With an unemployment rate still stuck above 8% and much talk about a
mismatch between worker skills and the jobs available, many people are
trying to scope out the fields that will have many job openings in the
future. Many college graduates are struggling to find work and are
saddled with student loan debt, prompting many colleges to shift
resources to fields that are expected to be in high-demand in the
future. Many who are currently unemployed or underemployed are seeking
training in different fields where the jobs are considered “hot.”
To
find the jobs that will be in highest demand, 24/7 Wall St. has
compiled a list of the occupations that will have the most job openings
in this decade. The professions on this list are very diverse,
consisting of both white-collar and blue-collar jobs. They also require a
wide range of educational achievement. For instance, a glazier needs
just a high-school diploma to break into the field, but a statistician
requires a postgraduate college education. Similarly, the pay spectrum
for jobs on this list is quite wide. The median pay for a pest control
worker was just $30,340 in 2010. Meanwhile, the median pay for a natural
science manager was $116,020.
[More from 24/7 Wall St.: America's worst companies to work for]
24/7
Wall St. was primarily interested in looking at openings for
occupations where people usually work full-time and without frequent
turnover. Therefore, we decided to exclude occupations where the median
pay in 2010 was less than $30,000, thus discounting many occupations
that will see many job openings. Without this salary floor, most of the
occupations on this list would be low-skilled, low-wage jobs, such as
home health aides, personal care aides and food concession workers. In
fact, only two jobs on this current list would have made the list if we
didn’t impose the $30,000 minimum pay.
For some professions,
considerable job growth between 2010 and 2020 is the main driver behind
the job openings. While there were only 41,900 glaziers as of 2010,
17,700 positions will be added by 2020, accounting for more than half of
the job openings during that time. In other professions, most of the
job openings are simply the result of normal turnover cycle. While there
will be 18,700 job openings for statisticians, only 3,500 jobs will be
added to the 25,100 people already working in the profession, with the
remaining openings meant to replace existing workers.
24/7 Wall
St. looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on more than
1,000 different occupations. In addition to excluding jobs with median
pay below $30,000, we also chose to exclude jobs employing fewer than
20,000 people as of 2010 in order to represent jobs that will clearly
provide opportunity for many individuals in the future. From there, we
ranked the professions based on the number of job openings projected
between 2010 and 2020 as a percentage of the 2010 headcount in that
specific field. We also calculated the number and percentage of those
openings due to added positions as well as replacing current employees.
Finally, we considered factors such as industry, median salary and
credentials of these professionals to provide context on the types of
jobs likely to see many openings.
[More from 24/7 Wall St.: America's disappearing jobs]
These are the 10 best job opportunities of the future.
1. Actuaries
Thinkstock
> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 87.1%> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 18,900> Median annual wage: $87,650An
actuary analyzes the financial costs of risk for individuals and
organizations, using a combination of statistics and financial theory to
make projections. While there were only 21,700 actuaries in the U.S. as
of 2010, there will be 18,900 new job openings in this field by the end
of the decade. However, only 5,800 of those new openings, or slightly
less than 31%, will be derived from job growth. The other 13,100 actuary
openings will be available to replace those leaving the field, meaning
more than six of 10 actuaries won’t remain in the field during the
decade. Once a person graduates from college and finishes actuarial
exams, he or she can expect to make a decent income. The median annual
pay of $87,650 is better than accountants and auditors, whose median
income is $61,690, and budget analysts, whose median income is $68,200.
2. Glaziers> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 79.7%> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 33,400> Median annual wage: $36,640Glaziers,
the BLS explains, “install glass in windows, skylights, storefronts,
and display cases to create distinctive designs or reduce the need for
artificial lighting.” The number of job openings for glaziers between
2010 and 2020 is projected to reach 33,400, or 80% of the total number
of glaziers employed in 2010. Of these openings, roughly 17,700 can be
attributed to job growth as glass is increasingly used in construction
and glass windows become more energy efficient. However, another 15,700
job openings will be needed simply to replace former glaziers, as the
occupation remains exceptionally physically demanding and has a
particularly high rate of injury due to cuts from glass and tools as
well as from falls.
3. Statisticians
Thinkstock
> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 74.5%> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 18,700> Median annual wage: $72,830Statisticians
work in virtually every field that requires the collection, aggregation
and analysis of large amounts of data. In 2010, there were roughly
25,100 statisticians employed in the U.S. By 2020, the number of
statisticians is projected to increase by roughly 3,500, as statistical
analysis becomes a more commonly used tool in decision-making. However,
between 2010 and 2020, 15,200 positions will be filled just to meet
replacement needs — a figure that is equal to roughly 75% of 2010
employment. The issue of high turnover is probably unrelated to salary,
however, as the median annual wage for statisticians is $72,830.
