One of the first questions asked when meeting someone new is often, “What do you do for a living?” Or when you introduce a new boyfriend or girlfriend to your family and friends you might say, “This is so and so, they work as an accountant… for some random company.” A large portion of the population defines their identity by what they get paid to do.
With the Great Resignation under way, it is clear to see that millions of people are unhappy with their current job. In fact, 85% of people do not feel actively engaged in their work according to a poll conducted by Gallup in 2017. Life is too short to be unhappy in a place where we spend almost a quarter of our time each week, or more!
There are thousands of jobs and career paths out there. But, trying to sort out which one is the right fit for you can be incredibly challenging and overwhelming! According to the National Center for Education Statistics, who studied 25,000 college students (BPS:12/14), almost a third of all those students ended up changing their majors within the first three years of college. And taking it one step further, almost 10% of them changed their major more than once during that same time frame.
These are some of the most common reasons for changing career paths –
- Lack of potential job opportunities
- Low pay and lack of room for advancement
- Not evaluating all career options before jumping in
- Pressure from family members to pursue a specific career
It’s never too late to go after your dream job or move into a higher paying field with better opportunities! So, let’s take a look at the different career areas and what they might be able to offer you!
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources revolves around producing and developing agricultural commodities and resources like crops, livestock, and food products. If you like working with animals and wildlife or just getting your hands dirty, this could be the area for you! Careers span from Farmers to Food Scientists to Conservation Workers.
- This area employs around 3,067,000 people, about 2% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 2.8%.
- The mean wage is $29.15 an hour or $47,418 annually.
Architecture & Construction revolves around designing and building the roads, skyscrapers, and structures we use almost every single day. It ranges from designing brand new buildings to demolishing or renovating old structures. Think about building a bridge or constructing a new home, the electrical, plumbing, welding and more, all require specialized skills and tools to get the job done right!
- This area employs around 10,035,600 people, about 6.5% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 4.7%.
- The mean wage is $26.47 an hour or $55,063 annually.
Arts, Media & Communication revolves around entertaining audiences whether it’s behind the scenes or up on stage. Maybe you dream of singing in a stadium packed with thousands of people or you want to share the evening weather report, the artistic field has endless possibilities. Careers span from Dancers to Artists to News Reporters.
- This area employs around 8,252,000 people, about 5.3% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 10%.
- The mean wage is $31.74 an hour or $66,030 annually.
Business & Administration revolves around keeping a business up and running. It focuses on administrative tasks like maintaining employee records, ensuring paychecks are on time, and providing organizational development. Careers span from CEOs to Supply Chain Managers to Onboarding Specialists.
- This area employs around 12,993,600 people, about 8.5% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 3%.
- The mean wage is about $31.99 an hour or $66,547 annually.
Education & Training revolves around guiding, teaching, and influencing students and people in general. Careers span from Librarians to Kindergarten Teachers to the University Dean. Imagine being able to make an impact in someone’s life by helping them discover a passion or build new skills.
- This area employs around 9,405,200 people, about 6.1% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 13%.
- The mean wage is about $37.30 an hour or $77,586 annually.
Finance revolves around managing financial assets and tracking financial records. You can manage a million-dollar portfolio or work with people in debt to get them living on a budget. Careers span from Loan Officers to Accountants to Investment Fund Managers.
- This area employs around 4,720,200 people, about 3.1% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 6.1%.
- The mean wage is about $33.17 an hour or $69,003 annually.
Government & Public Service revolves around performing city, state, and national government functions like regulation and development planning. This allows for standards with electrical work and the construction of new buildings all the way to a system for tracking marriage licenses. Careers span from Governors to Traffic Technicians to Compliance Officers.
- This area employs around 6,894,300 people, about 4.5% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 1.9%.
- The mean wage is about $31.43 an hour or $65,370 annually.
Health Care & Social Service revolves around the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, illnesses, and injuries. Pathways in this field include researching diseases, preventing illnesses, and treating patients in a hospital, community clinics, nursing homes and in-home health care. Healthcare expands beyond the hospital room to the military, emergency services, and the sports & entertainment industries. Careers span from Nurses to Physical Therapists to Radiologists.
