Unemployment figures across the country continue to spike, leaving many jobless individuals to find ways to enhance their qualifications to remain competitive in the thin job market. In today's economy, however, very few people can afford the time and money required to engage in a four-year degree program at a brick-and-mortar university, as they cannot afford to abandon their family and financial commitments.

As a result, many students and professionals are choosing to enroll in online courses to pursue vocational degrees. While there is no doubt higher education is the key to career development, the educational requirements of today's workforce are shifting.

As the cost of obtaining a bachelors degree through traditional means continues to rise, many individuals are choosing to enroll in vocational programs, which are one of the quickest methods to launching a career.

Kevin Fleming, director of the San Bernardino Community College's Center of Excellence, said that specified vocational degrees may be the key to a successful labor force.

We need more people taking the right types of programs as opposed to higher degree holders with little direction, he told the San Bernardino Sun.

Calling upon statistics from the Department of Labor, Fleming pointed out that the government expects 21 percent of jobs will require a bachelor's degree in 2016, while approximately 40 percent will be middle-skill opportunities that require vocational training.

To meet the projected demands of the American workforce, many online universities have begun offering training programs that are intended to prepare students for specific careers and attracted growing numbers of prospective employees.

Kaplan University, for example, reported that its enrollment increased by 28 percent this year, according to a recent article in the Desert Sun. Brian Mendenhall, the online school's director of admissions, told the newspaper he attributes this growth to the time commitment required of bachelors or master's degree programs and the inclusion of non-applicable classes in their curricula.

Kaplan currently offers vocational training for individuals wishing to become dental assistants, massage therapists, medical assistants, medical office specialists, medical practice managers, pharmacy technicians and criminal justice professionals. When concerned with financial aid look into government grants for your vocational training