ATLANTA — The Technical College System of Georgia is reporting record enrollment as more students pursue careers in skilled trades and other fields.

Enrollment grew 6.6% over the previous year, marking the system’s fourth consecutive year of growth.

Commissioner Greg Dozier said students are seeing the career and economic opportunities available through technical colleges.

“You see purpose, you see career opportunities, and you see economic opportunity all at one time,” Dozier said.

The system also reported that 93% of graduates who entered the workforce found employment in the fields they studied.

Dozier said employers are becoming involved earlier in the process as students prepare to enter the workforce.

“Our employers really see the value of education. They’re coming in and partnering at an earlier spot in the process and the students realize I’m not just doing this to learn, I’m doing this to learn and I’ll have a job right when I graduate,” Dozier said.

Dozier said some of the jobs students are entering can pay between $60,000 and $100,000, with some graduates immediately entering jobs paying six-figure salaries.

“It’s really high paying jobs, when you look at these jobs they’re coming out making sometimes between $60,000-100,000, and they see the opportunity for the future,” Dozier said.

University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue recently told WSB that the state’s four-year colleges and universities and technical schools also play a role in attracting entrepreneurs and businesses to Georgia.

“The economic development that we’ve seen in the last several years have been very successful. There’s been a result of having a talent flow because that’s the most critical point when people come on to create jobs here, they’re wondering where they’re going to get that workforce,” Perdue said.

Earlier this week, Georgia was named the No. 1 state for business for the 13th consecutive year.

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.