that's the reality for these students earning associate degrees at lee college in baytown, texas. >>f the united states have no idea the job market and availability here. >> reporter: baytown is a petro chemical hub with 19 manufacturing facilities run by big names like exxon mobil, chevron, phillips, and bayer. >> it's very competitive. with our local oil gas and petro chemical companies. we're going after the same talent pool. >> reporter: bayer manufactures high tech plastics vying for processed technology operators. over the next five years, 3800 of them will be needed in the gulf coast region. not engineers with a four-year degree, but skilled workers with two-year associate degrees in science-based technology. >> back in 2000, we had typically about 2,000 applicants for every 20 to 30 vacancies. by contrast, today, we have about 250 applicants for those same 20 to 30 vacancies. >> reporter: it's a similar story at manufacturing plants across the country. in part, due to experienced baby boomers retiring and in part, due to the rapid advancement of technology. schools just aren'