What Are the Jobs of Tomorrow?
The jobs of tomorrow are ones that will experience steady growth well into the next decade. We researched industry trends and employment growth projections, taking current events and job satisfaction into consideration, to compile a list of popular as well as relatively unknown occupations in a myriad of industries. We chose to feature positions that will remain an integral part of the workforce in the coming years.
For example, the business sector is booming. With some of the fastest growing industries in the country, it is expected to add more than 4.1 million jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupations that deal with financial management, such as accounting and budget analysis, will fare especially well as people and businesses recover from the current recession with fresh attitudes about the best ways to save and spend their hard-earned funds. Money management positions will fit in well with the country's new fiscally responsible mentality.
The health care industry is not far behind in terms of job growth. Health care will always be of major importance in the workforce because there will always be a need for doctors, nurses and medical research scientists. Nursing is the biggest part of the health care industry and it will see the most significant rise in demand. Technician jobs in the health care field are also multiplying as medical equipment becomes more advanced. Heart monitors, PET/CT scanners, and ultrasound machines, for instance, need to be consistently maintained to ensure that they are running efficiently and producing accurate readings. Many health care professionals understand only how to operate the equipment but not how to troubleshoot or repair it, so technicians play a valuable role in fixing the machinery and enabling hospitals and clinics to quickly resume normal functioning.
Education is another growing industry. As the U.S. population increases, more teachers, professors, and administrators will be needed to meet the nation's educational needs.
Options in the science and technology occupations are expanding as well, especially those in the green energy field. The move to become more environmentally responsible is no longer just a trend. Americans create an average of 4.6 pounds of garbage per person per day. Annually, each person in the U.S. generates more than 1,600 pounds of garbage, the majority of which ends up in landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, energy waste is increasing, along with greenhouse gas emissions. Engineers, urban planners and environmental scientists who work to develop ways to cut down on mankind's footprint on the planet will experience a steady increase in job options.
These fields will likely be at the forefront of tomorrow's workforce. Job seekers would be smart to keep them in mind when they consider possible career paths.