Estimates show that the number of jobs in the United States will increase by 8.3 million between 2021 and 2031, but not all jobs or industries will grow at the same pace. According to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following occupations will see the highest percentage change in employment by 2031.
• Nursing: Nursing professionals hold the fastest growing jobs in the country, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts they will grow by 46% by 2031. As the elderly population in the United States grows, the demand for more workers in this field will continue to rise. They earned an average of $120,680 annually, or nearly $60 per hour, in 2021.
• Wind Turbine Maintenance Technicians: Right behind nurses are wind turbine maintenance technicians, whose jobs are expected to grow by 44% by 2031. These workers maintain and repair wind turbines, an increasingly important part of the country’s shift to alternative energy sources. As the costs of wind energy decrease and become competitive with fossil fuels, more wind turbines are being built, requiring more workers to repair them. The average salary is $56,260 per year.
• Theater Workers: Next on the list are people working in theaters: receptionists, lobby attendants, ticket sellers, whose jobs are expected to grow by 41% in the next decade. Cinema projectionists are also expected to grow by 40%. These jobs are much less lucrative, paying an average of $24,440 and $29,350 per year, respectively.
• Chefs: The need for chefs in restaurants is expected to grow by 37%, a job that pays just over $30,000 annually.
• Data Scientists: Employment for data scientists is projected to grow by 36%, a job that generates an average annual salary of $100,910. Growth will be driven by the need to extract and analyze an ever-increasing amount of available data.
• Athletes and Referees: Thanks to the expansion of sports leagues, increased public interest in sports, and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of athletes and sports competitors is expected to increase by 36%; meanwhile, the number of referees is likely to grow by 32%. While many famous athletes earn millions, the average annual salary in the field is $77,300. Referees, on the other hand, earn an average of $35,860 per year.
• Information Security Analysts: Jobs for information security analysts are expected to grow by 35% due to the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and the growing use of online shopping. This job pays an average of $102,600 annually.
• Statisticians: A similar trend is expected to increase the number of jobs for mathematicians and statisticians, who earn an average of $95,570. Jobs in the field are projected to grow by 33%.
And where will most of these new positions be?
The top 10 states projected for the fastest job growth are:
• Utah
• New York
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• Texas
• Washington
• Florida
• Tennessee
Source: USA Facts