As Workforce Development Month comes to a close, Green Country Technology Center (GCTC) is celebrating a month of progress, opportunity and local impact through its Workforce Wednesday features – a spotlight series showcasing how GCTC programs are preparing students for high-demand careers across the region.
Each Wednesday throughout October, GCTC highlighted one of its career training programs – many listed among Oklahoma’s Top Critical Occupations – to show how local students can build rewarding, sustainable careers without leaving home. The features included projected job growth, regional job numbers and average annual earnings, using data from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission across Okmulgee, Creek, Muskogee and Tulsa counties.
“Workforce Wednesday at GCTC has been all about showing students what’s possible right here in their own community,” Anthony Nieto, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, said. “Area juniors and seniors can attend tuition-free, earn industry-recognized certifications and gain handson experience that leads directly to employment – all right here in Okmulgee. It’s local opportunity with a big-picture impact.”
One of the featured programs, CNC Machining, demonstrates the kind of high-skill, high-demand training GCTC is known for. According to state employment data, there are more than 1,650 machining related jobs in the region, with projected growth of 8% by 2035 and average annual earnings exceeding $53,000.
CNC machinists are essential in industries ranging from aerospace to energy. As GCTC’s Workforce Wednesday feature noted, “At GCTC, students don’t just learn to operate machines – they learn to create with precision, think with purpose, and lead with skill in one of the most vital trades of modern manufacturing.”
These insights, paired with regional workforce data, helped highlight how GCTC’s programs directly connect education to employment.
GCTC’s success doesn’t stop at its programs – it’s powered by partnerships.
“We are proud of the strong relationships we’ve developed with local industries and community partners like the Okmulgee Area Development Corporation,” Superintendent Roger King said. “Together, we’re helping attract new business and industry into Okmulgee County. And when companies grow here, they need a skilled workforce ready to meet that demand. GCTC is an essential part of that pipeline.”
These partnerships help ensure that GCTC’s training programs stay aligned with industry needs, providing students with up-to-date tools, technologies and certifications that make them job-ready on day one.
While Workforce Development Month may be ending, GCTC’s mission continues year-round – connecting students with in-demand skills, certifications and career paths that strengthen families and communities.
For local juniors, seniors and post-secondary students, the message is simple: “Your Career Starts Here.”
Visit www.gctcok.edu or call 918758-0840 to learn more about available programs and enrollment opportunities.
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