SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — As the Los Alamos National Laboratory faces thousands of job openings over the next five years New Mexico's community colleges are looking at how they can prepare their students for those jobs.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that representatives from the lab and community college presidents met in Santa Fe with U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, to figure out how small educational institutions can get their students employed at the lab.
Lab officials estimate almost 2,500 job vacancies will arise between now and 2020 in positions ranging from nuclear defense to operations as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age.
Los Alamos officials say they aren't just looking for scientists with doctorate degrees.