Are you thinking of changing jobs or careers into a growing career field? According to a recent study, roughly 96% of workers are currently looking for a new job. Even if you don’t want to make a giant career change (like switching industries), it’s never a bad idea to gain new skills to make yourself as competitive as possible!
Read below to learn about eight of the fastest growing career fields, as well as how to gain related job skills and experience.
Growing Career Field #1: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
The demand for AI and machine learning skills has been increasing steadily, and it is expected to continue growing as more and more industries and companies integrate AI into their processes and products.
To get a job in AI, at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, math, or a related field is typically required. If you are just looking to acquire some basic AI skills and awareness to augment your resume, there are many online bootcamps and certification programs!
Growing Career Field #2: Data Science and Analytics
Data science and analytics are used to solve problems and challenges within an organization. As companies collect tons of data every day, they need people who can analyze raw data, interpret what it means, and then communicate the results to help solve company and industry-specific problems.
To get a job in this field, most employers require at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or data science, but some employers prefer a master’s degree.
Growing Career Field #3: Cyber Security
Cyber threats are everywhere these days, so it’s no surprise that there is a huge need for cybersecurity professionals to protect both organizations and individuals from cyberattacks.
If you want to make a career transition to a job in cyber security, there are certificate programs that are typically around 18-24 weeks.
Growing Career Field #4: Software Development and Engineering
The need for software development and engineering skills are not going away any time soon! As technology continues to rapidly advance, businesses are relying more and more on individuals who have advanced technical skills and expertise.
These types of highly specialized jobs require bachelor’s degrees in related fields. However, if you want to acquire certain specific technical skills like coding, you can simply take courses to gain basic or intermediate-level knowledge. Including these types of technical skills on your resume can help set you apart from other candidates and land you an interview faster!
Growing Career Field #5: Healthcare and Medical Technology
As the world becomes more digitized, so does the healthcare industry! With the healthcare industry evolving (especially as medical records and appointments become digital), there will be a high demand for healthcare professionals who can easily navigate new medical-related technologies.
Many growing jobs in healthcare require only a certificate while some others might require more advanced degrees or training (for example, a physician assistant).
Growing Career Field #5: Renewable Energy and Sustainability
Do you have a passion for protecting the environment as well as working outdoors? With climate change, there are lots of career opportunities in renewable energy and sustainability.
Acquiring the necessary skills to work in renewable energy is quick and easy. Some jobs might require a certificate, but some might only require a specialized course or two.
Growing Career Field #6: E-commerce and Digital Marketing
The growth of online shopping and digital marketing has led to a huge demand for workers in this field. If you are good at analyzing and creating, and you’re passionate about social media and helping companies successfully market their products and services, then you might enjoy digital marketing.
The cool thing about this career path is that it pays well, and it doesn’t require a bachelor’s or other specific degree. Employers actually prefer it if people have specialized certificates that are directly related to the field like data analysis, SEO, social media advertising, and email marketing.
Growing Career Field #7: Health and Wellness
Careers related to health and wellness, like fitness trainers, nutritionists, and mental health counselors, have increased significantly. This is at least partly due to the pandemic. Many people have re-evaluated and prioritized their health and well-being. Therefore, it’s no surprise jobs in this area are increasing.
Some jobs like fitness trainers don’t require a specialized four-year or advanced degree (usually just a cerification). Others, like mental health counselor, do require a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree.
If you are looking to improve your communication skills, there are tons of online courses and trainings (many of them free) that can help you improve your people and writing skills, for example. As the world gets more technical, the need for strong people and emotional intelligence skills in the workplace will only continue to increase!
In Conclusion
While this article features eight of the fastest growing career fields currently, it’s important to note that the job market is contstantly evolving. Therefore, new trends will emerge as technologies and industries continue to grow.
Once you’ve narrowed down your targeted field and job(s), follow companies of interest on Twitter and LinkedIn and sign up for Google alerts. This will allow you to stay current on industry trends and issues, as well as the skills employers are seeking.
