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 hottest career tracks for the current decade from 2006 to 2016 as revealed by the U.S. government’s own publications.* Many of these growing careers require some job training. But don’t worry—you’re in the right place! On EducationForCareers.com you’ll find information on many of America’s top colleges. You can easily compare programs and other features, and make the choice that’s right for you. 

 

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 37 percent from 2006 to 2016, much faster than average for all occupations.       

 

 

If you are a caregiver, you might consider training to become a personal and home care aide. These health industry professionals help people who are elderly, disabled, ill, and/or mentally disabled to live in their own homes or in residential care facilities instead of in health facilities or institutions. And check this out—employment of personal and home care aides is projected to grow by a whopping 51 percent between 2006 and 2016!

 

 

Computer software engineers design, develop, test, and evaluate the software and systems that make computers work. Over the 2006 to 2016 period, employment of computer software engineers is projected to increase by 38 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

 

 

Do you love animals? Veterinary technologists and technicians conduct clinical work in a private practice under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, and may perform medical tests and even treat and diagnose medical conditions and diseases in animals. Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians may grow up to 41 percent over the 2006-16 projection period—much faster than average for all occupations.

 

 

If you’re interested in a medical career, consider training to be a medical assistant. These valued health care professionals perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. As the health care industry expands there will be an increased need for all health care workers. Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 35 percent from 2006 to 2016!

 

 

The growing elderly population and the aging baby boom generation will create greater demand for mental health and substance abuse social workers, who assess and treat individuals with mental illness or substance abuse problems, including abuse of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. Employment of social workers is expected to increase by 22 percent during the 2006-16 decade, which is a much faster growth rate than the average for all occupations.

 

 

Here’s a hands-on career: skin care specialists, or estheticians, cleanse and beautify the skin by giving facials, full-body treatments, and head and neck massages, and even apply makeup. Employment of personal appearance workers will grow by 14 percent from 2006 to 2016—faster than the average.

 

 

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.

 

 

Pharmacy technicians assist licensed pharmacists to provide medication and health care products to customers. Technicians may help prepare prescriptions, including counting tablets and labeling bottles. Job prospects are good, and employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 32 percent from 2006 to 2016—much faster than the average for all occupations.

 

 

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 2006-16 projection period, with employment expected to grow by 29 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.