Fastest Growing Careers in 2010

By Thomas Hauck

Let's face it--the economic news during the past few months has not been good. Unemployment is rising, and many blue-chip industries are struggling. If you are concerned about your future, you'll want to position yourself in a career with long-term prospects and the potential for growth. Believe it or not, according to the U.S. government, there are many career areas that are growing!

Here is a look at some of the fastest growing careers for the current decade from 2008 to 2018 as revealed by the U.S. government's own publications.* Many of these growing careers require job training or an advanced degree. How do you get the training you need? It's easier than you may imagine. A good place to start is with a reputable college and career school directory. Log on, enter your search terms (career field, degree required, or even geographical location), and identify four or five colleges that meet your needs. You can easily compare programs and other features, and make the choice that's right for you.

1. Biomedical engineers

Biomedical engineers combine their knowledge of biology and medicine with engineering to develop devices and procedures that provide medical and health-related solutions. Many biomedical engineers have a master's degree or even a doctorate, and perform research to develop products and systems including prostheses, artificial organs, medical instruments, and health management and care delivery systems.

2. Network systems and data communications

Do you enjoy working with computers? Network systems and data communications analysts design, test, and evaluate systems such as the Internet, corporate intranets, wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), and other data communications systems. This dynamic career is expected to grow 23 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than average for all occupations.

2. Personal and home health care aides

If you are a caregiver, you might consider training to become a personal and home care aide. With increasing numbers of people living longer, many elderly and disabled people need help living in residential care facilities or their own homes instead of in healthcare institutions. And check this out--employment of personal and home care aides is projected to grow by a whopping 50 percent between 2008 and 2018!

3. Financial examiners

Do you like to work with numbers? Do you want to help businesses and government agencies maintain high professional accounting standards? In this era of increasing federal and state financial regulations, expect employment growth both of financial examiners and of compliance officers with accounting and finance degrees.

4. Medical scientists (except epidemiologists)

Are you interested in helping to stamp out swine flu and other diseases? Medical scientists study human diseases in order to improve human health. To advance knowledge of human life processes and of organisms that affect human health, many medical scientists carry out biomedical research on bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents. For most prospective medical scientists, Ph.D. in a biological science is the minimum education required.

5. Physician assistants

Unlike medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks, physician assistants (PAs) provide therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive healthcare services under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. They generally have a college degree and a two-year PA program degree, but requirements vary by state. From 2008 to 2018, job opportunities for PAs are expected to grow by 39 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations.

6. Skin-care specialists

Here's a hands-on career! Skin-care specialists, or estheticians, help people to look and feel their best by cleansing and beautifying the skin. Estheticians give head and neck massages, facials, full-body treatments, and even apply makeup. Employment of personal appearance workers is expected to grow by 38 percent from 2008 to 2018--much faster than the average.

7. Biochemists and biophysicists

These growing career fields are closely related. Biochemists research the chemical composition of living organisms. Biophysicists research how physics, including mechanical and electrical energy, is connected to living cells and organisms. To perform research or work in development positions, biological scientists typically need to hold a Ph.D. in biology or one of its subfields. However, for those with a master's or bachelor's degree in the field other positions are available.

8. Athletic trainers

They're in demand everywhere from professional sports teams to local gyms, schools, and workplaces. Athletic trainers are trained to prevent, diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate bone and muscle illnesses and injuries. They should not be confused with personal trainers, who work with people to help them become fit. Athletic trainers usually have a bachelor's degree or a master's degree, and most states require certification.

9. Physical therapist assistants

Do you enjoy helping people lead healthier and happier lives? Under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants provide part of a patient's treatment including massages, exercises, electrical stimulation, hot and cold packs, traction, paraffin baths, and ultrasound. The projected rate of growth for this career? Twenty-nine percent, much faster than the average for all occupations.

10. Dental assistants

Here's a career to smile about! Dental assistants work under the supervision of dentists, and perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. According to the U.S. government, dental assisting is expected to be among the fastest-growing occupations over the 2008-18 projection period, with employment expected to grow by 36 percent.

When everyone else is worried about their career prospects, you could be training for a rewarding career in a field that is expected to grow.
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* U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Occupational Employment Projections to 2018."

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