Chicago — Nov. 7
Job growth in the United States from 2013 through 2017 is projected to grow at a rate slightly faster than the preceding post-recession years. But for certain occupations and metropolitan areas, the outlook is much brighter.
A new report from CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists International, or EMSI, explores projections over a five-year period by occupation, wage group and education level for the U.S. and the 52 largest metropolitan areas.
The U.S. workforce is projected to grow 4.4 percent from 2013 to 2017 — faster than the 2009-2013 period but still down from the pre-recession 2003-2007 period.
At 5 percent, high-wage occupations — those that pay $21.14 per hour and above — are expected to grow faster than low-wage and medium-wage occupations by 4.7 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively. Moreover, 75 percent of the 165 occupations expected to lose jobs nationally are in the middle wage category.
Occupations requiring college degrees are growing significantly faster than those that don’t. Associate degree and master’s degree occupations are each projected to grow 8 percent, while jobs requiring short-term, on-the-job training trail at 4 percent. Bachelor’s degree jobs are projected to grow 6 percent.
Additionally, 23 of the 52 largest metro areas will outpace the projected national rate of job growth, led by three in Texas (Austin, Houston and San Antonio); Raleigh, N.C., and Phoenix. Washington, D.C., is poised to have the largest share of new jobs coming from the high-wage sector, but San Antonio is expected to have the fastest rate of high-wage growth.
The following, adapted from the report, spotlights the fastest-growing occupations that are projected to see at least 8 percent growth and 30,000 jobs added from 2013 through 2017.
• Personal Care and Home Health Aides
• Market Research Analysts & Marketing Specialists
• Medical Secretaries
• Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics
• Software Developers (Systems & Applications)
• Medical Assistants
• Registered Nurses
• Network & Computer Systems Administrators
• Pharmacy Technicians
• Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
• Social & Human Service Assistants
• Computer Systems Analysts
• Management Analysts
• Cooks, Restaurant
• Insurance Sales Agents
• Nursing Assistants
• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
• Combined Food Prep & Serving, Incl. Fast Food
• Receptionists and Information Clerks
Source: CareerBuilder