- This area employs around 26,693,900 people, about 17.4% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 13.7%.
- The mean wage is about $45.00 an hour or $93,604 annually.
Hospitality & Tourism revolves around helping others enjoy the good things in life! From cooking in a restaurant to running a ski resort, this area is all about providing entertainment and vacations to everyday people. Careers span from Bartenders to Travel Guides to Hotel Managers.
- This area employs around 9,583,000 people, about 6.2% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 3.1%.
- The mean wage is about $17.92 an hour or $37,273 annually.
Human Services revolves around helping individuals and communities to improve their overall quality of life! You could provide counseling, manage a funeral home, or teach yoga at a local gym. Careers span from Social and Human Service Assistants to Hairdressers and Cosmetologists to Rehabilitation Counselors.
- This area employs around 4,694,600 people, about 3.1% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 4.8%.
- The mean wage is about $23.69 an hour or $49,269 annually.
Information Technology revolves around developing software, apps, and processing systems that improves technology and how we can use it. Careers span from Applications Software Developers to Video Game Designers to Information Security Analysts. You could make a career out of designing new phone apps or fighting to keep people’s information protected from hackers.
- This area employs around 1,246,900 people, about 0.80% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 9.9%.
- The mean wage is about $42.91 an hour or $89,262 annually.
Law & Public Safety revolves around protecting the public, administering legal justice and maintaining public order and safety. You can be your version of a superhero by catching car thieves or standing up for victims from the prosecutors table in the court room. Careers span from Lawyers to Correctional Officers to Fish and Game Wardens.
- This area employs around 5,423,900 people, about 3.5% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 3.2%.
- The mean wage is about $30.70 an hour or $63,846 annually.
Manufacturing & Production revolves around processing materials and creating new products like clothes, plastics and machines. You could find creative ways to accomplish repetitive tasks or faster ways to recycle plastic into something new! Careers span from Electrical Engineering Technologists to Gas Plant Operators to Robotic Technicians.
- This area employs around 15,766,800 people, about 10.3% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 2.9%.
- The mean wage is about $22.59 an hour or $46,981 annually.
Marketing & Sales revolves around selling goods, products, and services. Marketing is all about finding what people are looking for and then advertising and promoting those products and services directly to them. Careers span from Advertising Sales Agents to Market Research Analysts to Product Promoters.
- This area employs around 3,374,800 people, about 2.2% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 8.2%.
- The mean wage is about $33.97 an hour or $70,667 annually.
Military revolves around protecting the country’s interests and its citizens. There’s a lot more than just going to war when serving in the Armed Forces. Careers span from Cooks to Combat Medics to Helicopter Mechanics.
- This area employs around 1,331,976 people on Active Duty, about 0.90% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set stay about the same.
- The mean wage is about $20.77 an hour or $43,199 annually.
Science & Engineering revolves around researching, developing and designing products and systems that might prevent diseases, build better infrastructure, or create cleaner energy sources. Careers span from Astronomers to Mathematicians to Nuclear Engineers.
- This area employs around 3,787,900 people, about 2.5% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 8.7%.
- The mean wage is about $47.61 an hour or $99,021 annually.
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics revolves around the distribution and movement of goods and products to the consumers. Avenues of transportation can be on cargo planes, trains, boats, etc. If you love the freedom of the open road and aren’t scared of tight corners, this could me your road to retirement. Careers span from Delivery Drivers to Mechanics to Pilots.
- This area employs around 19,533,300 people, about 12.7% of the entire workforce.
- By 2030, the projected number of jobs is set to increase by about 6.9%.
- The mean wage is about $27.26 an hour or $56,702 annually.
Before jumping on a new adventure, make sure to weigh the pro’s and con’s like pay, potential job openings, and your overall satisfaction in the new career field. Evaluate your life plan and make sure to look at your long-term goals before switching careers. You don’t want to rush in and regret changing things up. But sometimes, change is the best thing to do!
© EuduringFinances, 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Resources:
https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm
https://www.bls.gov/oes/2020/may/oes_nat.htm
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018434.pdf
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020239rev.pdf
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