Registered Nurses
According to projections by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of registered nurses is expected to reach 3.2 million by 2018. With only 2.6 million currently employed, this indicates that the profession will generate approximately 581,500 new jobs, making it one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. There is a reason for this phenomenon.
By that year, 19% of the U.S. population will be elderly individuals aged 65 and over, compared to only 12.4% in 2000. With the intensification of population aging and the slowing growth of the working-age population, the demand for healthcare services, particularly home healthcare services, will continue to increase. According to an analysis by the financial research firm Sageworks, the sales growth rate of the home healthcare services industry reached 11.2% last year, making it one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States.
It is also predicted that, like registered nurses, home health aides, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other medical professions will be highly sought after in the near future.
Network Systems and Data Analysts
The full name of this profession is "Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts." Although the name is long, it is worth remembering. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that it is the second fastest-growing occupation in the United States. Simply put, these analysts design and build the systems we use to connect to the network, whether at work or at home.
In many respects, we need technical personnel who can provide communication convenience for today's internet-centric world. Therefore, it is no surprise that the demand for them is high, and this trend is expected to continue in the near future. The latest employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 53.4% growth in this occupation between 2008 and 2018, reaching a maximum of 448,000 practitioners.
Software Engineers
Without software, what use would network planners and data analysts be? This explains why the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of software engineers and application developers to grow to 689,900 by 2018 (up from 514,800 in 2008). Whether software engineers develop commercial software, operating systems, games, or mobile applications, their career paths are very broad.
According to forecasts by market research firm IDC (International Data Corporation), the global smartphone market grew by 50% between the second quarter of 2009 and 2010. The rapid growth of the smartphone industry over the past few years will further boost the career prospects for application developers, as smartphone users increasingly expect advanced software applications to match their high-end devices.
Biomedical Engineers
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that biomedical engineers will be the fastest-growing occupation, with a 72% growth rate from 2008 to 2018. Given that this field bridges technology and healthcare—two of the hottest industries in the U.S. economy—this result is not particularly surprising.
The surge in demand for biomedical engineering is primarily due to the popularity of new treatments for diseases and the desire of elderly patients to maintain a more active lifestyle. A tangible example is that last year, Sageworks data showed that pharmaceutical industry sales rose by 11.1 percentage points.
Because they design artificial organs and medical devices such as pacemakers, or improve imaging technologies that allow doctors to examine patients more precisely than ever before, biomedical engineers will have plenty of work to do over the next decade.
Accountants and Auditors
This profession, which deals with numbers, has undoubtedly never faded from people's memories, and the economic recession has indeed refocused attention on financial regulation over the past few years. With the implementation of the federal financial reform bill this June, major companies will need more auditors and accountants to analyze new rules to ensure compliance with policies.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the accounting profession to add 22% more jobs between 2008 and 2018, which means it will create a cumulative 279,400 job opportunities by 2018.
Veterinarians
Our love for cats, dogs, and fish is truly endless. During the economic recession, pet care was one of the few industries in the retail sector that grew rather than declined.
The results of the annual National Pet Owners Survey showed that in 2008, 62% of U.S. households (approximately 71 million households) owned at least one pet. The American Pet Products Association estimated that pet owners would spend $48 billion on them, with nearly $24 billion spent on medical and veterinary care, as more Americans than ever are willing to pay for the treatment of their sick animal family members.
In this light, it is no surprise that veterinarians are also listed as one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. The number of veterinarians is expected to grow by 36% from 2008 to 2018.
