America's 25 Thriving Industries

The all other professional and technical services industry is something of a catchall that includes a diverse range of occupations, including non-real estate appraisal services, marine surveyors, commodity inspection, weather forecasting, consumer credit counseling, and handwriting analysis. In the last decade, the number of people working in this broad category more than doubled.

Though employment in the other marine fishing industry more than doubled in the last 10 years, it remains very small. The industry includes businesses engaged in the taking of marine animals that are not shellfish or finfish and employs fewer than 500 Americans.

Employment in non-veterinary pet care climbed from about 58,800 in 2009 to over 125,000 in 2018. The industry includes a range of occupations, including pet grooming, boarding, and training.

The number of Americans working in barber shops more than doubled in the last decade. Over the same period, the number of barber shops in the United States climbed by 58%, from 3,507 to 5,534. Demand for barbers and hairstylists is projected to continue to grow faster than average as the population grows.

Industrial grade sand is a general term for high purity silica sand that has controlled sizing. It is used in a variety of capacities, including construction, water filtration, glass making, and metal production. In the last decade, the number of Americans working in industrial sand mining more than doubled, from 3,665 to nearly 8,000.