Effie Hightower-Thurman had worked as an accountant for 20 years -- without a college degree. But in a twist, in May 2009, she was asked to train a successor based in India. Then she was laid off and has been out of work since. After applying at hundreds of companies and registering with 10 temporary hiring agencies in Chicago, Hightower-Thurman has not been offered a job, the Chicago Tribute reports. The main reason is her lack of bachelor's degree in accounting, employment experts say. So with the daily pressure of looking for jobs, she's also up for some schooling, the Chicago Tribune reports. Hightower-Thurman has applied for the Trade Adjustment Assistance, a federal financing program aimed at helping workers whose jobs have been outsourced. She told the newspaper that she is planning to use the educational assistance to go to college and earn a degree in accounting. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the accounting industry is expected to grow by 22% through 2018, but job-seekers like Hightower-Thurman who do not hold a degree in accounting or a related field are at a disadvantage. Opportunities are "favorable" for those who have earned professional recognition through certification or licensure, it added.  |