In Demand Jobs Now–2030

Ms. Inglish is a successful employment & training pro, setting Midwest regional records with tens of thousands placed in gainful employment.

Changes in the American World of Work

American federal, state, and local governments prepared employment projections of expected high-growth jobs for the decades 2018-2028 and 2020-2030 during the late 2010s. However, because of the COVID-19 crisis during the first three quarters of 2020, these projections lost some accuracy and require updating.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world of work forever.

The Covid-19 pandemic changed the world of work forever.

Skills vs. Credentials

Andrew Yang, former 2020 presidential candidate, presents convincing evidence that automation will replace American workers more often than they realize, especially in the transportation field. This includes even self-driving freight trucks, erasing the growth circumstances of 2014-2019 that made truck driving the number one high-growth job in the U.S.A.

Repeating a workforce emphasis of the 1990s Clinton administration, the current federal administration has emphasized non-degree education and training. An executive order in mid-2020 called for the elimination of education credential requirements for government jobs. This may open jobs to less-educated but more highly experienced job seekers while also stemming the demand for expensive college education. This also eliminates presidential candidate proposals for free postsecondary education in America, saving money.

Democratic candidates for POTUS in 2020 often called for higher taxes to be imposed on the wealthy in order to help support free postsecondary education, expanded Medicaid services, and other helping programs.

Importance of Credentials

The emphasis on skill sets over academic credentials (degrees and certifications) and government workers may fail in the long run. Credentials are legally required for many jobs. Emphasizing skills over credentials could force more Americans into lower-paid jobs.

The health and medical fields in government employment (including the armed services) will always require certifications and academic degrees, as well as demonstrated skills in healthcare. These fields comprise a major sector in the U.S. economy and one that is growing ever larger. These jobs are increasing in 2020 and will continue to increase for years because the aging population requires additional healthcare workers, from physicians to home health aides. National standards in these occupations legally require credentials. Colleges and universities will be pressed into training these workers.

The aerospace industry is growing both in private and government business, and related jobs also require college degrees and/or certifications. Information technology jobs in aerospace and other fields require similar training and certifications.

Essential Workers and Lower-Paid Jobs

According to Andrew Yang in 2019, a full 49% of American workers are employed in one of the five most common U.S. jobs:

1. Administrative and clerical work, including call centers
2. Retail salesperson (including groceries) and cashiers (essential workers)
3. Foodservice and food prep (essential workers)
4. Truck drivers and transportation workers (essential workers)
5. Manufacturing jobs

Many of these jobs are some of the lowest-paid occupations in the U.S., especially numbers two and three above, which are increasing in demand.

People quickly figured out how to work from home.

— William Arruda, Forbes.com; May 7, 2020

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Federal Projections for Most Job Openings

Despite all of the information above, America still will experience high-growth jobs, many in what has come to be known as "essential work" in service occupations.

The U.N. has predicted the pandemic to last through 2025, although some changes in the workplace will become permanent, especially working from home and using online classroom instruction.

Many of the projected highest demand jobs will continue to be:

1. Personal Care, Home Care, and Home Health Aides (HHAs): These are essential workers, and their demand will increase with the aging American population and the effects of COVID-19.
2. Combined Food Prep/Service Jobs (Including Supervisors), Restaurant Cooks, and Wait Staff: These are also essential workers.
3. Registered Nurses (RN license), Nursing Assistants, Medical/Physician Assistants (including Nurse Practitioners), and Practical Nurses: These are essential workers. A nursing shortage in the 2010s increased in 2020, partially because nurses working with pandemic patients were dying from the virus.
4. Computer Software Applications Engineers, Management Analysts, and Related: The increase in homeschooling during 2020 is likely to continue through the early 2020s. Many more classes are offered on the internet, and increasing numbers of students need computers and software to use this instruction. Working at home will require new applications, software, and hardware as well.
5. Janitors and Cleaners: In 2020, extensive cleaning became necessary in all American businesses because of the novel coronavirus. The demand for well-trained people in these jobs is likely to increase significantly from 2020-2030.
6. Managers in All Fields
7. Construction Workers and Helpers: Monthly new construction data from the U.S. federal government shows that building new homes is increasing as more and more American workers are able to permanently work from home. This requires larger spaces for conference presentations online, computer setups, and even homeschooling internet spaces.
8. Laborers: Construction increases require more laborers. In addition, the upswing in home deliveries of many items during the 2020s is likely to increase the need for laborers in warehousing and shipping.
9. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: Andrew Yang feels that these jobs will be taken over by autonomous (self-driving) vehicles. However, Columbus, Ohio's use of autonomous commercial vehicles has shown problems with human injuries during the city's large Smart City development project in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Autonomous freight trucks are on a farther horizon than may be projected.
10. Computer Support Specialists

Other Jobs

Insurance

Since the changing world of work affects the health insurance attached to jobs, namely in the loss of insurance during major job losses in the pandemic lockdown, insurance jobs began to increase in 2020. Another reason for the increase is the increasing number of senior citizens looking for Medicare supplemental policies, even while continuing to work.

