As job openings in the health care sector rise statewide and locally, education and development institutions around Huntsville are working to prepare workers to fill a variety of needs.

AL.com reported last month that Huntsville was home to 19% of total job postings in the state in May, according to the Alabama Department of Labor, or 28 job ads per 1,000 residents. Health care jobs were among the largest drivers, both statewide and in north Alabama.

A recent search of job postings on the Alabama Department of Labor website returned 477 jobs tagged “Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations” within 25 miles of Huntsville. According to a post this week on Hville Blast, the Huntsville Hospital Health System and Crestwood Medical Center had more than 550 openings on Indeed.com.