In the aftermath of the 2008 financial collapse, younger adults found themselves struggling to launch their careers. The economy has bounced back, though not equally across all industries. So it’s a good idea for younger employees to think strategically about the fields they plan to work in. Career changes often require new skills, further education and networking. So if you’re considering making a move in the coming year or two, here are five promising industries experts say are excellent choices in today’s job market.
Sales professional
“By far, the most popular occupation today is sales,” said Steven Rothberg, president and founder of Minneapolis-based College Recruiter, a job search website for graduating students. “About half of graduates end up working in sales, although that can include anything from retail at the mall to selling software or financial securities.” This wide range of sales means that, for a lot of younger workers, sales can be a good option especially for people who have struggled to find work in other industries.
“For a whole swath of our generation, these jobs allowed us to remain afloat during a time when the economy simply wasn’t presenting other opportunities for us,” said Amanda Mester, the New York-based editor at Ploymint, an online magazine dedicated to millennial career advice. “And while they might not be our dream jobs, they can become potentially lifelong career options that can provide greater job consistency, benefits and availability than more traditionally high-profile industries.”
Healthcare worker
The millennial advocacy group Young Invincibles recently released a report based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics saying that of the top 25 jobs, one quarter were in the healthcare field, including the No. 1 job, physician’s assistant. For people considering going to school for a job in the healthcare industry, it’s well worth looking at supportive roles such as dental hygienist, pharmacist and dietician, which are in high demand, pay well and don’t require as much education as becoming a doctor.
Technology expert
It’s no secret that the tech industry is huge. “Cities like San Francisco, Boston and New York offer tremendous opportunities in tech, but these are massive ponds with many, many fish, so the cost of living is much higher,” Mester said. “Cities like Austin and Chicago offer the opportunities of bigger cities while still costing less.” With many industries facing growing needs for tech-savvy employees, the chances of finding abundant tech opportunities nationwide will only improve. “IT, computer science, et cetera — these are low-supply occupations,” Rothberg said. “Employers are struggling greatly to hire the people they need.”
Engineer
Candidates prepared for science, technology, engineering and math jobs are among the highest-demand workers in the country because there aren’t enough people with the educational background required to do them. “These fields are hot, but they don’t have lots of applicants,” Rothberg said. “Lots of young adults self select out because they choose not to study math and science.” Three of the top 25 jobs in Young Invincibles’ report came from the engineering field including biomedical, nuclear and petroleum engineers.
Data analysts
A byproduct of the rise in technology is a virtual avalanche of data about practically everything including customer behavior and the most productive ways for employees to work within a company. And now there’s a steadily growing demand for people capable of parsing the endless flow of big data. Young Invincibles’ report indicated there’s a high demand for positions such as market research analysts, financial analysts and credit analysts.
— Travis Marshall for Just Energy
