While predicted job growth rates over the next ten years aren’t set in stone, they give us a window into the expansion of certain fields. After all, very few in the 80s would have imagined how massive the IT field is today. Jobs are always changing, and here are the facts:
Total U.S. job growth is projected at 5.3% between 2020-2030.
While this is still a healthy growth rate, it’s less than half that of the 14.3% seen between 2010-2020. That’s a difference of 11.6 million jobs, as there were just over 20 million added in the last ten years, instead of only around 8.4 million over the next ten years.
The fastest-growing job is nurse practitioners, with predicted job growth of 45.7% between 2021-2031 .
This job entails coordinating patient care and providing primary and specialty healthcare. Nurse practitioners are licensed healthcare professionals who work in clinics, often as independent clinicians, to provide medical services to clients. These services are often similar to those provided by registered nurses in a hospital. The high demand of this job is partially related to an increasingly aging population which requires more healthcare providers.
The second and third fastest-growing jobs are Wind Turbine Service Technicians, with a 44.3% job growth rate, and Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers, with a 40.5% job growth rate.
Word processors and typists occupations are the fastest shrinking jobs, with a job growth rate of -38.2%
Unfortunately, two-thirds of those currently working in this field may be laid off over the next ten years. This is mostly due to the job being automated.
The second fast-shrinking job in the United States are Parking Enforcement Workers, with a -37.1% job growth rate.The total number of jobs in the U.S. is expected to reach 166.5 million by 2031.
That’s around 8.4 million more jobs than the current 158.1 million today. As mentioned previously, this increase is less than the 20.5 million job increase between 2010-2020.
The fastest growing and lowest paying job is The fastest growing and lowest paying job, with a growth rate of 40.5%.
Other fast-growing but low-paying jobs include Fast food & Counter Workers (15%) and Bartenders (32.5%). All three of these jobs have average median salaries of less than $25,000 per year.
The fastest growing and highest paying job is Nurse practitioners, with a growth rate of 45.7%.
This job pays a considerable $120,680 per year. Other fast-growing and high-paying career options include Physician assistants (27.6%) and Software Developers (22.5%). All three of these jobs have average median salaries of $110,000 or more.