Aerospace

The aerospace industry is growing quickly in the private sector, in NASA, and among the NASA Commercial Crew partnerships. The increasing number of spaceports in America are hiring additional workers, as are aerospace manufacturers, especially in Ohio and Texas.

Older workers, those ages 65 years and older, are increasingly staying in the workforce. The labor force participation rate for these workers is expected to increase to 23.3 percent by 2028. The share of workers ages 55 and older—a group that includes baby boomers, who are staying in the workforce longer.

— Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

• Through the year 2030, America will see increasing demand in all healthcare occupations, the aerospace industry, IT, and essential-worker service jobs.
• Academic credentials will remain a requirement in certain occupations.
• More and more people will be working and attending classes online at home.
• Increasing numbers of people over the age of 55 will remain in the workforce and put off retirement.
• Professional cleaning may become a high-demand technology.

Sources

1. Arruda, William. 6 Ways COVID-19 Will Change The Workplace Forever - Forbes. May 7, 2020.
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Workforce Participation
3. Most New Jobs : Occupational Outlook Handbook
4. TIME.com: 2014 -- The Poverty Rate Just Declined for the First Time Since 2006. The percentage of Americans living in poverty declined year-over-year for the first time since 2006, according to a new report released by the United States Census Bureau on Tuesday.
5. Yang, Andrew. The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future. Hachette Books. April 3, 2018.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2009 Patty Inglish MS

Comments, Additions, and Job News

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on February 11, 2015:

@aesta1 - I agree with you many times over. High school and college counselors need to inform themselves of near-future and long term job trends. Thanks for commenting and if you have anything you;d like researched for the students, I'll do a Hub about it.

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on February 11, 2015:

In-demand jobs do reflect the change taking place in society. It is interesting. I hope high school career counsellors are busy sharing this information to students.

Goringe Accountants from London, UK on September 22, 2014:

Brilliant information, thanks for compiling and presenting it so well!

Reena Dhiman on September 22, 2014:

Hey thanks a ton for such an insightful article.

IJR112 on April 28, 2014:

Good stuff. Relevant today just as much as back then.

b-ageless from Toronto, Ontario, Canada on February 19, 2014:

Thank you Patty Inglish, MS , yes I agree that it does take a "dedicated driver", the service could be used in many communities and it is also very fulfilling to be able to provide custom catered service, as no two clients are the same.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on February 19, 2014:

I shared your Hub on your service that takes the place of a "dedicated driver." The service could be useful in many communities.

b-ageless from Toronto, Ontario, Canada on February 19, 2014:

Thank-you Patty Inglish MS, I hope I do too, I'm still learning to navigate around and learn "how to bring traffic' to my Hub ? Is there no one interested in the Job I do? Lol

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on February 18, 2014:

I hope that you will enjoy writing at Hubpages. There's always something new!

b-ageless from Toronto, Ontario, Canada on February 18, 2014:

Thank-you for your feedback, Patty Inglish, MS ! Much appreciated!

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on February 18, 2014:

I agree with you in your hope for more growth and for highlighting of good jobs that no one knows about. Thanks, b-ageless!

b-ageless from Toronto, Ontario, Canada on February 18, 2014:

Very interesting reading. I find the type of Job that I do very rewarding, but most people don't even know that we exist, hoping to see Growth by 2016!

char on January 18, 2014:

im planning to get a nice course then i plan to get a BS psychology is it indemand.. this year until 2019 and so on..

Hugo Furst from Australia on December 18, 2013:

Interesting! Cheers for writing this hub, man. Voted up :)

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on October 24, 2013:

Thanks very much!

Cassandra Mantis from UK and Nerujenia on October 24, 2013:

Amazing information here. What a cool Hub!

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on August 13, 2013:

I agree - too many roads in disrepair and they cause haards. I saw more than one truck overturned yesterday because of potholes and such!

