6 Careers on the Rise in 2012

As of December 2011, the unemployment rate in the US is 8.5%. Yes, the job market is improving—slowly. That being said, the Labor Department has identified six careers on the rise in 2012.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal in July 2011, throughout the duration of the recession, “health-care employment had been robust.” In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care and social assistance added the 315,000 jobs in 2011, the most out of any industry.Accountants — April is tax season, so accountants are in high demand. Yet, throughout the year accountants are used by large corporations “to prepare, analyze, and verify financial documents.” In fact, the Labor Department has projected that “more than 297,000 accounting position will become available between 2008 and 2018.”

Register Nurses — The Labor Department is projecting that “an estimated 582,000 nursing jobs will need to be filled between 2008 and 2018.” The increase in demand is thanks to “the profession’s exhaustive number of specializations, which include variances in work setting, medical treatment type, particular diseases, and particular organs.” Besides, with the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the need for RNs will continue to rise even faster.

Computer Systems Analysts — It is projected that between 2008-2018, there could be “as many as 108,000 computer system analyst openings.” Due to the continued digitization of our society, there is a need for “well-trained, information technology professionals” who can act as problem solvers including the “building, matching, or fixing a computer system to meet the needs of their clients.”

Social Workers — Of the 103,000 new social worker positions expected between 2008-2018, approximately 58,000 will be health care positions; social workers who specialize in medical and public health. With implementation of health care reform, social workers are in high demand; they will be providing guidance to families and elderly persons without health insurance who will start receiving once the reform is fully implemented.

Dental Hygienists — There is more to the job of a dental hygienist beyond cleaning teeth. Hygienists “strive to help educate patients about the best practices for brushing and flossing their teeth and gums. In fact by 2018, the Labor Department anticipates there to be more than 62,000 openings in this profession.

Sales Managers and Representatives — The bottom line for sales managers and representatives is to bring in “new customers to meet and improve their bottom line,” in addition to maintaining quality relationships with their clients.

To learn more about the Labor Department’s employment projections, read its “Overview of the 2008-18 Projections.”

Are there any professions that you think should not be on this list? If so, what profession would you replace it/them with?