latest year for which Data Mart has available data; but for fire academy program data, colleges were asked to provide their most recent three years of completions through 2015.] Exhibit 7: Fire Technology Degrees/Certificates Conferred, Sacramento Region 11 Annual Annual Annual Year Average American River College Cosumnes River College Folsom Lake College Lake Tahoe College Sierra College Yuba College Total Awards Conferred Exhibit 8: Fire Academy Certificates Conferred, Sacramento Region Annual Annual Annual Year Average American River College Cosumnes River College Lake Tahoe College* Sierra College Total Awards Conferred * Lake Tahoe College has submitted a request to the CCCCO to offer a fire academy associate degree to augment their existing fire academy certificate. The degree program is pending CCCCO approval. It needs to be acknowledged that the number of certificate/degree completers and academy completers reported likely includes duplicates if a student obtained both a certificate or degree and also an academy certificate. In addition, the estimate of total number of fire academy completers may be higher due to students participating in regional fire academy programs not associated with community colleges. 10 Yuba College offered both a fire academy certificate and degree program until the program was discontinued in Fall The college is currently updating their curriculum to meet the new California State Fire Marshall 1 standards and anticipate re-establishing the academy in Spring California Community Colleges Chancellor s Office, Management Information Systems Data Mart. FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION 9

10 TRAINING GAP ASSESSMENT The training gap assessment compares the supply of newly trained workers and the projected number of job openings over the next 12 months and three years. Due to several untracked variables, the difference between supply and demand does not reflect an exact shortage or oversupply. These variables include, but are not limited to worker migration trends, employer preferences, worker preparedness, and graduate/completion duplication. 12 Though there are limitations to supply and demand analysis, it does provide a starting point to assess training challenges. Over the next three years, municipal and state agencies will need to hire as many as 419 firefighters, supervisors and inspectors. While community colleges in the region graduate an estimated 339 students per year, and at this same level, project to graduate 1,017 students over the next three years, this estimate may be inflated due to duplicate counts. Therefore, the certificate and degree completers are not included in the gap analysis. Only academy program graduates were included reducing the estimate to 226 students completing per year and projected to graduate 678 over the next three years. This suggests that there still could be an oversupply of qualified firefighters and other fire service personnel entering the field. Exhibit 9: Training Gap Assessment, Sacramento Region 12-Month Estimate 172 Job Openings 226 Awards Confirmed 54 Oversupply 3-Year Estimate 419 Job Openings 678 Awards Confirmed 259 Oversupply This oversupply estimate appears reasonable as both the colleges and California State Fire Training indicate that due to a lack of jobs, some completers are forced to go to other areas in the state or out- of-state to obtain employment where the hiring of firefighters has increased. Conversely, the region s fire academy programs regularly enroll students from outside the region or even from out-of-state because they have available class space where other regions programs may be impacted with higher enrollments. These out-of-region students may partially mitigate the projected oversupply should they return back to region post-graduation. 12 The training gap assessment does not take into account skill builders: students that take one or more courses in CTE but do not obtain a degree or certificate in the field. Skill builders may obtain employment in their field of study, thereby creating a larger supply then estimated by completers only. 10 FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION

11 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS The demand for fire service workers is expected to grow moderately in the Sacramento region, adding about 170 new and replacement jobs over the next 12 months and as many as 419 new and replacement jobs through This moderate increase in employment is a reversal from the mid-to-late 2000 s when few new jobs in the fire service field were available. Community college fire academy programs train an average of 226 firefighters per year. Based on available data, the region can expect an oversupply should the colleges continue enrolling and preparing students for employment at the current levels. Further, Yuba College plans to reestablish a fire academy program starting in spring 2016 that will train additional students for fire service careers. Given the projected oversupply and moderate growth projections, community colleges in the region should not at this time consider adding or expanding programs unless an updated increase in fire service employment is projected to drive the demand. FIRE SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS, SACRAMENTO REGION 11

12 MORE ABOUT THE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE The Centers of Excellence (COE), in partnership with business and industry, deliver regional workforce research customized for community college decision making and resource development. This information has proven valuable to colleges in beginning, revising, or updating economic development and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, strengthening grant applications, assisting in the accreditation process, and in supporting strategic planning efforts. The Centers of Excellence Initiative is funded in part by the Chancellor s Office, California Community Colleges, Economic and Workforce Development Program. The Centers aspire to be the premier source of regional economic and workforce information and insight for California s community colleges. More information about the Centers of Excellence is available at For more information on this study, contact: Important Disclaimer All representations included in this report have been produced from primary research and/or secondary review of publicly and/or privately available data and/or research reports. Efforts have been made to qualify and validate the accuracy of the data and the reported findings; however, neither the Centers of Excellence, COE host District, nor California Community Colleges Chancellor s Office are responsible for applications or decisions made by recipient community colleges or their representatives based upon components or recommendations contained in this study Chancellor s Office California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program Please consider the environment before printing. This document is designed for double-sided printing. Theresa Milan, COE Director Northern California Region (916) milant@losrios.edu This study was supported by Economic and Workforce Development funds awarded by the Chancellor s Office, California Community Colleges. It was produced pursuant to grant agreement number CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE Inform Connect Advance FIND US ON LINKEDIN GROUPS: