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Jobs Outlook for the Next 7 Years
The Bureaus of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the job market and pay scale will improve in the next seven years. And, employment in social assistance, government education and service occupations will expand.
Industries
The BLS examined industry growth from 2004 to 2014 and found that several industries are on the verge of a boom. One of the biggest growth spurts will be in educational services, health care and social assistance. What's more, the professional and business services represent the industry sectors with the strongest employment growth, reports the BLS. These sectors are expected to outgrow the overall economy twice as fast as other industries.
Here are a few industries expected to flourish:
- Educational support services, private -- will grow by 79.1 percent
- Home health care services -- growth is projected for 69 percent
- Software publishers -- expected to grow by 67 percent
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services -- 60 percent
- Community care facilities for the elderly -- projected to grow by 54.8 percent
- Outpatient care centers (except mental health and substance abuse) -- will grow by 49.9 percent.
- Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities -- will also grow by 49.9 percent.
- Offices of all other health practitioners -- will grow by 49.3 percent.
Employment
The BLS also projected that total employment will increase by 18.9 million jobs or 13 percent from 2004 to 2014. Over the previous decade -- 1994 to 2004 -- job growth increased by 16.4 million jobs. Additionally, the BLS pinpointed the fastest growing occupations and how their salaries will increase in the next 7 years.
Here are a few of those occupations and pay scales (all of the positions listed below require an Associate's Degree):
- Physical therapist assistants: The BLS predicts that employment in this field will grow to 44 percent and will pay high -- between $28,590 and $43,604.
- Dental hygienists: This occupation will grow by 43.3 percent over the next 10 years and will pay very high -- $43,605 or more.
- Forensic science technicians: Employment in this occupation will increase to 36.4 percent and will pay very high.
- Diagnostic medical sonographers: This position will grow by 34 percent and also pay very high.
- Occupational therapist assistants: The employment rate in this position will increase by 34 percent and will pay high.
Education
As more professional occupations open up, more job seekers will need a secondary education. According to the BLS, an associate's or bachelor's degree is the most significant source of postsecondary education or training for six out of the 10 fastest growing occupations.
For veterans without those degrees, short-term on-the-job training is the most significant source or postsecondary education or training for five out of 10 occupations with the largest job growth.
Plotting a course
The BLS's data is useful to veterans who want to reenter any of these industries or occupations. What's more, active-duty servicemembers will find this information helpful when they are ready to transition out of the service and find employment.
Visit Military.com/Careers or Military.com/Education for more information.
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