The US economy and the US worker are both resilient. The economy will eventually bounce back and so will badly needed jobs. But what occupational sectors will return the strongest, adding the most new workers? Will workers have to be retrained for these jobs and, if so, who will do the training? What additional education will be necessary to prepare those just entering the workforce? What regions of the country will be the recipient of the jobs and what migration of workers will be required so they are in the right place at the right time?
Keep in mind that there are approximately 15 million people unemployed currently according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or about 10% of the total labor force. It is important to note that this figure does not include the roughly 11 million people who have either expended all unemployment benefits or who have given up looking for jobs - many out of work for years. So the "challenge" will be to match these 26 million (total) workers and the new labor pool entrants to these jobs, in the locations where the positions will emerge.
According to the BLS, there are 20 occupations that will account for more than one-third of all new jobs between now and 2018. It is interesting to note that one-half of the fastest growing occupations are related to healthcare - due in a large part to the aging of the baby-boomers. Some of the occupations, which will add the most new jobs in this period, are (in thousands): Registered nurses 581.5, Home health aides 460.9, Customer service representatives 399.5, Personal and home care aides 375.8, Retail salespersons 374.7, Office clerks (general) 358.7, Accountants and auditors 279.4, Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 276.0, Postsecondary teachers 256.9, Construction laborers 255.9, and Elementary school teachers 244.2. The entire list can be found on the BLS Web site.
The 20 occupations with the fastest rates of growth (not the largest number of jobs added but highest growth rate) will require an associate degree or higher for 12 of the occupations; whereas 6 are in the on-the-job training category; 1 is in the work experience in a related occupation; and 1 in the postsecondary vocational degree category. Eleven of these occupations earn at least $10,000 more than the National annual median wage, which was $32,390 as of May 2008. Nine of the occupations earned at least twice the National median in May 2008. These fastest growth occupations are Biomedical engineers, Network systems and data communications analysts, Home health aides, Personal and home care aides, Financial examiners, Medical scientists, Physician assistants, Skin care specialists, Biochemists, and Biophysicists. The remainder of the list can be found on the BLS Web site.
The good news is that many of the occupations that will add the most new jobs are "people" related, e.g. healthcare, retail sales, customer service, office clerks, etc., which will be added in population centers and will not mandate the costly movement of people from other parts of the country. The specialty fields may very well require some movement of people, but by nature of the positions moving costs are more likely to be borne by the hiring company. As noted, 12 of the occupations with the fastest growth rates will require associate or higher degrees. So the large number of currently unemployed or underemployed workers may want to consider adding a degree or certification to their portfolio and target one of these occupations of interest. I agree this is much easier said than done. It's tough to fund more education when you have temporarily lost your earning power - but nonetheless it may be the most important thing you can do once you begin a new or temporary job. There is also some grant money available under the last "stimulus act" for several occupations and groups of people.
Net, net, the workers of the future are going to have to be generally more proactive than they have been in the past - and leave less to chance. For instance, you will not want to just say I think it would be great to be a biomedical engineer and then hope there are positions that become available. You must research a field first, for future opportunities, and then work toward getting the requisite education completed. You should, at the same time, target a specific organization, or two, and get your "foot-in-the-door" by taking a lesser or temporary position to get to know them - and so they can get to know you.
The same cardinal rule applies to all job searches - network with colleagues, former classmates, trade or civic association members, etc. - to find the occupations of interest in the region where you want to live and work. When someone, in the network you develop, knows an insider in an organization you have targeted, your resume can be presented to the hiring manager - and not just be tossed in the pile of the hundreds received.
For the entrepreneur in each of us, many of the occupations listed provide "new business" opportunities for small companies, sole-proprietorships, or contractual employment. These include such booming occupations as Home health aides, Personal and home care aides, information technology, computer consulting, and network administration occupations. The trend for large companies to outsource services presents an opportunity to create a business around one of these services, where you happen to have expertise. Take charge of your career now by being proactive in planning, researching, networking, and getting the education you need - all necessary for securing jobs going forward.
Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track. He has held vice-president positions with four multibillion dollar travel industry companies and three Internet early stage companies. He has a BA degree from Regis University in Organizational Development. His experience has given him a unique perspective on how to navigate the organizational structures of both large and small companies. He has hired and trained hundreds of employees from frontline salespeople to vice presidents, and coached many through their careers. He is currently working on facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place. http://www.5necessaryskills.com |
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