Michael P. Hatton from Michigan on August 13, 2013:

Hello,

Still looking for a job but I have noticed a pickup in the number of semi trucks on the interstates. We still need to invest majorly in out transportation infrastructure.

getnet on April 06, 2012:

it is veary use ful

nirmal kumar on February 24, 2012:

thanks for your given information,i was really exciting about this job details,but i need the information about IT job vacancies in the year of 2016 and i need the details about IT job demands.sir.......

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on February 08, 2012:

Thanks for reading and I wish you every success in your career. Watch for changes in years 2012 - 2014 in the expanding aerospace industry as well as bioengineering.

Jack Curtis Agnew on February 08, 2012:

This information has proven very useful for it has given me an insight into the future in business studies. This has helped me considerably to deeply think about what business studies course I would like to peruse in university, thanks jack

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on February 06, 2012:

Thanks for the information. Certainly as the population increases, we'll need more people in these jobs.

Chuck on February 05, 2012:

Try hotel sales and catering. Every hotel employes 1-10 or more sales and catering people. Hospitality is one of the world's largest employers. Start entry level at 40-60K. Advance to 60-100K in approximately 5 years. It's a fun career with lots of job opportuniteis. Try ahla or aprinda.com for online certificates to get started fast

Danish on February 03, 2012:

I need job in Australia.Any one help me.than plz contact me my E mail ID

danish454@hotmail.com

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on January 19, 2012:

With the growth of private space flight since July 4, 2011 you will see an upsurge in Software Engineer jobs as well.

dev on January 19, 2012:

Thanks for the post but i was typically looking for software engineer jobs.

mitziellapastora on January 16, 2012:

hello every one looking for a job now.

OluO on December 04, 2011:

Very helpful as I look for a career change.

DESIREE GRACE DELOS SANTOS on November 15, 2011:

HI! such a useful information,..this could be a big help to people,especially those students who want to find job after graduating

celine on November 08, 2011:

bet today was my lucky day, because i have been looking for something educative like this but i have never found one.am about to join college and i didn't know whether to study medicine or B.A. THANK YOU AND KEEP UP

Gregory Hasman from Denton TX on October 31, 2011:

Very interesting. I am an office service clerk in Houston, TX for a wealth management co. and freelance writer. Do you know of good links as I plan to relocate sometime in the future.

denden on October 09, 2011:

its good that my course now is PT its in demand !

Danny on September 21, 2011:

Its is good to see occupational therapy (OT) has made it into the list as well. We do provide essential health care services to a wide population of people and diagnosis; we get them back to doing what they love to do!!!

atomicpaulsen from Orem, UT on September 11, 2011:

impressive list of possible jobs. i've been looking for a job as a park ranger, but didn't see that in this list.

Dan on September 10, 2011:

I never see hospitality sales or catering jobs. All hotels have 1-10 or more sales and catering professionals. Check out available jobs at hcareers.com Hotel sales people sell guest room blocks and meeting and banquet space to event planners and travel managers. I work at Hilton and enjoy it a lot. You can start with an online certificate at ecornell.com or aprinda.com

susannah42 from Florida on September 06, 2011:

Great ideas. I hope the economy really recovers.

SUSANJK from Florida on July 06, 2011:

This is really useful information. I am currently taking some classes to go into sales.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on June 18, 2011:

Managers and Asst. Managers as well as crew are needed in many US States for Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and to a lesser extent KFC. Some franchse owners own all three, though.

I've noticed that some Pizza Huts are remodeling, expanding and adding additional tables inside, with big screen TVs.

Web World Watcher on June 17, 2011:

Pizza Hut shift managers? Is it just a flourishing franchise?

jblogys on January 21, 2011:

Really good hub-thanks for posting!

quuenieproac from Malaysia on November 13, 2010:

Good job, you have provided useful information and guidance to many people. Congrats.

Nicole on October 29, 2010:

Are Surgical Techs and Lab Techs in high demand? I am looking into these.

jems on July 31, 2010:

very nice info.i got a lot of ideas

jovy on July 25, 2010:

so?? IT is indemand.. but in the field of data communication analyst.. thanks for the information.. because i need to know what's will i concentrate in the field og IT

adorababy from Syracuse, NY on June 14, 2010:

I did not really expect PT to be on the top of the list but it's good that a couple of the healthcare related professions are getting on the top list again.

Hannah on May 10, 2010:

Thanks so much...physical therapy is a great occupation and it really helps people in a very great way...

napoleon mozar on May 02, 2010:

is there a demand job for any green related jobs?

