According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in 20 occupations is expected to meet or exceed 23% from 2019 to 2029.* Such in-demand positions are great for those thinking about changing careers because they can provide:
- Easier entry compared to more competitive industries
- Job growth potential as entry-level people move into management and leadership roles
- Career stability (depending on location, position, and area demand)
If you've decided your current job isn't your forever career and you're thinking about changing careers, here are four of the most in-demand occupations for 2021 and beyond.†
>> Should You Go Back to School? 5 Questions to Help You Decide
1. Nurse Practitioners
Employment of nurse practitioners is expected to grow 52% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.
What Do Nurse Practitioners Do?
Nurse practitioners, also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses or APRNs, assess patient conditions, administer medicine and treatment, coordinate patient care, and may provide health care services such as diagnosing health problems or evaluating patient response to treatments.
What Education Do Nurse Practitioners Need?
A nurse practitioner position requires a master's degree in nursing.
2. Medical and Health Services Managers
The BLS projects that employment of medical and health services managers will add 133,000 new jobs from 2019 to 2029, a growth rate of 32%, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
What Do Medical and Health Services Managers Do?
Also known as health care executives or health care administrators, medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They may manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice. Typical job duties include finding ways to improve efficiency and quality, developing departmental goals and objectives, and ensuring their organization is compliant with laws and regulations.
What Education Do Medical and Health Services Managers Need?
According to the BLS, most medical and health services managers need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the field, but a master’s degree may be preferred by some employers. Related bachelor’s degrees include:
- Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Related master’s degrees include:
- Master of Health Care Administration
- Master of Science in Health Information Management
- Master of Health Informatics
- Master of Public Health
3. Information Security Analysts
Cybersecurity affects businesses, governments, utilities and power industries, individuals, and more. According to the 2020 State of Endpoint Security Risk Report by Ponemon, 64% of surveyed companies experienced one or more cyberattacks that compromised IT infrastructure and/or data over the past 12 months, an increase from 54% in 2017. Between 2019 and 2029, the BLS projects that 40,900 new information security analysts jobs will be added to help combat growing threats. This is a job growth rate of 31%, much faster than the average for all occupations.
What Do Information Security Analysts Do?
Information security analysts work on projects that help protect computer networks and systems security. They complete tasks that enhance security and fight threats, including monitoring networks for breaches, installing security software, analyzing data breaches, conducting penetration testing, and developing security standards for an organization.
What Education Do Information Security Analysts Need?
According to the BLS, at least a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity is typically required for entry-level information security analyst positions.
4. Data Scientists and Mathematical Science Occupations
The BLS projects that employment of data scientists will grow 31% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than average. This projection equals 10,300 new jobs in that time frame.†
What Do Data Scientists and Mathematical Science Occupations Do?
Data science and data analytics professionals analyze complex sets of data to draw conclusions and make business recommendations. They design, implement, and evaluate analytics-based solutions to help meet the goals of their organization.
>> Read ‘Rise of the Data Analyst—What’s Behind the Boom?’
What Education Do Data Scientists and Mathematical Science Occupations Need?
According to the BLS, the typical education needed to enter this field is a bachelor's degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Analytics.
Grow Your Career With a College Education in the Field You Want to Work In
All of the positions highlighted prefer applicants to have a certificate, bachelor's degree, or master's degree to be considered. A college education in one of these fields from a school like Purdue Global can help you land a career by:
- Teaching you essential skills for your chosen field
- Introducing you to industry contacts through online networking
- Providing job search support through career services
Learn more about the online degree programs at Purdue Global or request more information.
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