What Occupations Add the Most Workers to 2020? How to Increase Your Odds for Continuous Employment

A radical shift is taking place in the U.S. and Europe. More and more jobs are changing from full-time employee to contingent positions. A recent survey by Kelly Services reveals 44 percent of workers indicate they are now freelancers and most without benefits. So it will be important going forward to choose a high-growth field with plenty of new opportunities.

It should not be much of a surprise that jobs in the Healthcare and Healthcare Support occupations will add the most new workers in the U.S. from now to 2020, for a total of just under 3.5 million. Two factors are driving this growth - baby boomers hitting retirement age and an increase in life expectancy. In raw numbers the ranks of Registered Nurses will swell by 712,000. Add to this 706,000 Home Health Aides, 302,000 Nurses Aides and Orderlies, 210,000 Medical Secretaries, 168,000 Physicians and Surgeons, 163,000 Medical Assistants and other related jobs to round out the largest employment increase of any field.

Healthcare is followed by 2.35M Office and Administrative Support positions; 1.87M Sales and Related occupations; 1.41M Construction; 1.40M Education and Training; 1.34M Personal Care and Service; 1.33M Transportation and Material Moving; 1.17M Business and Financial Operations; 1.1M Food Preparation and Serving; 800,000 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair; 778,000 Computer and Mathematical occupations; 664,000 Building Grounds and Maintenance; and 616,000 Management occupations. All others, and the average salaries of each profession, can be found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site.

What does it mean when one-half of jobs are contingent instead of traditional employee-employer relationships and trending even more in the freelance direction? It suggests that the employer can terminate your contract at any time, which is not much different than that of an at-will employee, but it's easier to cancel a contract than fire someone - and they don't have to pay unemployment compensation. And, of course, the reason they are bringing new employees in on contract in the first place is they don't have to pay other benefits, such as health insurance, nor keep employees happy with promotions and career path discussions. If you are a contingent worker, you will have to cover your own health insurance - and forget 401k contributions - you'll have to save for your own retirement. This leads to the job security question - none, nadda! Since the majority of workers will be independent contractors, you're going to have to learn how to fend for yourself in these areas. Most importantly, it will be up to you to continually look for your next contract position since the current one could go away at any time. You will need to develop the skills to market yourself while fully engaged in your current position and ensure you don't do it at the expense of the current gig, to give anyone the excuse to end the contract early.

You are going to have to develop and nurture networks of colleagues, co-workers, trade association members, recruiters, friends, relatives, schoolmates, etc. to always know what positions are opening up in your chosen field. You are going to have to recognize what new skills are coming into demand and master them - whether through more schooling, mentors, or extra effort on the job. The key is to be proactive. - to stay a step a head of the game and always be thinking of your next job and actively be in communication with a close-knit network willing to assist you, because you've done the same for them. It will also be important to stay out of debt, as much as possible, because there will be gaps between jobs and no unemployment insurance to help.

This doesn't have to be a scary proposition. Choose a field where you know there will be growth, or one so specialized that few can do what you can. Two-thirds of all new jobs have been created by small businesses over the past two decades. So think small business - either start your own or find one where you can add the most value. You will create your own job security going forward.

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track 2nd edition, available on Amazon and Kindle. 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://amzn.to/Hd9wVr

How Networking Can Help Our Careers

Networking is one of the most used and misused buzzwords of our times. Many people confuse “networking” with the mere act of connecting with people via social media on sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. While these sites can be used for networking – effective networking is so much more.

Napoleon Hill, a famous motivational author of the past century, had this to say about networking, “You have to give before you receive.” And Tom Hopkins, author and one of the top sales guru’s of all time, takes it a step further: “When people use networking, they are taking advantage of a basic law – the Law of Reciprocity. The law basically says, if I do something good for you, you will feel obligated to do something good for me.” This is what effective networking is all about.

