You may have heard it said that if you choose a job you love, you will never work a day in your life. And when you select an occupation in a field with robust employment growth, you’ll likely boost your chances of enjoying a career you’re passionate about well into the future.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a go-to source for employment trends, offers information that can help you tailor your interests to occupations that are on the rise. Its most recent report, showing employment projections for 2019 to 2029, does not include the impacts of COVID-19, but is still a useful resource for degree-seekers and employees alike.
Overall, the BLS expects employment to grow by 3.7% between 2019 and 2029, which is an increase of 6 million jobs. The fastest-growing occupations, and their rates of job growth, include:1
- Nurse practitioners, 52.4%
- Statisticians, 34.6%
- Medical and health services managers, 31.5%
“Five out of the 20 fastest growing industries for the next decade are in the healthcare and social assistance sector, the fastest growing major sector in the economy,” the BLS reported. “Factors that are expected to contribute to the large increase include increased demand to care for the aging baby-boom population, longer life expectancies, and continued growth in the number of patients with chronic conditions.”1
Chart a Course to an In-Demand Career
Earning a degree online can help transport you to a job you love. When you’re ready to get started, Walden University’s Enrollment Specialists can guide you through finding the degree program that meets your needs and interests. Walden offers more than 80 degree programs with more than 300 specializations and concentrations.
Prepare for the growth in healthcare employment by earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree online from Walden. The accredited university is No. 1 in MSN graduates in the United States.2 Walden’s MSN program has eight specializations that fall into two categories: nurse practitioner (direct patient care) and specialty practice (indirect patient care). In addition to the growing need for nurse practitioners, nurses who choose a specialty practice also can find increased opportunities. For example, employment of nurse educators is expected to grow 17% through 2029, much faster than average according to BLS.3
If clinical mental health counseling is your calling, earning a degree online can prepare you for a variety of career options as well as ready you to pursue professional licensure. Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has multiple specializations that let you tailor your education to the clients you will serve. Specializations include Addiction Counseling and Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. As a graduate of Walden’s clinical mental health master’s program, you may choose to seek work in job settings that include community mental health centers or marriage and family clinics.
When you choose the job you love, prepare for the career of a lifetime by earning an online degree. And then, catch the employment wave that can carry you into a rewarding future.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering certificate programs and bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.
1Source: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecopro.pdf
2Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) IPEDS database. Collected using Burning Glass Technologies. Retrieved February 2020, using CIP code 51.38 (Registered Nursing , Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing). Includes 2017–2018 provisional data.
3Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Occupational Projections Data (Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary). National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee actual job growth, and are subject to change.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.