The 100 Fastest Growing Jobs of 2016

The fastest growing jobs list is led by the wind energy and public health industries, with home health aides and commercial divers making the top 10.

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A recent report studying the latest state job data and federal labor projections has determined the United States’ 100 fastest growing jobs.

According to the researchers at Zippia, a career resource company, the jobs indicate industry trends and national priorities. But on a more practical level, the fastest growing jobs listed can also be considered reliably secure because they are here to stay, said the report authors.

The list is something civic leaders should consider with workforce development and education initiatives:

We were surprised to see that the fastest growing jobs weren’t all in technology, but spanned technology and medicine. To us, that is indicative of a wide array of job options for anyone who is willing to get an advanced degree. It also shows that a Bachelor’s Degree just isn’t going to cut it for millennials today,” said Kristy Crane, Zippia’s public relations manager.

The top 100 fastest growing professions are:

  1. Wind Turbine Service Technicians
  2. Occupational Therapy Assistants
  3. Physical Therapist Assistants
  4. Physical Therapist Aides
  5. Home Health Aides
  6. Commercial Divers
  7. Nurse Practitioners
  8. Physical Therapists
  9. Statisticians
  10. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
  11. Occupational Therapy Aides
  12. Physician Assistants
  13. Operations Research Analysts
  14. Personal Financial Advisors
  15. Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
  16. Genetic Counselors
  17. Interpreters and Translators
  18. Audiologists
  19. Hearing Aid Specialists
  20. Optometrists
  21. Occupational Therapists
  22. Web Developers
  23. Forensic Science Technicians
  24. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
  25. Personal Care Aides
  26. Solar Photovoltaic Installers
  27. Prosthodontists
  28. Phlebotomists
  29. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
  30. Nurse Midwives
  31. Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
  32. Opticians, Dispensing
  33. Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
  34. Medical Assistants
  35. Therapists, All Other
  36. Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
  37. Biomedical Engineers
  38. Helpers–Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
  39. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
  40. Bicycle Repairers
  41. Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
  42. Law Teachers, Postsecondary
  43. Orthotists and Prosthetists
  44. Massage Therapists
  45. Speech-Language Pathologists
  46. Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
  47. Athletic Trainers
  48. Anesthesiologists
  49. Computer Systems Analysts
  50. Medical Secretaries
  51. Mathematicians
  52. Surgeons
  53. Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists
  54. Mental Health Counselors
  55. Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
  56. Nurse Anesthetists
  57. Healthcare Social Workers
  58. Insulation Workers, Mechanical
  59. Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
  60. Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic
  61. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
  62. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
  63. Software Developers, Applications
  64. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
  65. Dental Hygienists
  66. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
  67. Brickmasons and Blockmasons
  68. Dental Assistants
  69. Orthodontists
  70. Helpers–Electricians
  71. Dentists, General
  72. Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  73. Actuaries
  74. Information Security Analysts
  75. Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
  76. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
  77. Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
  78. Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  79. Film and Video Editors
  80. Nursing Assistants
  81. Chiropractors
  82. Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic
  83. Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other
  84. Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other
  85. Medical and Health Services Managers
  86. Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
  87. Dietitians and Nutritionists
  88. Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
  89. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
  90. Pile-Driver Operators
  91. Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
  92. Registered Nurses
  93. Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
  94. Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
  95. Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
  96. Computer and Information Systems Managers
  97. Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
  98. Self-Enrichment Education Teachers
  99. Credit Counselors
  100. Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Fastest Growing Jobs Methodology

Zippia’s data crunching relied on gathering all the states’ departments of labor data and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent occupation growth projections. The Bureau last compiled that data in 2014, with projections through 2024.

The researchers selected the 818 occupations that the Bureau projects will have at least 1,000 workers in 2024. Next, Zippia ranked each occupation based on its expected job growth from 2016 to 2024.

Windtech is Fastest Growing Job in America

The results put wind turbine service techs at the number one spot. Windtechs, as they are also known, install, maintain and repair wind turbines. Their annual median wage, according to the Bureau’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, is more than $51,000 per year.

Interestingly, the sixth fastest growing career -- commercial diver -- may also be related to global increases in offshore wind projects. Although Zippia said they could not confirm this correlation from their study, and the Bureau’s handbook did not have specific information about the profession, the federal labor department indicates the commercial diver occupation has a much higher than average growth rate. Note that commercial diving excludes diving for fisheries-related work, athletics/sports and public safety, the Bureau noted. Further, O-NetCenter, a careers resource center supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, indicates that the top industries driving commercial divers’ jobs are construction and self-employment.

According to cDiver.net, the global energy market research firm Douglas-Westwood reported in 2010 an increased need for commercial divers to support European wind energy projects. Today, the company is forecasting global investments of €200 billion in offshore wind energy projects through 2025. Again this past February, cDiver.net alerted commercial divers to work opportunities in the wind sector, in addition to decommissioning of older North Sea fossil fuel rigs. The site reported that 2015 was the wind industry’s busiest year with numerous new offshore farms in construction or planning phases, and then pointed readers to where they could search work opportunities.

Read the original fastest growing jobs story on Zippia’s website.

Andrea Fox is Editor of Gov1.com and Senior Editor at Lexipol. She is based in Massachusetts.

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