Career Advice

While some people take their time choosing a job or career based on their passions or goals, others just want to know where they can get a job and when. During the economic downturn it was difficult to be picky, but now that things are looking up, the abundance of jobs from which to choose will continue to get better with each passing year.

Total employment is expected to increase by 15.3 million jobs during the 2008-18 decade, according to the most recent employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job openings from replacement needs (when workers retire or otherwise leave their jobs) are projected to be more than double the number of openings due to economic growth.

Interested in getting in on the new job action? Here are the 30 jobs that will add the most workers in 2008-2018, according to the BLS.

1. Registered nurses
2008 employment: 2,619,000
2018 employment: 3,200,000
Minimum education or training: Associate degree

2. Home health aides
2008 employment: 922,000
2018 employment: 1,383,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

3. Customer service representatives
2008 employment: 2,252,000
2018 employment: 2,652,000
Minimum education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

4. Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
2008 employment: 2,702,000
2018 employment: 3,096,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

5. Personal and home care aides
2008 employment: 817,000
2018 employment: 1,193,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

6. Retail salespersons
2008 employment: 4,489,000
2018 employment: 4,864,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

7. Office clerks, general
2008 employment: 3,024,000
2018 employment: 3,383,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

8. Accountants and auditors
2008 employment: 1,291,000
2018 employment: 1,570,000
Minimum education or training: Bachelor's degree

9. Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants
2008 employment: 1,470,000
2018 employment: 1,746,000
Minimum education or training: Postsecondary vocational award

10. Postsecondary teachers
2008 employment: 1,699,000
2018 employment: 1,956,000
Minimum education or training: Doctoral degree

11. Construction laborers
2008 employment: 1,249,000
2018 employment: 1,505,000
Minimum education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

12. Elementary school teachers, except special education
2008 employment: 1,550,000
2018 employment: 1,794,000
Minimum education or training: Bachelor's degree

13. Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer
2008 employment: 1,798,000
2018 employment: 2,031,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

14. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
2008 employment: 1,206,000
2018 employment: 1,423,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

15. Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks
2008 employment: 2,064,000
2018 employment: 2,276,000
Minimum education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

16. Executive secretaries and administrative assistants
2008 employment: 1,594,000
2018 employment: 1,799,000
Minimum education or training: Work experience in a related occupation

17. Management analysts
2008 employment: 747,000
2018 employment: 925,000
Minimum education or training: Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience

18. Computer applications software engineers
2008 employment: 515,000
2018 employment: 690,000
Minimum education or training: Bachelor's degree

19. Receptionists and information clerks
2008 employment: 1,139,000
2018 employment: 1,312,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

20. Carpenters
2008 employment: 1,285,000
2018 employment: 1,450,000
Minimum education or training: Long-term on-the-job training

21. Medical assistants
2008 employment: 484,000
2018 employment: 648,000
Minimum education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

22. First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers
2008 employment: 1,457,000
2018 employment: 1,618,000
Minimum education or training: Work experience in a related occupation

23. Network systems and data communications analysts
2008 employment: 292,000
2018 employment: 448,000
Minimum education or training: Bachelor's degree

24. Licensed practical and vocational nurses
2008 employment: 754,000
2018 employment: 909,000
Minimum education or training: Postsecondary vocational award

25. Security guards
2008 employment: 1,077,000
2018 employment: 1,229,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

26. Waiters and waitresses
2008 employment: 2,382,000
2018 employment: 2,533,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

27. Maintenance and repair workers
2008 employment: 1,361,000
2018 employment: 1,509,000
Minimum education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

28. Physicians and surgeons
2008 employment: 661,000
2018 employment: 806,000
Minimum education or training: First professional degree

29. Child-care workers
2008 employment: 1,302,000
2018 employment: 1,444,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

30. Teacher assistants
2008 employment: 1,313,000
2018 employment: 1,448,000
Minimum education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

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