The employment outlook in the U.S. is slowly improving and some areas are expected to see major gains in the coming months and years. Although there has been growth in the areas of employment and it is expected to continue, there is still a great deal of fear associated with the economy, and many businesses are reluctant to hire. The country’s aging population of baby boomers, however, will force some sectors into hiring as the need for their services increases.
Future Employment Growth
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the areas of health care will see the most dramatic rise in the number of job opportunities in the coming decade. Home health care services lead this category, with an expected increase of 6.1 percent per year, followed by those offering services to individuals and families with health care needs. This category is expected to increase at a rate of 5.5 percent.
The area of consulting in which scientific, technical, and management services, are offered, is projected to increase at a rate of 4.7 percent per year. Those offering computer system design and services will also see their job prospects improve annually by 3.9 percent if the projections are correct. Other areas of health care, including laboratories, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care facilities, and health practitioners are all expected to grow at a rate of 3.2 percent according to the labor bureau. These increases follow the overhaul of the nation’s health care delivery system.
Other areas expected to see growth include construction, child daycare services, colleges, universities, community colleges and professional training institutions, nursing and residential care facilities, trucking services, engineering and architectural services, hospitals, wholesale and retail trade, and employment services.
Health Care Opportunities Will Abound
Some of the professions expected to see the greatest gain in opportunities by 2020 include those that are in the healthcare industry. The need for personal care assistants is expected to increase by 70 percent during that time frame and the need for home health aides is projected to increase by 69 percent. Other healthcare job occupations with major increases anticipated include medical secretaries, registered nurses, receptionists and licensed practical and licenses vocational nurses. With the exception of the nurses, many of these jobs are often filled by those who have high school diplomas and little or no college experience.
Older Workers
Overall employment increase for the 10 years ending in 2020 is expected to be 14 percent, with a total of 20 million new jobs being created. Many of these jobs will be filled by those who are age 55 and older. This segment of the population is expected to see the largest growth in employment, in part because people want and often need to work longer and because of less job security, they may seek out new career opportunities. Retired workers often start new businesses in areas they may have pursued as hobbies during their working years.
Those with the greatest amount of education will benefit the most as jobs requiring applicants to hold a master’s degree are expected to increase by 22 percent by 2020 and those requiring a bachelor’s degree will increase at a rate of 17 percent.
Areas Expected to Lose Jobs
Areas where the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the biggest percentage of job loss in the coming years include the U.S. Postal Service and many sectors of the manufacturing industry, including apparel knitting mills, communications equipment manufacturing, and computer equipment manufacturing. Some of these losses are due to jobs being moved overseas.
The most competitive cities in which to seek employment are Los Angeles and Sacramento, California, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada. West Palm Beach, Florida, leads the list of least competitive cities for employment.
See Also:
- Could a Raise in Minimum Wage Trigger Inflation?
- 3 Alternatives to Entry Level Jobs for Recent Grads
- Choosing a Professional Resume Writing Service
- Top Paying Jobs
- Minimum Wages vs Unemployment
Resources:
Joshua Turner is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to business.Â
Image courtesy of franky242 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
