Americans are living longer, more fulfilling lives. While this is great for AARP, it’s also a boon for a bunch of jobs in the health and wellness fields. Look for positions like nurse practitioner and dental hygienist to dominate job searches in 2017. Look, too, for some surprises. A chronic teaching shortage will boost demand for educators and may, finally, improve pay and working conditions. What you may be—and should be—searching for this year:
10. Audiologist (See Open Jobs)
The number of folks who can’t hear the TV as well or understand what people are saying is growing. Audiologists administer and interpret tests for patients for hearing aids or cochlear implants. The numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics come in loud and clear: Thousands of new jobs in coming years and a median salary already approaching $70,000.
9. Statistician (See Open Jobs)
What are the odds you’ll be working with numbers next year? Ask a statistician, who should be easy to find. These data wizzes for government, business, engineering and healthcare are at higher-than-average demand with salaries creeping towards $80,000, according to government data, no doubt assembled by some of their own.
8. Translator (See Open Jobs)
Keeping jobs in America may be Job One for the Trump Administration, but it’s still a global economy, and somebody has to help everybody understand each other. Enter the translator, who not only handles meetings and other voice interactions but also pores over documents so that everything is said just right. With so many businesses with overseas operations, a company’s bottom line could rely on the fact that nothing is lost in translation.
7. Petroleum Engineer (See Open Jobs)
Yes, gas prices are down and so is the oil industry. But the boom in fracking in the United States, plus signs OPEC will settle its internal differences and cut production to raise prices, brings hope for the energy field. Engineers make well over $100,000. Indeed, engineering in general—from biomedical engineers to civil engineers for anticipated infrastructure projects—is always a good career bet and consistently near the top of Glassdoor searches.
6. Market Analyst (See Open Jobs)
They know what you’re going to buy even before you do. Market research analysts examine the trends, collect the numbers, and formulate what services or products will be in demand, providing vital information for any marketing strategy. And right now the marketing formulas show the need for … more marketing formulas, with more than 100,000 analyst positions expected to open up in the next few years.
5. Home Care Aides (See Open Jobs)
With aging people wanting to stay home as long as possible, look for more home care aides. They give medication, monitor vital signs, and provided emotional support and intellectual stimulation. Despite the anticipated demand—estimates are more than 160,000 new jobs needed over the next few years—the pay still hovers around minimum wage. Skyrocketing costs of nursing homes and other facilities, though, could nudge up salaries.
4. Nurse Practitioner (See Open Jobs)
With Obamacare’s future uncertain and health care costs ever marching higher, patients may be seeing less of their doctor and more of nurse practitioners and affiliated professionals such as nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives. These “advanced practice registered nurses,” or APRNs, are expected to continue to take over many of the duties of traditionally done by higher-priced MDs. Government data calls for a much-faster-than-average job growth with salaries already cracking $100,000.
3. Dental Hygienist (See Open Jobs)
Your next trip to the dentist likely will find you opening up for a dental hygienist. With more than 68,000 new positions anticipated in coming years, this position will see not only growth but expanding duties. Well-trained hygienists will not only do the usual teeth cleaning but cosmetic procedures like bleaching and important early detection of serious problems, including cancer.
2. Physical Therapists and Assistants (See Open Jobs)
The most-searched job through much of 2016 on Glassdoor, and for good reason: Physical therapists and assistants will be much in demand over the next decade. Working in hospitals, homes and offices, physical therapists help patients with chronic conditions and injuries with their movement and pain. The related jobs of occupational therapists and assistants are also anticipated to enjoy big growth.
1. Teacher (See Open Jobs)
Don’t know much about history? Then teach math. A nationwide shortage of teachers, particularly in subjects like math and science, makes this one of the hottest jobs for 2017. In California alone, 75 percent of more than 200 districts report trouble filling teaching positions, with rural and low-income areas most in need. Of course, there’s a reason for the shortage: large class sizes, standardized tests, low pay, administrative interference. And Glassdoor shows only middle-of-the-road salary growth—so far. Maybe the demand will turn the tide.
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