PORTLAND, Ore. -- Local community colleges have experienced an enrollment surge as the economy struggles.

Enrollment is up more than 10 percent at Portland Community College -- and according to school officials, many of the students already have degrees.

Divorce, outsourcing and plant closures have forced some Oregonians back into class. Lynn Thompson is among them.

Thompson already has a master’s degree and has worked in the high-tech field for years. But after his job was outsourced to China he decided to go back to school to become a machinist.

"Finding something closer to home, something that I can do well into my retirement years -- I think I've chosen wisely," he said.

Fields currently facing worker shortages include health care and engineering.

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