Jobs for 2009 and Beyond

According to the US Department of Labor 2008-2009 Occupational Handbook, the 20 occupations listed in the chart below will account for more than one-third of all new jobs, 6.6 million combined, over the years 2006-2016. Due to the aging population in the US, overall health occupations will account for many of the increases in employment, as will occupations in education, sales, and food service. In addition, occupations in office and administrative services will grow by 1.7 million jobs, one-fourth of the job growth among those 20 occupations with the largest job growth for the period. Many of the occupations listed below are very large, and will create more new jobs than will those with high growth rates. Only 3 out of the 20 fastest growing occupations—home health aides, personal and home care aides, and computer software application engineers—also are projected to be among the 20 occupations with the largest numerical increases in employment.

The good news about these occupations is that you can gain the education, knowledge and skills needed to enter many of these occupations online through distance learning programs.  Here is the list:

1. Network systems and data communication analysts
2. Personal and home care aides
3. Home health aides
4. Computer software engineers
5. Veterinary technicians
6. Personal financial advisors
7. Makeup artists
8. Medical assistants
9. Veterinarians
10. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
11. Skin care specialists
12. Financial analysts
13. Social and human service assistants
14. Gaming surveillance officers and investigators
15. Physical therapist assistants
16. Pharmacy technicians
17. Forensic science technicians
18. Dental hygienists
19. Mental health counselors
20. Mental health and substance abuse social workers