4. Pest Control Workers> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 70.9%> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 48,500> Median annual wage: $30,340Pest
control workers use traps, fumigants and various other methods to
remove rats, roaches, bedbugs and other unwanted creatures from
buildings. Between 2010 and 2020, the BLS estimates that the number of
pest control workers will increase by 26.1%, as “population growth,
particularly in the South, where pests are more common, should result in
more buildings that will require additional pest management.” However,
while there are projected to be 48,500 openings between 2010 and 2020,
30,600 of these will address replacements needs as workers leave the
industry. Among possible reasons for such high turnover: work schedules
that often include weekend and evening hours and an increased likelihood
of injury and illness due to exposure to pest control chemicals.
5. Interpreters and Translators
Thinkstock
> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 69%> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 40,300> Median annual wage: $43,300Becoming
an interpreter or translator is not easy, usually requiring a
bachelor’s degree, and above all else, fluency in English and at least
one other language. Additionally, work experience is critical as many
employers will only hire interpreters and translators with past work
history. Some 40,300 openings for interpreters and translators are
expected to become available between 2010 and 2020 as the U.S.
population becomes increasingly diverse and international trade expands.
Though roughly 24,600 of these openings will come from new growth, the
remaining 15,700 positions, roughly equal to 27% of the 2010 workforce,
will be needed to replace previous workers. Many established
interpreters and translators also have the option of working for
themselves, as 22.9% were self-employed in 2010.
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6. Optometrists > Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 68.4%> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 23,400> Median annual wage: $94,990The
number of optometry jobs is expected to grow from the 34,200 jobs in
2010 to 45,500 jobs in 2020, an increase of 33.1%. The BLS projects
23,400 job openings will have to be filled, with 11,300, or just under
half, to job growth. The other 12,100 openings, representing 35.4% of
the current headcount, will arise due to replacement needs. But you
better like school if you want one of these optometry jobs. In addition
to holding a bachelor’s degree, optometrists must earn a doctorate in
optometry, which takes an additional four years. The median pay of
$94,990 is the 36th highest of all professions, but it is far smaller
than the pay of physicians. The median pay for doctors in primary care
was $202,392, while the pay for those in medical specialties was
$356,885.
7. Natural Science Managers
Thinkstock
> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 68%> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 33,500> Median annual wage: $116,020Natural
science managers direct and supervise research projects for biologists,
physicists and chemists. Most are former scientists who have taken on
management roles, and many conduct their own research as well as
supervise others. The BLS projects 33,500 openings for natural science
managers will have to be filled by 2020. Just 3,800 of those are
projected to come from the growth of new jobs, as research and
development operations are outsourced to specialized firms. The
remaining 29,700 are expected to address replacement needs. Finding
replacements may be difficult, as the prerequisites include at least
five years work experience and a bachelor’s degree.
8. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 67.8%> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 191,800> Median annual wage: $60,570Market
research analysts study market conditions, as well as sales and pricing
trends of products and services. Between 2010 and 2020, a projected
191,800 analyst positions will have to be filled. Of these openings,
116,600 are expected come from job growth, as demand for market data and
research increases.The remaining 75,200 of openings are expected to
address job turnover and attrition. Most positions for market research
analysts typically require at least a bachelor’s degree, though many
analyst positions require a master’s degree.
9. Insulation Workers
Thinkstock
> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 67.5%
> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 34,700
> Median annual wage: $35,110
Insulation
workers handle, install and dispose of fiberglass and foam insulation
in buildings. Where asbestos is present, workers trained in removing
hazardous material are used to remove the asbestos before insulators may
install new insulation. Between 2010 to 2020, the BLS projects 34,700
more insulator jobs to become available. Of these projected openings,
20,300 are expected to address replacement needs as workers leave the
profession due to the physical irritation caused by insulation as well
as difficult working conditions. Demand for new positions is expected to
come from increases in home-building as well as the need to make
existing buildings more energy-efficient.
10. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
> Future job openings as a pct. of 2010 employment: 65.9%
> New openings, 2010 to 2020: 19,500
> Median annual wage: $41,380
According
to the BLS, environmental science and protection technicians “monitor
the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination,
including those affecting health.” Between 2010 and 2020, about 19,500
positions are projected to become available. The majority of these
openings, roughly 12,500, are expected to address replacement needs as
technicians retire or otherwise leave the profession. Other openings
will be due to job growth, as the public becomes increasingly conscious
of protecting the environment. Those looking for a job as a technician
usually need an associate’s degree.