There are countless articles about “networking to find jobs,” currently on the Internet. Unfortunately, many of these bestow the readers with the wrong mindset for networking. If you charge off with the attitude that you must find someone to help you land a job, you are missing the critical component of effective networking. A sound mindset would be: I have quite a few friends when I think about it: current circle of friends, co-workers, former co-workers, college friends, extended family, church acquaintances, sorority sisters, trade association contacts, softball teammates, etc. I have a great deal in common with most of them – whether it’s our children, past schools or jobs, athletic interests, or careers. I wonder who could use my assistance or advice on the best smart phone to buy, good books to read, selling their products, or advice on people they should know to advance their careers. Once you have ongoing dialog and mutual trust and respect established, then and only then, can you ask for their assistance. Social networking sites can be great “mediums” to use to extend your reach to establish or re-establish connections with old friends to rekindle relationships.

Guy Kawasaki, author of Art of the Start and entrepreneur, suggests two degrees of separation is as far as you should go in recommending someone or asking someone for their help with your job search. Assisting a friend of a trusted friend should not be a concern, but the friend of a friend of a friend is stretching it and could have negative consequences for your reputation.

Networking is not just something to do externally, but within your own company as well, to enhance in your career. Being known as the person in your company who others can go to for assistance with a project, for advice, or even a sounding board will open “internal” doors for you. You will learn about openings in other departments firsthand and perhaps get recommended; hear about the “true” state of your company and it’s long-term viability; find out about new projects; and an exciting new product team you may want to join. Volunteer for company initiatives and projects to meet the people who can assist you – but always keep in mind, what can you do for them before requesting their help.

Two very important components of networking I have learned are “create and nurture your network before you need it” and always “give a sincere thank you to the person(s) who provide you assistance.”

Richard S. Pearson recently published his second book, 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track 2nd Edition, with an added focus on social media to find jobs, mentors, and networking -- available on Amazon. 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. He is an avid bicyclist, fly fisherman, and skier residing in Colorado. http://www.5necessaryskills.com

Help! Where Will I Find My Next Job?

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

Jobless Recovery - An Oxymoron - the Depth of Unemployment in Perspective

The widely-used buzzword, "jobless recovery", is the ultimate oxymoron. There is no recovery without the creation of new jobs. Seventy-percent of the US economy is consumer driven and if unemployment remains high, consumers will hold back on purchases. Consumers stick to the staples if they are marginally employed, unemployed, or in fear for the stability of their own jobs.

We get so jaded by enormous numbers tossed around the media these days from bank bailouts, stimulus packages, the national debt, etc. - seeing trillions, billions, or millions of something or another that we totally lose perspective of the size and scope of things. Let's put "real numbers" to the human side of unemployment. Each week just about one-half million people file for FIRST TIME unemployment benefits. To put that in the proper frame of mind, this is roughly the population of cities the size of Boston or Denver proper. It is difficult to fathom the numbers and human misery as a result of job loss. But think of every man, woman, senior citizen, and child in Boston - that number of people - losing their job each week. Now think of two very populous US states, Illinois and Ohio, about 25 million people combined. That is roughly the number of people on the unemployment rolls and those men and women who have expended their unemployment benefits and given up on finding jobs in this tough job market. The best estimates put this number at 17% of the total US workforce, not the 10% or so published by the Dept. of Labor, which is only the number currently receiving unemployment benefits. Again, contemplate the entire populations of these two populous states, not just the working age folks, but the entire populations -- out of work! This is mind-boggling! And these people are not buying new cars, flying to Florida for Spring break, or remodeling their spare bathrooms.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has created some new jobs, but at a high price of $800 billion (yes, that's billion with a B) - and future generations will (unfortunately) be picking up the tab. The number of jobs saved and created has not met the Obama administration's projections, so Congress has proposed another stimulus package - throwing more good money (which we have to borrow from other countries) after a marginally successful program. Now our government, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to count the jobs created differently. "The White House says it will no longer keep a cumulative tally of jobs created and saved by the stimulus. Instead, it will post only a count of jobs for each quarter. And instead of counting only created and saved jobs, it will count any person who works on a project funded with stimulus money-even if that person was never in danger of losing his or her job." On this last point, one of the stimulus programs funded required the purchase of 3000 vehicles from Chrysler. The workers who build these vehicles along with tens-of-thousands of others will be counted as new jobs, even though they were employed before this order and will remain employed after. And some of the stimulus money was used to give pay raises (unbelievable how that can be justified). Then there is the $247,000 spent on road signs in Colorado, stating particular projects were funded by ARRA. I would have rather seen that money spent on hiring 5 full-time workers!

