10 Top Jobs of 2008

August 14, 2008 on 12:21 pm | In Career | 1 Comment

What are the 10 top jobs of 2008? According to  the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs under the “service” and “professional” categories will have the fastest growth in terms of employment. This is  great news if you’re looking for a job in the service- or professional-oriented fields. Below are the 10 top jobs of 2008.

1. Network systems and data communications analysts. There were about 262,000 network systems and data communications analysts in 2006 and it is expected to reach 402,000 by 2016. The 53.4% growth rate makes this job the fastest growing job in the United States. This job requires a bachelor’s degree and salary range is $46,360 or more

2. Personal and home care aides. There were around 767,000 personal and home care aides in the country in 2006 and the figure is projected to reach 1,156,000 in the next 10 years. This is the second fastest growing job in the United States, with a growth rate of 50.6%. You have to undergo on-the-job training to be accepted in this job that offers a salary of less than $21,220.

3. Home health aides. The home health sector employed approximately 787,000 home health aides in 2006. The BLS expects this number to increase by 48.7% in the next 10 years (1,171,000 home health aides in 2016). This makes this job the third fastest growing job in the country. It offers a salary of not more than $21,220, similar to the amount personal and home care aides receive. This job also requires  on-the-job training.

4. Computer software engineers. Computer software engineering (applications) is the fourth fastest growing sector in the United States in terms of employment. Estimates show that there were about 507,000 computer software engineers in the country in 2006. The number is predicted to balloon to 733,000 in 2016. This means a percentage growth of 44.6%. Computer software engineers are paid $46,360 or more. You need to have a bachelor’s degree related to software engineering to get into the job.

5. Veterinary technicians and technologists. There were around 71,000 veterinary technicians and technologists in the United States 2006 and the figure is projected to reach 100,000 in the next 10 years. This is the fifth fastest growing job in the country, with a growth rate of 41%. You need to have an associate degree to be accepted in this job that offers a salary that ranges from $21,260 to $30,560.

6. Personal financial advisers. The personal finance consultancy industry employed approximately 176,000 personal financial advisers in 2006. The BLS expects this figure to increase by 41% in the next 10 years (or about 248,000 personal financial advisers in 2016). This job provides a salary of $46,360 or more. This job also requires a bachelor’s degree related to finance.

7. Makeup artists. There were about 2,000 makeup artists working in theatrical shows and other performances in the United States in 2006 and it is expected to reach 3,000 by 2016. The 39.8% growth rate makes this job the seventh fastest growing job in the country. This job, which pays between $30,630 and $46,300, requires at least postsecondary vocational award.

8. Medical assistants. Medical assistance is the eighth fastest growing sector in the United States in terms of employment. Estimates show that there were about 417,000 medical assistants in the country in 2006. The number is predicted to increase to 565,000 in 2016. This means a percentage growth of 35.4%. Computer software engineers are paid  $21,260 - $30,560. You need a moderate on-the-job training to get into the job.

9. Veterinarians. There were about 62,000 veterinarians in the country in 2006 and the number is projected to reach 84,000 in the next 10 years. This is the ninth fastest growing job in the United States, with a growth rate of 35%. You need to have a first professional degree to get into this job that offers a salary of $46,360 or more.

10. Behavioral disorder and substance abuse counselors. This sector employed approximately 83,000 counselors in 2006. The BLS expects this number to increase by 34.3% in the next 10 years (112,000 home health aides in 2016). This job rounds up the ten fastest growing jobs in the United States. It offers a salary of between $30,630 and $46,300 and requires applicants to have at least a bachelor’s degree.

10 Evolving Jobs

August 7, 2008 on 3:41 pm | In Career | No Comments

Job positions such as secretaries, operators, newspaper printers, steel manufacturers, etc.have been diminishing rapidly over the past decade. Many thanks to the ever-advancing computers, cell phones, voice recognition systems, and automated machines, numerous jobs that used to be considered integral  to the workforce are declining. Fortunately workers who hold such positions can shift their skills to similar jobs with more growth. This article identifies 10 evolving jobs, the decline rate of salary in each job (from 2006 to 2016), and their more dependable and secure alternatives.

Telephone operators. Nowadays, fewer and fewer people are using pay phones, collect calls, and directory assistance. Thanks to 411 call services and cell phones, the need for telephone operators has been reduced significantly. The salary is $$32,710, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Occupational Employment Statistics. And it is predicted to  decline by 45% by 2016.  The alternatives: desk clerks at hotels, motels or resorts, and customer service representatives.

Photographic process workers. The emergence of digital photography has enabled people to download, view, edit, and print photos on their own PCs, reducing the need for photographic process workers. Salary is $26,710 and is predicted to decline by 45%. The alternatives: Use your  photo processing knowledge as a printing machine operator or as a photographer.

File and order clerks.  The need to hire file and order clerks is reduced as organizations now use automated systems in placing orders. Digital storage and electronic retrieval of files reduce the role of clerks. Salary for file clerks is $32,190 and $28,130 for order clerks. Decline rate is 41% and 24%, respectively. The alternatives: traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks.

Bindery workers. The number of binding shops are dwindling since binding are now automated. What’s more, printing companies are now binding products in-house. Salary is $27,370 and the decline rate is 22%. The alternatives: While positions in production are decreasing, printing machine operators are declining the least.

Telemarketers. Due to the “don’t call” registry, the demand for telemarketers is dwindling. Salary is  $16.16/hour with a decline rate of 21%. The alternatives: data communications analysts or retail sales.

Pharmacy aides. Pharmacy aides will be eventually replaced by pharmacy technicians who will perform the tasks aides usually do, such as operating cash registers, stocking shelves, and answering phones, stocking shelves and operating cash registers. Salary is $20,950 and the decline rate is 11%. The alternative: Undergo training to become a pharmacy technician.

Floral designers. Limited opportunities for career growth and low starting pay cause many people to leave the job. In addition, traditional flower designers get a strong competition from Internet florists. Salary in this job is $23,040 with a decline rate of 9%. The alternatives: landscape architects (who also create designs with flowers) or try to work in a greenhouse or nursery.

TV and radio announcers. The advancement of technology and such media sources as syndicated TV programming and satellite radio mean less demand for TV and radio announcers. Salary is $36,120 with a decline rate of 8%. The alternatives: reporter, news analyst, interpreter or translator, correspondent.

Samplers and weighers, sorters, testers, inspectors. These jobs are evolving rapidly because many companies are now using self-monitoring production machines that alert inspectors and testers to defects they would usually detect mechanically. The salary is $27,148, and it is predicted to decline by 7% by 2016. The alternatives: agricultural, transportation, and construction and building inspectors.

Information processing workers and data entry keyers. The ubiquity of PCs enables people to contract out or perform their own word processing, reducing the need to hire full-time staff. Technologies such as voice recognition systems and bar-code scanners lessen the demandfor data entry workers. Salary is $29,430 with a decline rate of 7%. The alternatives: interpreters, translateros, and dispatchers.