Hot (and not so hot) Jobs for the Next Decade

Choosing the right career can change your life in a positive way.  Choosing the wrong one can make it difficult to meet even life’s most basic needs.  Simply put, it is difficult for us to evolve to our highest self and achieve our goals, both personally and professionally, if we must constantly worry about earning enough money to secure food and shelter and pay routine bills. 

That’s why it is critical that women create stable, financially rewarding futures by researching occupational areas with job growth projected over the next decade or more, and that will pay a livable wage with benefits.  No one wants to waste time and money on education and training programs in declining or soon-to-be eliminated employment fields or in fields that will not pay a sustainable wage for full-time work!

  

Let’s examine some of the “hot job” areas, as well as those in current decline.  There are areas of projected growth for every education level – and a woman can increase her salary potential with a minimal investment in training.  For instance, the U.S. Department of Labor through its Career One Stop website predicts heavy job growth in the following areas through 2022 for those with high school educations:

• Physical therapist aides
  
• Occupational therapy aides
• Medical secretaries
• Ambulance drivers (not EMTs)
• Hearing aid specialists
• Community health workers
• Pharmacy technicians
• Billing and posting clerks
• Construction trades

Construction trades – as well as roles typically thought as, “blue collar,” such as plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work- are in particularly high demand since these jobs meet every day needs and cannot be outsourced to other countries.  There is a growing need for women in these positions, and the pay is usually good. 

Bloomberg Businessweek reports that the fastest growing jobs through 2020 will be for:

• Translators
• Bike mechanics
• Veterinary technicians
• Carpenters
• Event planners
• Dental hygienists
• Home health aides

The need for personal and home health aides alone is expected to grow by 69.4% -- but look carefully at these positions, as they do not always pay well.

For those seeking college educations, the hottest growth areas are predicted to be in nursing, finance, especially financial advisors, and communications. Other opportunities include, but are not limited to, veterinarians, environmental scientists, and teachers, particularly if the teacher has specialized skills in math, science, or special needs.

Despite strong forecasts in the areas noted above, I encourage female job seekers to carefully research occupations of interest.  Explore employment that feeds your individual passions.  Please note, however, that not all areas of growth fuel passion for every woman.   Women are in high demand, especially in non-traditional roles such as construction or engineering but it must pique the job seeker’s interest if the woman is to excel.  This truth applies to every position – whether it is deemed “traditional” or non-traditional.”   

It is also wise to research the demand for specific jobs in your desired area or place of residence, since demand and salary levels can vary greatly throughout the country.  For example, nurses may be in high demand in some cities or regions of the country, but in other areas there may be a glut that makes it difficult to find the position and receive the pay you are seeking. 

Research will also tell you what jobs are not so hot!  Kiplinger.com in March 2013 listed a number of jobs in decline. Top of the list was post office clerk with an expected 48% decline through 2023. Similarly, all postal jobs are expected to shrink by 26%. The need for sewing machine operators will drop by 26%, with a ray of hope in that custom sewers and tailors will still be in demand.  Other declines will occur for printing press technicians, desktop publishers, door-to-door sales, floral designers, journalists, fast food cooks, jewelers, and, perhaps, not surprisingly, office administrators.

Forbes.com reports that, “Office and administrative workers will be hit hard in the coming years. Technology advances have enabled modern professionals to take charge of their own typing, filing and phone calls. Thus, switchboard operators will decrease by 23%, data entry keyers by 7%, word processors and typists by 12%, and file clerks by 5%.”

If you are a woman in the midst of a professional transition, research the facts and gather the appropriate resources to build your career of choice.  You own the power today to build your future.