Each year the US Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a list of jobs that they expect to see the greatest growth over the next ten years. They have recently published their data for 2019 so it seems like a good time to think not just about the jobs but also about the majors that are likely to be popular.
What does the data tell us?
Using the Careers Classification Index we can look at which sectors are expected to see that healthcare careers figure most prominently in the list (8) followed by manufacturing and production (5) and then social care and counseling (4). Careers linked to IT have three mentions in the list while engineering, personal support, and environmental work each have two.
When you look at the divide between what would be regarded as professional careers and non-professional careers the picture is a little different. Healthcare remains top of the list for the number of professional careers with both IT and Counselling just behind.
Which college majors will help me?
It is a feature of the higher education offered in the USA that at the undergraduate level study is often not directly linked to a particular career path and so many of the careers identified in the BLS data don’t require students to complete a particular undergraduate major. That said some majors can prepare you to either enter one of the professional careers on the list.
Health and Medical Majors
This has been one of the areas of study that has seen considerable growth in the last decade and is expected to continue to grow in the decade to come. Some of the most popular majors in this category would include Health Science and Medical Science. Careers in the BLS list that fall under this category would include Nursing, Doctors, Physician Assistants, and occupational therapists.
Engineering
Engineering is a wide discipline, in fact there are around 40 different majors that fall under the umbrella of engineering. Which major a student chooses will depend on their interests but popular choices include Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering.
Computer Science
Strictly speaking this should probably come under the general engineering heading but it is such an area of growth that I have chosen to give it it’s own section.
Computer Science has seen a phenomenal growth, with the growth of computers, AI, Machine Learning, data processing into all sectors of employment demand has grown for people with the skills to make the most of the opportunities they offer. A degree in computer science can lead you into a career in IT or increasingly a career in another area altogether where your skills will be put to good use. Careers highlighted in the BLS data include information security analysts, data scientists, and software designers.
Psychology and Counselling
Psychology has been one of the most popular majors for many years and often forms the foundation for students wanting to pursue careers in counseling. To work as a counselor most states will require practitioners to have continued their studies by completing a graduate course in the specific area of counseling they intend to work in. General counseling and counseling people who have addictions both feature in the BLS list with growths of between 20 – 25% over the next ten years.
Health and Physical Education
Traditionally majors focused on health wellness and exercise have not been as popular as they are now and according to the BLS data physical therapy and occupational therapy growth of around 30 – 35% over the next 10 years. Majors that would fall into this group include exercise science, kinesiology, and physical education.
The BLS data is a good snapshot of where growth in jobs is expected to happen over the next ten years and in this article, I have linked those professional careers to majors that could set you on your way to those careers. Most students applying to colleges in the United States continue to apply for liberal arts and science programs which provide a basis for any number of careers, including many of those on the BLS list.
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