So here we sit in a recovery-less, jobless recovery, wondering what the future will bring.

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

Holiday Blues - Jobless and Underemployed Questions and Answers - To Crack the Career Code

I've been through two major corporate layoffs in my career and guess when they occurred? You are right, just before the holidays - the worst possible time of the year. Holiday shopping, parties, or schussing down the ski slopes just can't shake the blues. Worrying about where and when your next job will materialize is about as stressful as it gets. So we put on a smile (as phony as it may be) and try to maintain a positive attitude so we don't ruin this time of year for friends and family. No one wants to be around someone in a funk - especially during this special season.

No matter how prepared you are, other than a start date at another company already confirmed, you cannot be totally equipped to hear the words, "unfortunately I am going to have to let you go because of a workforce reduction." Yes, you feel betrayed. "Why me?" you ask. It's one of the toughest psychological challenges we have to deal with and it gives you serious doubts about your self-worth. You have every right to be pissed that some third-party arbitrarily upended your life as you knew it! Similarly, if you've had to accept a part-time or meaningless job - replacing a real career position - just to pay the bills, the season is anything but joyous.

The worst thing you can do (the first stage of grief) is deny it happened to you. Just pretend nothing changed. Keep buffing your plastic like there is no tomorrow. Buy those expensive holiday gifts you thought about when you were gainfully employed. Drink heavily at holiday parties, to show friends and family that you're not going to let this minor speed-bump slow you down. Go into hock for the weekend in the Bahamas - what the heck. All bad ideas. It's better to be angry this whole damn thing happened to you - followed by being real depressed for a couple of days - then pick yourself up and begin the most important marketing assignment you'll ever have - to market YOU. Surround yourself with close friends and family - not for whining about how you were wronged but for understanding about how you feel. This will hopefully help move the grieving process to acceptance (not that you have to like what happen to you, but it did occur and to millions of others this past year). So get over it. Don't go into debt on holiday gifts or extravagant dinners. Your close allies will understand and appreciate a well-thought out gift - whatever it costs. They will appreciate your intelligence to think ahead and plan for the immediate future. We all know people who have gone through this same thing and all know it could happen to us.

Evaluate your skills: who you are, where you have been, and what you have accomplished. Next, identify where you want to be in a couple of years and how you are going to get there. Create a strong resume focusing on your proven skills, supported by your work experience and education. Network, network, and network some more. One of the best bits of advice I have heard is to build your network before you need one. Get on LinkedIn, if you haven't already done so, and figure out who you know and who they know and what jobs are available. Certainly, check out the big job sites, network through Twitter and social media sites, and use other traditional job search tools. But real networking with people you know - people in your field - is most likely where your next job will come from. Jump into your network with both feet and focus your energy on connecting with colleagues and researching companies over the remaining holidays. As a byproduct, it will occupy your days and leave you less time to fall back into the holiday blues.

As the economy heats up, companies will start hiring again - many should start that process right after the first of the year. Be ready, with your homework done, to position yourself (with the help of your network) for your next new challenge. Going forward your only job security will come from your own preparedness: How sound financially you are to weather a storm, a strong network of friends and colleagues, continuous education to keep on the top of your field, and having and executing a plan for the future.

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 of facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place. http://www.5necessaryskills.com

Recognize the Warning Signs - Your Job May Be in Danger

With all of the job loss reports splashed across newspapers and Yahoo!, one would think that workers would do a better job at recognizing the warning signs of pending job cuts. Yet most are not recognized or ignored all together. The national unemployment rate just hit a 26 year high of 9.5 percent. Just waiting for the ax to fall is probably the stupidest thing you can do. In this tight job market, you should not only be constantly on the hunt for your next job, but the one after that as well. If you are a part of a large reduction in staff, you will be forced to compete against all of the others in the same predicament! Be a step ahead of your co-workers when cutbacks occur by getting your resume out and starting your search at the first signs of trouble in your company.

