Things have been changing rather rapidly over the last few decades and it’s getting understandably harder for folks to figure out how to secure a successful career. Many earlier reliable job sectors are being taken over by automation or becoming completely outdated. As the best career accelerator, HiCounselor always wants to help people make the soundest professional decisions. With that in mind, we’ve created this list of careers that are part of the best job industries of the near future.
1. Cybersecurity Industry
Everyone and their mother knows how important it is to keep your online information secure. It seems like everyday we hear about security breaches that gain access to users personal information, which can be used to completely disrupt people’s lives. The cybersecurity industry is poised to see good growth as the need to protect data is taken more seriously by governments, corporations, institutions and even the general public. IT security consultants earn handsome salary packages, usually upwards of $80,000, and can increase their earnings as they rise higher up the corporate ladder.
2. Drones Industry
No longer are drones just gadgets for nerds to geek out on! They’re being increasingly used in different fields, like delivery, construction, filmmaking, agriculture, search & rescue, armed forces, telecommunication and more. So if you like being at the cutting edge of technology and helping shape the way things are going to be done in the future, the drone industry might be the right fit for you. Currently estimated at US$ 13.9 billion, the drone market size is expected to reach US$ 40.7 billion by 2026. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International has projected 100,000+ new jobs in unmanned aircraft by 2025.
3. Healthcare Industry
One thing humans are always going to require is help to maintain and improve their health. Projections show that the healthcare industry is expected to grow by 15% from 2019 to 2029. That’s why you can count on jobs like surgeons, physicians, therapists, nurses, hygienists, optometrists, veterinarians, etc. to continue to be in demand. Though AI is taking over some areas in the medical field, we still need humans to implement the best steps to take care of people and animals. Over the last 5 years, jobs in hospitals grew by 9.5% and the median job tenure stood at 4.9 years. This is also a field that has a high degree of job satisfaction, so it rightly belongs in this list of careers.
4. Data Analytics Industry
The field of data analytics has seen some of the best projections for the coming years with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating the projected growth rate for jobs at 16 percent. This sector grew in leaps and bounds over the past decade as companies realized they needed people to make sense of the massive amounts of user and market data they collect. Unlike the usually male-dominated computer science industry, data analytics is a great career choice for women as around 26 percent of the jobs are held by women.
5. Renewable Energy Industry
As people become more aware about climate change, governments, corporations and even individuals are opting for ‘green’ solutions. Not only is this good for the planet, it’s also created a number of new jobs, such as wind turbine technician, energy transition technical specialist, energy law associate, etc. Irena’s 2019 annual job review showed jobs in the renewable energy sector stood at 11.5 million globally, with solar photovoltaic installers being around one third of the total. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for wind turbine technicians in the US will grow by 108% by 2024. Renewable energy is another field women might prefer as 32 percent of jobs are held by them.
6. Software Development Sector
This is one of the best job industries for the foreseeable future and has been growing steadily during the past decade. All the apps and websites we’re so addicted to browsing need software developers to make and maintain them, so you can imagine how popular this job is going to remain! The job market for this field is projected to see a 22% increase from 2020 to 2030, which is much higher than most other fields. Jobs for web developers, full stack developers and cloud engineers grew by 25% from April-October 2019 to April-October 2020 according to LinkedIn, and the demand has continued.
7. Utilities Sector
One sector which we might take for granted in our daily lives is actually one of the safest bets for a secure career! The utilities industry includes electrical power, natural gas and water & sewer systems. While there isn’t great growth in this field (growth standing at around 0.7% over the last 5 years), it has an incredible 9.5 year median job tenure, which is much higher than any other sector. Prospects for qualified applicants in this industry are projected to be excellent for the next decade and beyond. This is also a sector looking for more tech-savvy candidates as they look to adopt new technologies into their processes.
8. Waste Management Sector
If you look around you, it’s obvious we’re a highly consumerist society, and with that comes a great amount of waste. Earlier, everything discarded was either burned or dumped in a landfill but those aren’t eco-friendly solutions. Enter waste management professionals to help with the collection, treatment & disposal and remediation of waste. This sector also includes those who help develop legislation guidelines, regulations and standards for the future. As new regulations come into place, this industry is expected to grow, which is good news for environmental scientists and specialists looking to make a change.
As you can see with this list of careers, despite changes in the job market, there are still plenty of great job industries that can provide stable and secure careers. As long as you plan ahead and make sure you have the right skills and qualifications, you shouldn’t have to stress too much about holding onto a job. If you’re nervous about entering the job market or handling interviews, get in touch with us at HiCounselor and our helpful mentors will guide you in the right direction!