Nigerian Jobs on April 27, 2010:

Quite analytical, there is always high demand for nurses any time any day, I feel like changing my career ... lol

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on April 17, 2010:

Finance Professionals tackle a lot of different aspects of investment, insurance, and other financial product-services; so get to know as many types of procutes and services as you can. The fastest growing cities in each of teh United States are suburbs that are near big cities that have a growing need for finance people through 2018 or 2020. I've done Hubs on some of them (search "jobs" and fastest growing." NYC is the biggest spot, but there are many others. You might need to mvoe to a job. People in their 30s now will be looking increasingly for portfolios to finance their retirement and this makes the profession viable. Some businesses are growing fast in America and will be looking for financial products.

Remember that McDonalds has made and likely still makes its most money from real estate deals, requiring finance services.

vhwang7 on April 16, 2010:

What I'm worried about is the role of financial professionals (portfolio managers, stock traders, etc.) and the demand for them right now and in the future. Like a lot of opportunistic people, I chose to major in finance at university right now because of the changing economic conditions. What do you think of the outlook for people such as myself?

These are great data, btw. Very helpful :)

Dexter on March 17, 2010:

Great article, I wonder when we will see the 'work at home' revolution, I live in Australia, we have been relatively shielded with unemployment at 5%. However studies are showing that peoples perceptions have changed, after tightening our belkts and even having reduced working hours many people are prefering to sacrifice career over lifestyle. Dexter http://careersassistant.com

Pamela Lipscomb from Charlotte, North Carolina on February 27, 2010:

Thanks for the information. I feel people should not be afraid to make a career shift if they are not happy or if their present job does not meet financial needs. It may take going back to school, but it may be well worth it.

moviedownloads on January 23, 2010:

The medical field is experiencing a bubble right now. 8 out of the top 10 jobs are medical. This is bound to crash. Govt healthcare reform will probably be the cause. It seems however, that sales jobs will always be needed. In the end, a company/person has to sell something to generate revenue.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on January 08, 2010:

Thanks, I'll look into that this weekend and update my Cleveland Jobs Hub. Great to hear from you.

Paula Atwell from Cleveland, OH on January 08, 2010:

You don't mention Cleveland, but we are seeing hiring here in the nursing and physical therapy field too with so many medical facilities here. Medical seems to be the one general field that is growing here right now. Really thorough info. :)

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on January 08, 2010:

Right, not overall. However, some cities are recovering and others were bothered very little by recession.

OpinionDuck on January 07, 2010:

As the workforce is laid off, there has to be a point when the flow slows down, but it doesn't mean that things are getting better, does it?

Andy Manning from Chandlers Ford on December 21, 2009:

Great hub with alot of good information on it. People have top look at future proofing themselves and some of the industries and services we have now will not be needed in the future I am sure. The good thing is there will be new things coming into the job markets all the time you just have to look to see the trends change.

Kathleen Lewis from Southern Michigan on December 15, 2009:

Very informative. There are some things we just cannot live without, hence the job market in the medical and public services areas.

fdoleac from Hollis, New Hampshire on December 12, 2009:

Real estate is a great career with incredible opportunities. The average Realtor is 53 years old and does not connect with the average home buyer who is 31. It is a wide open markert in the new real estate economy.

nadine_stowne on December 12, 2009:

Interesting information. I look forward to seeing how this projection plays out in the future.

ciidoctor on December 04, 2009:

you are really a business expert

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on December 02, 2009:

San Francisco County, for one place! Check out my 2 Hubs on Treasure Island in San Francisco for the info.

Bmystic57 from Sheldon,Tx on December 01, 2009:

where is all the construction work?

If it wasn't for construction workers and truck drivers

no one would have a place to work at!

Art Wartenbe from Northwestern Florida, Gulfcoast on November 27, 2009:

Hey Patty, Thanks for the informative hubpage. I would like working for you I think. Are you hiring?

I am very talented and very diverse. Do you offer a relocation package and hiring bonus?

I can start today! Very nice informational hub! Enjoyed looking it over.

TheLadders from New York on November 24, 2009:

Patty, your articles on the job market are extremely comprehensive and valuable for folks in the job market. Thanks for continuing to update this hubpage with recent articles. I imagine your projections about the job market through 2016 could be especially valuable for students who are currently choosing their major.

Best CD Rates on November 23, 2009:

I wasn't aware of these facts. Thanks for this informative article. I think this article is going to help million of people.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on November 12, 2009:

Updated November 12, '09. Thanks!

Unique Kids Stuff on November 09, 2009:

That's interesting, I wanted to be a physical therapist for a long time before I switched up my major freshman year.

collegecareerlife on November 06, 2009:

Excellent article! It's good to finally see lists that include all education levels.

