The Future of Work: The Fastest Growing Occupations Today

With the ever-growing population and technology, there are some jobs that just seem set up for success in the near future. While no one can be certain of which jobs will eventually win out, there are some that, given the economic, political and technological state of the world, should be a safe bet to get into.

Knowing which jobs are expected to show rapid growth in the next decade or so gives you the chance to get into the field now so you can benefit from the hiring that will be taking place. Job security is a big issue with a lot of employees, and knowing that you will be in a field that is in high demand is great assurance. Here are some of the careers that are predicted to rapidly grow in the next 10 to 15 years.

Wind Turbine Technician

With the lower costs of renewable energy and the public outcry for the government to reign in polluting power plants, wind and solar are becoming huge sectors that people get their energy from. Wind power, in fact, is one of the fastest growing power producers in the country, and that will require a lot of workers to maintain.

Demand for wind turbine technicians is expected to grow at 108% over the coming years. The best part is, you only need a little schooling — sometimes you don’t even need a degree — and most of the time you don’t need any experience. This is because working on wind turbines is a very specific job and you will learn everything you need to while you train.

The median pay for a turbine technician is around $51,000 per year. You will be required to work outdoors and in confined spaces, so make sure you know what you can handle before pursuing this career.

Occupational Therapist

As quality of life improves and people live longer and longer, there will be more demand for people to care of the sick and the elderly. Jobs for occupational therapists are expected to grow at 43% in the next decade.

Occupational therapists do need some schooling before they can find a job. Typically, a two-year program is enough, and there are over 200 programs throughout the country, so getting into one shouldn’t be a problem. The median pay is $54,000 a year and there is a need for therapists all over the country.

Occupational therapists help patients regain, develop and improve the skills they need for everyday life after an accident. You can work in a hospital or at a smaller practice. If you want to pursue this career, patience and a joy of working with other people is very important.

Nurse Practitioner

Again, with an ever-growing population and the need for care, jobs for nurse practitioners are expected to grow at a rate of 31% in the next 10 years.

The job “nurse practitioner” has a wide-range of specialties, such as anesthesiologist or even midwife. Most choices pay very well, with the median income being around $105,000 per year in 2015. The scope of work will vary, but you can be assured that you will assist doctors in their practices and operations and that you will also be responsible for coordinating patient care.

Where you work can also vary. You may find a job in a hospital, a doctor’s personal practice, or even at a school. You will need to be comfortable talking with people and have a lot of patience because people will oftentimes be in distress when you interact with them.

Statistician

As technology grows, so too does the need to analyze and interpret the data created to make real-world decisions. This is what statisticians do and they get paid very well to do so.

Statisticians can make around $80,000 per year. More so than the other entries in this list, you will need a good amount of education, with a Master’s Degree being the typical entry-level degree required. You will, of course, need a great love for math and the ability to solve complex problems.

Nearly one-third of all statisticians work for the government, but there are plenty of private sector jobs available as well, in fields ranging from space exploration, healthcare, computer science and engineering. Statistician jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 34%, so the demand will not go away anytime soon.

To find more popular jobs, visit this link for info from NelsonJobs.com.

Joseph Bates works in the recruitment industry and writes about the most popular and growing careers for recruitment, career and