Career Guidance 

Growing Economic Sectors

The 21st century is the digital age, the information age, and needs high-tech job majors: computer and information specialists, artificial intelligence engineers, cloud engineers, full stack engineers, software developers, data scientists, and cybersecurity specialists are all fields in demand. While engineering in general and computer and information systems are both in the top 20 current majors, specializing in one of these other majors, such as cloud engineering or cybersecurity, could give an extra edge in the job market.

The field of healthcare is also booming—nurses, health system managers, behavioral health specialists, clinical research assistants, data specialists and pharmacists are all in demand. The pandemic led many long-time healthcare workers to leave their jobs, burned out from overwork or unsure about the vaccine requirements and other rules. In addition, healthcare has grown to represent a larger and larger share of the economy. If this reversed, so could employment demand. Social workers—and specialists in dementia, disabilities, autism, therapists—are another fast-growing field.

Business remains a strong employer for college graduates—accountants, auditors, sales representatives, finance specialists, customer service representatives, and logistics and warehouse managers are all in demand. There is strong overlap with both health care and high-tech jobs as the business major may apply managerial, administrative, financial, or budgetary knowledge to ensure either a computer chip maker or a retirement home operates smoothly and stays in the black.

Science and engineering majors can find employment in many fields—manufacturing, sales, business, research—all these fields need personnel with technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities.

All fields will need to fill administrative positions: human resources, marketing, communication, logistics, and management. Degrees in English, sociology, history, interpersonal communications, journalism can give the necessary skills to take on a variety of jobs that require the ability to organize, think, communicate, delegate, or inspire the necessary teams that comprise any successful endeavor, but demand and starting salaries are lower.

Future Job Market

Jobs in high demand now will entice many to obtain degrees in these fields which will increase the pool of workers in those fields. Over time, this could lead to increased competition and lower average pay. Consider those fields for which there is not a large demand now, but the current population of workers is nearing retirement, for example farmers.

The average age of farmers has been getting older and older as young people have not been inclined to study farming or agriculture. No matter how many gadgets are developed and used, people still need to eat. As older farmers retire, there will be a need for a new generation of food producers: agricultural scientists, farm managers, researchers, soil experts, and savvy professionals who can anticipate the trends and needs of the populace. While agriculture may not seem a booming field now, in 10–15 years it could be. A famous investor has made this point by saying that at present stockbrokers are driving fancy cars and farmers are struggling so survive. Someday the farmers will be driving fancy cars (or trucks) and the brokers will be looking for jobs. This is called contrary thinking. Our economy never stays the same. Trying to look beyond today can lead to better long-term results.