Special Report

25 Fastest Growing Jobs

The U.S. economy is projected to add nearly 10 million jobs between 2014 and 2024. As the economy expands, shifting demographics and consumer demand will spur faster employment growth in certain fields.

To identify the fastest growing jobs, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed occupational data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the 480 jobs reviewed, 25 are projected to grow by more than 20% in the decade ending in 2024.

Americans 85 and older are the fastest-growing age group in the country. As the baby boom generation ages over the coming decade, the population will require more medical attention. As a result, demand for most medical professions will increase in the near future. The number of occupational therapy assistants and aides, for example, is projected to grow by 40.1% by 2024, the second fastest growth of any job.

Click here to see the 25 fastest growing jobs.

Many of the medical occupations expected to grow the fastest are support roles. Assistants to physicians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists can perform many of the same services as their superiors — and often at a lower cost. Additionally, the BLS projects that state legislators will enact health care reform that will allow such assistants to perform a wider range of medical services and that insurance carriers will expand their coverage of such services. The number of physician assistants, for example, is projected to increase by 30.4% by 2024, twice the 14.0% growth rate for physicians and surgeons.

The need for new construction and infrastructure repair in the United States will also contribute to job growth. In a study by the American Society of Civil Engineers, America’s infrastructure received a D+ ranking. The BLS predicts that federal and state governments will increase funding for infrastructure improvement projects in the coming future, increasing the demand for construction occupations.

The ASCE’s report card singled out energy as one of the worst sectors of the nation’s infrastructure. As the growing population’s demand for energy becomes more difficult to service through traditional methods, employment in occupations related to alternative energy may expand. The number of wind turbine service technicians is projected to more than double in the decade ending in 2024, the fastest growth of any occupation in the country.

Occupations that deal with data analysis will also be in high demand. The increasing usage of smartphones, social media, and online search engines generates valuable consumer data that companies can use to make better-informed business decisions. As a result, the number of statisticians and mathematicians, who can analyze such consumer data, will increase faster than most occupations.

To determine the fastest growing jobs, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed employment projections from the BLS for the period of 2014 to 2024. The fastest growing jobs were identified as the 25 occupations projected to grow by at least 20%. Total employment and median annual wages also came from the BLS.

These are the 25 fastest growing jobs.

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