What are the red-flags of pending layoffs? They are presently all around us. Consumer spending and confidence are down. The US economy has contracted for yet another quarter. Your state and local economies are most likely in the dumpster. Stimulus Package - or not - jobs aren't going to rebound anytime soon. What about your own company? Are you bringing in new business? Do you work for a profit center or a cost center? Is there a chance you'll be replaced by an automated system? Does your boss tell you your skills are essential to the company and adding to your responsibilities - or are projects taken away?

In your own company always accept the opportunity to serve on committees, Six Sigma, re-engineering task forces, planning teams, or any other group selected by management or co-workers. This can provide valuable recognition of your contributions to the organization. It can also give you tremendous insight into what's going on in the company -- on subjects like new product lines, new company directions, rightsizing, plant closings, process changes, etc. which could very likely affect your job. Whenever additional training or educational seminars are offered be the first to volunteer. It will put you a step ahead of others who choose to sit on the sidelines.

Red-flags - or not - you should always have an updated resume fine-tuned with all of your skills. That is what prospective employers want to see - not just time on a job. One of the best pieces of advice I have read recently is to develop your network of friends, colleagues, associates, etc. before you ever need one. You must nurture your network, both online social networks and career specific, so it will be in place when it is needed. Plan ahead and determine what you want to be doing in 3 to 5 years. What is your dream job? What do you have to do now from career change and educational perspectives to progress toward that ultimate job you desire? Then it's up to you and only you to take action.

How To Maintain Employment In The Toughest Job Market

It's all about being proactive and realizing you are ultimately responsible for your actions. So often we are in a mindset that we are trapped in a job and therefore cruise along on autopilot, at the mercy of our employer. With the current high unemployment numbers, it is easy to see why so many people believe they better stay put and not make any waves. But this mindset leaves you vulnerable to your employer's whims especially if you hunker down and "just do your job." This mindset says don't question processes already in place, go with the status quo, and don't come up with new ideas or products for risk of outshining or offending your boss. But you could be setting yourself up for a headcount reduction.

There are 5 skills which can be instrumental in maintaining continuous employment through good times and bad. There are no guarantees in life, but you can stack the deck in your favor by developing these skills. More important than any job, is maintaining your self-worth. If you develop and practice these five proficiencies, you will be a step ahead of the game. Not only will you feel more secure about your future and how you make a living, but you will exhibit confidence and be a more productive employee. The upward spiral of your career can be set in motion by adoption of these skills.

The ability to recognize what's going on around you gives you a better understanding of your industry, products, competitors, and the economy in general. This will make you a more well-rounded, knowledgeable, and valuable employee and give you the insight to better position your company, and its products, in the marketplace.

Being proactive helps in all of your business dealings; whether its getting a report done on time, thinking of your customers needs before they do, or implementing a beneficial, new process before your boss asks you to.

You are going to have a bad manager or self-centered company officer now and then. Learning to deal with lousy managers gives you an edge your co-workers may not have. If it becomes unbearable, only you will know its time to move on to another organization. But if you are still learning and progressing in the company, you may want to manage the situation a little longer until timing is right for a change. The key to maintaining continuous employment is taking charge of your own career and making the change on your timing and terms versus your employers.

A mentor relationship can assist you to navigate the corporate minefields and position you to move ahead in your organization. A good mentor can be your sounding board for the twists and turns that come your way and she can give advice from her own experience. The more information you have at your disposal the better equipped you are to handle everyday situations and you will be better prepared for any and all changes along your career path.

Lastly, networking with industry colleagues, old college friends, church groups, fellow parents of your daughter's soccer team, or any potential employers, can only increase your knowledge of the job market and enhance your marketability, if or when you need to make a job change.

By being proactive, you are looking out for your own interests (first) while taking care of yourself and your career. As a byproduct, you are building your self-esteem making you more productive as a person and adding value as future opportunities are presented.

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 of facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place. http://www.5necessaryskills.com