Unless you’re committed to working in a struggling or challenging industry, like journalism or acting, the best way to ensure job security outside of highly technical fields that require advanced degrees is to look at industries where jobs are growing. (Also see industries where people got the biggest raises.)
To determine the 25 industries that will grow the most over the next decade, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Bureau of Labor Statistics employment growth projections from 2020 to 2030. Industries were ranked based on their percentage increase in employment. The industries on the list are projected to grow their workforces between 21.9% and 85.7% by the end of the decade, or roughly a combined 1 million jobs by 2030.
Not all of the industries where jobs are expected to grow offer great salaries. For example, amusement parks are expected to add nearly 94,000 jobs to a total of 250,000 by the end of the decade, but they pay an average annual salary of only about $31,000.
Other fast-growing industries pay better but likely require at least a four-year degree, like computer systems design. The industry pays an annual average salary of more than $100,000 and is forecast to add more than a half-million jobs by 2030, a 23.7% increase.
Where else can we expect to see more jobs in this decade? The industries on this list are quite diverse and include non-automotive machinery repair and maintenance, motion picture video and sound recording, and support activities for mining.
Two industries are expected to add more than million positions each by the end of the decade: individual and family services and social assistance. Grantmaking, giving services, and social advocacy organizations are projected to add more than 500,000 jobs by 2030. (This is every state’s best hiring industry in 2022.)
Here are the fastest growing industries in America
Source: aPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
25. Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +21.9%
> Employment, 2020: 207,300
> Employment, 2030: 252,700
> Average annual salary: $57,750
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Source: Lacheev / iStock via Getty Images
24. Gambling industries (except casino hotels)
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +22.6%
> Employment, 2020: 80,500
> Employment, 2030: 98,700
> Average annual salary: $37,380
Source: LaylaBird / E+ via Getty Images
23. Medical and diagnostic laboratories
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +23.4%
> Employment, 2020: 279,000
> Employment, 2030: 344,200
> Average annual salary: $66,170
Source: EvgeniyShkolenko / iStock via Getty Images
22. Computer systems design and related services
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +23.7%
> Employment, 2020: 2,188,000
> Employment, 2030: 2,706,000
> Average annual salary: $104,680
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21. Accommodation
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +24.0%
> Employment, 2020: 1,522,100
> Employment, 2030: 1,887,800
> Average annual salary: $36,750
Source: Ridofranz / iStock via Getty Images
20. Grantmaking and giving services and social advocacy organizations
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +24.7%
> Employment, 2020: 411,400
> Employment, 2030: 513,100
> Average annual salary: $81,110
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Source: sanjeri / E+ via Getty Images
19. Home health care services
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +24.8%
> Employment, 2020: 1,492,400
> Employment, 2030: 1,861,900
> Average annual salary: $43,970
Source: Traimak_Ivan / iStock via Getty Images
18. Motor vehicle manufacturing
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +25.2%
> Employment, 2020: 187,000
> Employment, 2030: 234,200
> Average annual salary: $59,970
Source: LuckyBusiness / iStock
17. Personal and laundry services
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +25.8%
> Employment, 2020: 1,251,100
> Employment, 2030: 1,574,200
> Average annual salary: $37,220
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Source: FatCamera / Getty Images
16. Offices of other health practitioners
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +27.5%
> Employment, 2020: 917,700
> Employment, 2030: 1,170,000
> Average annual salary: $60,600
Source: Halfpoint / iStock via Getty Images
15. Social assistance
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +30.1%
> Employment, 2020: 3,939,300
> Employment, 2030: 5,126,100
> Average annual salary: $36,130
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Source: izusek / E+ via Getty Images
14. Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment rental and leasing
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +30.6%
> Employment, 2020: 158,200
> Employment, 2030: 206,600
> Average annual salary: $47,800
Source: AndreyPopov / iStock via Getty Images
13. Personal care services
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +33.0%
> Employment, 2020: 590,300
> Employment, 2030: 785,200
> Average annual salary: $36,550
Source: Daniel Balakov / iStock via Getty Images
12. Support activities for agriculture and forestry
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +33.6%
> Employment, 2020: 139,300
> Employment, 2030: 186,100
> Average annual salary: $35,700
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Source: nata_rass / iStock via Getty Images
11. Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +35.7%
> Employment, 2020: 1,300,100
> Employment, 2030: 1,764,300
> Average annual salary: $36,910
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
10. Transit and ground passenger transportation
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +36.0%
> Employment, 2020: 374,900
> Employment, 2030: 509,900
> Average annual salary: $41,560
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Source: SeventyFour / iStock via Getty Images
9. Support activities for mining
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +36.6%
> Employment, 2020: 258,400
> Employment, 2030: 353,100
> Average annual salary: $64,670
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Source: sturti / E+ via Getty Images
8. Individual and family services
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +39.0%
> Employment, 2020: 2,602,100
> Employment, 2030: 3,616,200
> Average annual salary: $36,370
Source: Dmytro Aksonov / E+ via Getty Images
7. Spectator sports
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +43.4%
> Employment, 2020: 112,800
> Employment, 2030: 161,800
> Average annual salary: $62,190
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Source: jenoche / iStock via Getty Images
6. Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +44.2%
> Employment, 2020: 138,400
> Employment, 2030: 199,600
> Average annual salary: $47,880
Source: Nagaiets / iStock via Getty Images
5. Performing arts companies
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +53.8%
> Employment, 2020: 76,800
> Employment, 2030: 118,100
> Average annual salary: $61,200
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Source: nata_rass / iStock via Getty Images
4. Amusement parks and arcades
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +60.2%
> Employment, 2020: 156,100
> Employment, 2030: 250,000
> Average annual salary: $31,410
Source: guruXOOX / iStock via Getty Images
3. Motion picture, video, and sound recording industries
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +62.0%
> Employment, 2020: 282,900
> Employment, 2030: 458,200
> Average annual salary: $85,220
Source: Brothers91 / E+ via Getty Images
2. Independent artists, writers, and performers
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +62.3%
> Employment, 2020: 40,600
> Employment, 2030: 65,900
> Average annual salary: $84,180
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Source: nicoletaionescu / iStock via Getty Images
1. Promoters of events, and agents and managers
> Projected employment growth, 2020 to 2030: +85.7%
> Employment, 2020: 113,800
> Employment, 2030: 211,300
> Average annual salary: $54,460
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