Nan on November 05, 2009:

Your article was a very good marketing analysis of job prospecting. The key is going to be college degree, or advance training with some kind of certification. Teaching will always be a good field to go into. Medical profession is growing because people will always be ill with some kind of disease.

Dirah0509 from Bay Area, CA on November 03, 2009:

Nice to know HHA's are on the list, I am one and also a CNA (certified nurse assistant).

Robert Clinton on November 02, 2009:

Nice list, That can be give a direction to youngster so they can see the demand here and can follow that path,To get a good high paying job early. Good Hub :)

BookFlame on November 02, 2009:

All of this is very interesting, for sure. I'm passing it along to my confused nieces abd nephews!

Free God Of War on October 30, 2009:

It's always good to know what the trends will be in order to prepare future personal decisions. The information you have given us is valuable! Thanks.

alexchia01 on October 30, 2009:

It seems funny that there are so many jobs advertising on the web, yet our unemployment rate is so high. It almost seems like the employers are taking their own sweet time to find the best people they can find. Thanks.

bestcellphones on October 30, 2009:

nothing there for aviation , hope I'm not getting into the wrong field. Almost 100k for my schoool, better be able to get a job afterward.

TEFL Courses on October 29, 2009:

These reports are great I need to plan for my future and some sort of direction is good. Thanks for the info.

E. R. Root from Davenport, FL on October 20, 2009:

I was surprised to see Assistant Managers listed in the top 15. With the retail markets seeing little growth compared to projected revenue sales and last year figures.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on October 15, 2009:

Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts appear on the list at #1. Administrators may yet be within the top 25; I suspect that they are.

Don Simkovich from Pasadena, CA on October 14, 2009:

I'm surprised nothing was listed in terms of computer network administrators . . . maybe I missed it. Nice comprehensive list.

Filipino girls on October 09, 2009:

great hubs patty its very helpful

itcoll on October 07, 2009:

excellent insights.great work.thanks.

magdielqr on October 06, 2009:

Great hub. Thank you for this informative Hub.

sudhan45 on October 06, 2009:

Nice info.Nice to see you here.

smashtech from Chennai on October 06, 2009:

Its quite interesting to see Software Application Engineers are still in the top notch positions...

bryguy1 on October 05, 2009:

Great post Patty! This is a very good outlook on what might be a good choice in careers or for study purposes.

slamoutte on October 05, 2009:

You went above and beyond with this list. Great stuff you have here....

Jessica Horn on October 05, 2009:

The Tax professionals/tax preparers one interested me, but now that I think about it, I can see how that would be a very necessary part of the economy.

1) All of the lost jobs & income & the government is going to have no choice but to start auditing more because of their lost revenues via less taxes.

2) Because of #1 - people should make a point of being VERY careful about their taxes & make sure they do them the right way.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on October 05, 2009:

It's listed under jobs in online job engines and offers more openings than some paycheck jobs, so it's included. In fact,more and more employment may become freelance and independent contractor, so the very nature of "job" is changing and must be accepted.

Dedicated Content Curator from United Kingdom on October 05, 2009:

I saw

6. AVON Independent Sales Representatives

And I thought, "hey, I didn't expect to see that there", but then it's obvious. These aren't jobs, they are opportunities for people to start their own business and so recruitment to these will have escalated over the last 18 months. They're advertising anywhere and everywhere they can because more people are prepared to give it a go, so it makes sense that any company like this is advertising more in a downturn.

It's not a "job" job, so shouldn't really show up imho.

articleposter on October 05, 2009:

Good post. A lot of info there

Manee on October 01, 2009:

Great Job, Gentleman!

daniel on September 29, 2009:

Nearly 2.8 Million Jobs Available

Tamika Davis on September 25, 2009:

Excellent Hub. This info is very insightful and useful for anyone (high school & beyond).

halleyhoops from west palm beach on September 23, 2009:

in seven years i can finally get a real job.

bobby brown on September 18, 2009:

good for me, I'm going to school for psychology. The average person unfortunately will not understand the rest of this text unless they also have a degree in psychology. To do the love of some of them is not the love of all of them. Fraud or skinner(b the be for them) if that is for them. Humanistic vs behaviorist (s of d) very informative! sight!

Michelle Long on September 02, 2009:

Hi Patty, thanks for your info for such a great analysis....i think health care might be the hottest industry for this new century and it seems to be growing in the next 5 or 10 years time..

easegiri from Bangalore on September 01, 2009:

I think these holds good to India as well and all the other countries too.