The job landscape is always changing, based on the needs of the market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that between 2018 and 2028, the U.S. will gain 8.4 million new jobs.
The BLS expects that the fastest-growing jobs will be in health care
and related services. Fast growth also is expected in fields related to
renewable energy, mathematics and computers.
If you’re looking for a job that’s likely to be around in the next 10
years — in a field that needs workers — here are the occupations that
the BLS expects to grow fastest.
10. Speech-language pathologists
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $77,510
The BLS expects speech-language pathologist jobs to grow 27% between 2018 and 2028, a much faster rate than average.
This career is part of the larger health care category, which the BLS expects to be a fast-growing career field.
As the large generation of baby boomers grows older, the BLS expects strokes and dementia to cause speech or language impairments among many older people.
9. Nurse practitioners
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $107,030
Between 2018 and 2028, labor experts expect to see about 62,000 new nurse practitioner jobs — the category includes nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives, too — added to the economy.
Increased demand for health care services and the aging population are likely to drive a rise in this career, too.
8. Statisticians
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $87,780
If health care isn’t your thing, becoming a statistician or mathematician is another way to take advantage of the changing job market.
The increasing volume of digitally stored data requires professionals who can analyze and interpret it, according to the BLS.
Many businesses need workers skilled in analysis who can crunch numbers and make sense of data in a way that leads to profits.
7. Physician assistants
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $108,610
Physician assistants (called PAs) often work as part of health care teams, assisting doctors and surgeons. Their work can include examining, diagnosing and treating patients, ordering tests and prescribing treatment.
To get a job as a physician assistant, you typically will need at least a master’s degree and a license to practice in your state.
The economy is expected to add 37,000 of these jobs by 2028.
6. Information security analysts
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $98,350
Data breaches occur with alarming regularity, and the problem seems unlikely to be solved any time soon.
The BLS expects an increase in demand for workers capable of monitoring networks for security breaches and investigating when they find them. Information security analysts deploy firewalls, data encryption programs and other specialty software to safeguard information.
Innovative solutions and well-trained experts wil be needed to fight hacking and information theft in the future. Information security analysts will be in demand as a result.
5. Occupational therapy assistants
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $60,220
You don’t need a four-year degree to get a job that pays well.
As an occupational therapy assistant, you can make a good salary after you get an associate’s degree. Occupational therapy assistants work directly with patients to help them learn and recover from illness.
Occupational therapy aides perform related jobs in support functions. They made a median annual wage of $28,160 in 2018.
The aging population will increase the need for workers who can help in these capacities.
4. Personal care aides
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $24,020
Personal care aides can work in a number of settings, including day programs, private homes and group homes.
As a personal care aide, you help others with daily living activities, providing them support to accomplish tasks they can’t do on their own.
You may need only on-the-job training to become a personal care aide. Working in a certified home health or hospice agency is likely to involve more-formal training and testing.
3. Home health aides
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $24,200
Similar to personal care aides, home health aides are expected to see a bump in demand as baby boomers age and need help with daily activities.
Home health aides work in a variety of settings to help people who are ill, disabled or elderly get along with their daily activities. They might do things like helping someone dress or bathe, do housekeeping, shop for groceries and stay active socially,
To become a home health aide you usually need to pass a test and go through some form of training.
2. Wind turbine service technicians
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $54,370
Wind electricity generation is expected to experience major growth. Technicians will be needed to service large wind turbines. They typically get their training from a technical school or on-the-job instruction.
With the clean energy sector poised for growth — even with recent setbacks related to tariffs — jobs in renewable energy are expected to grow quickly in coming years.
1. Solar photovoltaic installers
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Median annual wage as of 2018: $42,680
The BLS predicts that the fastest-growing job between 2018 and 2028 will be solar photovoltaic installer.
Demand for solar photovoltaic panels and shingles continues to grow and costs are falling, reports the BLS. Plenty of workers will be needed to install all those panels.
Becoming a solar photovoltaic installer doesn’t require a great deal of education. It’s possible to take training courses at a technical school. Construction experience, experience as a journey electrician or an apprenticeship all can help.
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