Artwork by: Katya Simacheva
What will be the most in-demand jobs in the next 5 years? Some of the hottest jobs are obvious, but will those jobs be around in five or more years? We’ll tell you some of the hottest industries and jobs that will put you on a path for the next five years and beyond.
When you are looking for a new job, you always want to know what the best and hottest jobs in the market are. But you shouldn’t just jump on board that latest trendy job. You want to know that your job will be relevant for years to come. So what will the most in-demand jobs over the next 5 years?
Planning for your long-term success in the job market requires you to think in the medium to long term about what kinds of professions, industries, and areas will continue to be in demand. The economy can change rapidly. This can make it difficult to make predictions about what roles will be the most important in five years or more. In this article, we’ll tell you about some of the most in-demand jobs over the next 5 years, as well as information on the industries that have the best jobs for the five to ten-year time frame.
We’ll break it down by the hottest industries:
Healthcare
Information technology
Business and finance
Math, science, and engineering
Education
Renewable energy
Construction
Transportation and storage
The healthcare and medical professions are always in demand. Prior to the pandemic, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that almost a quarter of the fastest-growing industries for the ten-year period between 2019 and 2029 would be in healthcare and social services. There are a number of factors driving this growth such as longer life expectancies, the aging baby boomer generation, the growth of chronic medical conditions, and the attrition in medical workers due to the pandemic. Healthcare and related professions are expected to continue to grow by double-digit percentages for the next decade and beyond.
Some especially high-demand healthcare and medical roles:
Chiropractor Dental hygienist Dentist Diagnostic medical sonographer Genetic counselor Health services administrator Medical Assistant Medical and health services manager Medical technologist Nurse practitioner Nursing assistant | Occupational therapist Optometrist Phlebotomist Physician Physician assistant Physical therapist Psychologist Registered nurse Speech-language pathologist Surgeon Veterinarian |
The information technology (IT) industry has been huge for many years now and continues to grow at an exponential rate. Our ever-increasing need for new technology seems to be limitless. And the rate of technological advances just adds to the growing need for skilled IT workers. The rise of artificial intelligence is a particularly large factor today and is expected to continue to push technology and growth in technology-related professions. There are many jobs in IT. Below is a selection of some of the hottest IT jobs for the next five to ten years.
Some of the most in-demand jobs for IT:
Database administrator
Information security analyst
Information technology manager
Software developer
Web developer
Application developer
People that can successfully run a business are always needed. The same goes for people that can handle and manage money. Any industry or business that is booming will need people to do these things, so if you are looking to get into a general business management or finance role, then you will find opportunities within every industry.
Some great jobs in this business and finance:
Accountant
Auditor
Actuary
Financial advisor
Financial analyst
Financial manager
Management analyst (aka consultant)
Marketing manager
Operations research analyst
Technical writer
The need for experts in math, science, and engineering is also continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. Almost all industries rely on these areas and, as these businesses continue to grow, so will the number of jobs for mathematicians, scientists, and engineers.
Math, science, and engineering jobs that will be in high demand:
Civil engineer
Data scientist
Industrial engineer
Mathematician
Natural sciences manager
Petroleum engineer
Statistician
Education is important for everyone, so you know jobs in this area will always be needed. Our highly technical and complex world has increased the need for more and more education, which has led to an increased need for higher-level education roles, such as those related to colleges, universities, training centers, and certification courses. If you are into teaching or are interested in a career that involves learning, there has never been a better time to get into the educational field.
Some of the more in-demand roles in education:
College and university administrators
Health specialties teachers
Postsecondary teachers
One of the hottest job trends is the green energy industry. With all the concerns about the environment, everyone is getting into renewable energy in a big way. New innovations in technology are also bringing the costs of renewable energy way down, which is also driving a huge expansion in the market. This is providing lots of opportunities for new businesses and jobs.
A few of the hot jobs in the renewable energy field are:
Solar photovoltaic installer
Wind turbine service technician
Geo-thermal technician
The need for new buildings, houses, and infrastructure is another area that never goes away and is continuing to increase. From new homes to hospitals to stores to schools, construction continues to boom and is expected to grow by double-digit percentages for the next ten years, at least. Construction is an area that is easy to get into without a lot of experience or education. Many professions such as carpenters, plumbers, and electricians do have training and certifications but have opportunities for on-the-job training.
Basic, but always in demand, construction jobs:
Construction worker
Construction manager
Delivering and storing goods is always needed. In today’s fast-paced world with everyone wanting their stuff right now, transportation, delivery, and storage of goods are more important than ever. This is further driven by the expansion of worldwide markets and an ever-increasing world population. Truck driving professions are especially great for people who are interested in flexibility and traveling. These types of jobs are also very attainable because they do not require college degrees or extensive certifications and experience.
Jobs that are in big-time demand:
Truck driver
Warehouse manager
This is a sampling of some of the hottest industries and jobs going. All of these areas are expected to continue to grow at rapid rates for the next five to ten years or more. It’s a lot to choose from and covers a wide variety of careers and businesses. Consider your life goals, choose a profession wisely, and go after that great new career!
When looking for a new career, it is important to take a long-term view and not just jump at the latest and greatest thing in the job market.
Lots of industries have the potential for good jobs, but looking at the hottest and highest-paying areas expected for the next 5 to 10 years will help narrow your search.
Assess your career goals and select a job that is in demand, but will also give you the career development and life-balancing opportunities you need.