With a new year underway, many professionals are focusing on changing jobs or pursuing completely different careers.
To give job hunters a hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has compiled information on the fastest growing jobs through 2009, divided by the educational background required to pursue these jobs.
For those with associates degrees, various positions in healthcare will provide professionals with opportunities that offer considerable room for advancement and salary with the proper training.
Among these careers are physic al therapist assistants, dental hygienists, veterinary technicians, and cardiovascular technicians. Environmental science technicians are also increasingly in demand, according to the BLS.
While healthcare jobs are widely known to be increasingly demand, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook notes that demand for veterinary technicians is growing at a much faster rate than average as well. Training for these careers typically requires two years of training, along with state certification.
The agency noted that as of 2006, there were 131 veterinary technology programs in 44 states. Demand is projected to grow at a rapid 41 percent rate as pets become increasingly popular nationwide.
For those with bachelors degrees, the fastest growing careers are personal financial advisors, networks and data communications analysts, substance abuse counselors, financial analysts, and computer software engineers.
Much of 2008 was filled with news about job losses nationwide, especially in the financial sector. However, the BLS expects a 37 percent jump in the number of financial advisors by 2016 because of the pending retirement of the baby boom generation and the need to manage their retirement savings.
Many analysts have also predicted that the economy is likely to start rebounding by the middle of 2009, which is likely to result in a recovery for the financial services industry in general
For workers who do not have a degree, some of the best career prospects can be found in fields like fitness trainers, preschool teachers, skin care specialists and manicurists, and sales representatives.
Much has been written about the growing need for skilled teachers in the U.S., particularly those with skills in crucial fields like math and science. However, the Occupational Outlook Handbook finds that the need for preschool and kindergarten teachers will grow even faster (23 percent) than that for middle school and high school teachers.
There's still a recession underway, but that doesn't mean you need to put your career plans on hold. Ample opportunities exist at all experience and educational levels for a wide variety of fields. Chances are that with a little research, you can find a rapidly growing career field that matches your own interests and abilities.
