Top 10 Careers to Get Into Now
Figuring out what the best careers for the next ten years will be is an interesting challenge that has been seriously influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Needless to say, there is a huge emphasis on the medical world, however, there are still a few surprise entries that may have you entertaining an exciting career move. Here is the quick list, but keep reading for more info!
- Solar photovoltaic installers.
- Wind turbine service technicians.
- Nursing
- Home health and personal care aides.
- Physical therapy.
- Occupational therapy.
- Software development.
- Information security.
- Computer and information technology
- Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists.
Solar Photovoltaic Installers
If you have an interest in sustainable energy solutions becoming a solar photovoltaic installer could be a good career for the future. As with many career paths, you will likely need a college degree as well as on-the-job training to install and maintain solar panels for businesses and homes. With the current focus on renewable energy and the environment, the growth of the solar photovoltaic industry seems like a no-brainer but of course, long-term prospects will depend on a number of factors including government incentives and improvements in solar photovoltaic technology.
This rapidly growing occupation is expected to increase by 50.5% over the next decade. However, as solar photovoltaic installation is currently a relatively small industry that only equates to an increase of around 6000 jobs.
Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Like solar power, wind power is a rapidly growing industry that is expected to grow rapidly over the coming decade. In fact, according to the bureau of labor statistics (BLS), this is going to be the fastest growing occupation over the next ten years with a projected growth rate of 60.7%. Wind turbine installers and technicians can expect to earn an average salary of around $52,000.
Nursing
Of all the in-demand job prospects for the future, medical and health care is probably the most secure option. With an aging population, the demand for nurses and other medical professionals is only likely to keep growing.
The bureau of labor statistics is predicting nurse practitioners to be one of the fastest-growing jobs with a projected job growth rate of 52.4%. Nurse practitioners bridge the gap between nurses and GP’s. Becoming a nurse practitioner requires a master’s degree and you need to be licensed, but there are many options within health care for nurse practitioners including working with GP’s, working in nursing homes, or specializing in a specific field of medicine.
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
The biggest job growth projection in terms of the number of jobs being created is in the area of home health and personal care, making this one of the best jobs of the future if you are looking for job security.
A home health aide provides at-home care and assistance to those who need help performing everyday functions. It’s not the best paying career field with a median salary of around $24,000 but, it’s a rewarding role that requires a high school diploma and on-the-job training as opposed to expensive bachelor’s degrees and employment projection is good.
Home health care can also be a good entry into a career in medical or health care including registered nursing or becoming a medical assistant.
Personal care aides are similar to home health aides but focus more on personal care and assistance such as meal preparation, housekeeping, washing and dressing, and transportation than medical services.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists help people improve movement and manage pain. They work with a wide range of patients including those with chronic conditions and those recovering from injuries. A physical therapist assistant is supervised by a physical therapist to provide services to patients.
Physical therapists need a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and must be licensed whereas an assistant would need an associate degree. You can also work as a physical therapy aide with a school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training. The BLS project job growth of 29% for physical therapy assistants and 18% for physical therapists, both far higher than the average growth rate making this a good option if you are looking at being a medical professional.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are both careers that are set to grow over the next decade at a faster than average rate. Occupational therapists and assistants provide treatment for people with a wide variety of illnesses and disabilities including those with mental health conditions and individuals recovering from substance abuse.
The level of education required to become an occupational therapist is higher than to become an occupational therapy assistant.
Software Development
If you are proficient in computer science then software development is an occupation worth considering with a projected growth rate of 22%. There are many degree programs in computer and information and a wide variety of job opportunities.
Information Security
Information security is another industry that is growing much faster than the average with a projected growth rate of 31% equating to an additional 40,900 jobs being created in a decade. As an information security analyst, you could work in a variety of industries including insurance companies, consultancies, and financial companies.
Computer and Information Technology
Computer and information systems are a part of life for every business and industry meaning more and more specialists are going to be required from web developers to information systems managers.
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Becoming a forest fire inspector or prevention specialist might not have even been on your radar but this is a pretty cool job with good prospects for the future and a higher than average growth rate. Fire inspectors and prevention officers can expect a median pay rate of around $26/hour. So if you don’t fancy being a medical professional, or working in renewable energy or information technology maybe this is more the career path for you.
Other Careers to Consider for the Future
While the above jobs are projected to be amongst the fastest growing there are many other careers worth considering that have good prospects for the future. These include:
- Health services managers.
- Research analysts, including operations research analysts or market research analysts.
- Mental health counselors.
- Personal finance professionals
- Construction managers.
- Real estate.
- Accountancy
- Business administration.
- Human resources.
- Social worker.