Some Like It Hot: A survey of hot and cold jobs plus some green
ones, for 2008
by Cathy Sims
“The wind Energy Industry Grows by 47% in a year” “Nearly
a third of new power-producing capacity added in 2007 came from solar
and wind power”.
The people that do the job forecasting trends use the news to help figure
out what lies ahead. So, for 2008, a perusal of the headlines points to
what this year’s hot jobs will be.
Headlines on Peak Oil and incentives for alternatives signal more jobs
to be created in renewable energy. News stories, and even presidential
debates centered on Web sites like YouTube, suggest online networking,
computer engineering and other tech skills will be in demand. There’s
increased news about the quest for better health care and better medicines.
Sometimes when there’s a major increase in one sector, there’s
a decrease somewhere else, and vice versa. The mortgage industry headlines,
for example, revealed massive layoffs throughout many financial institutions
including banks and real-estate companies, with many recruiters predicting
less jobs in this arena for the rest of 2008. Other related headlines
showed record foreclosures. The flip side is an increase of jobs in credit
repair and related services, and perhaps home improvements that can prove
to be cost-effective for cash flow, i.e., energy efficiency, or add value
for a quick home sale.
Jobs in the staple industries of technology, education, healthcare, and
business are here to stay most likely through the end of this millennium,
and will surge this year.
The burgeoning number of baby-boomers going for retirement will offset
the recession by leaving thousands of job openings. The replacement of
workers who leave a field permanently is expected to create more openings
than economic growth will this year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS).
Employment is expected to increase by 15.6 million jobs during the 2006-16
decade, according to the BLS. Almost all of this growth will occur in
the service-providing sector, which will account for 75 percent of all
jobs in 2016. Professional service occupations are projected to grow just
as quickly, accounting for more than six out of 10 new jobs created now
through 2016.
Following is a list of some hot careers, and some that have gone cold,
along with likely skills, degrees and certifications required to land
the job you want.
Hot Job: Clean Energy Practitioners With a 47 percent nationwide
increase in the wind energy industry making headlines, expect to see more
jobs throughout the Renewable energy sector. Jobs include installers,
technicians, marketers, engineers and manufacturers.
Cold Job: Chemical Producers A big employer in this arena, Dow
Chemical Co., recently announced 1,000 jobs will be cut and they will
close some of its plants. Oil prices are partly to blame.
Hot Job: Web Developer With the introduction of new devices like
the iPhone that network Web, video and mobile technology, expect to see
more demand for Web developers and computer graphic ad designers. Skills
in applications for mobile advertising and social networking with Web-based
tools like Facebook, which was heavily invested in by Microsoft, will
be highly sought after. Because the arena is new and mushrooming, Web
developers that acquire these new skills will be in big demand.
Hot Job: Ad Sales Professionals Those who are savvy with print
and online space, and have some know-how with mobile ad sales, are sure
to be in demand. More cell phone services plan to implement Web technology
along with ads into the phones.
Cold Job: Mortgage Industry Jobs These jobs and those directly
related, will be down again this year according to recruiters. Jobs in
industries that provide services to the mortgage and banking industry,
such as title search firms, law firms and companies that specialize in
mortgage and real estate securities, are on a down-turn.
Hot Job: Quality-Assurance Managers These include engineers that
actually test and oversee products to meet proper specifications and reduce
or eliminate hazardous substances in the end product. The recent headlines
attest to the fact that this position was lacking, (e.g., toys, lipsticks
and other cosmetics that were imported from China were found to contain
lead).
Hot Job: Marketing, Promotions and Public Relations Management positions
will be options to those who have a degree in communications and/or marketing.
With some personal experience and the ability to paint a picture with
words that can attract new customers, you’ll be a hot commodity.
Enrolling in an online MBA degree program will typically teach about effective
promotions. Graduates of marketing degree programs equipped with skills
in customer relationships are valued by nearly all companies.
Hot Job: Medical Assisting More people will become patients
this year, requiring doctors to have more medical assistants. And more
schools offer medical assisting programs online.
Hot Job: Computer Networking Specialist Busy companies
both large and small will seek the skills of those knowledgeable in Windows
Vista and/or Mac OS X. Certification holders in networking skills plus
a variety of experience with equipment from multiple vendors is a plus.
Hot Job: Teacher Because of the huge number of teachers
soon to retire, both public and private schools will be seeking qualified
educators this year. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree and state-accredited
teacher training, which can be done quicker through an Alternative Route
method offered through some of the community colleges. Many of the courses
can be completed online.
Hot Job: Software Programmer Talented game developers
will be sought out this year due, in part, to the fact that annual video
game sales surpassed box office receipts. This job typically requires
a software programming degree and the ability to write solid code. Publishers
are seeking talented men and women with degrees in software programming
that can work fast with creativity to get new games out on the market.
Hot Job: Educational Administrator Plans to increase
the number of school facilities nationwide points to the increase in positions
for education administrators. A master’s degree in education administration
will most likely be required, but a business manager with a bachelor’s
degree could add a new perspective to an essential service.
Hot Job: Graphic Designer A degree in graphic design
that includes Internet skills will give graduates the edge in landing
the growing number of jobs out there. Successful businesses require changes
in their Web sites, marketing material and ad campaigns on a regular basis.
They look for professionals who understand how to adapt and communicate
graphically.
Hot Job: Paralegal Job growth in this area is faster
than average. About seven out of 10 paralegals work for law firms while
others work for corporate legal departments and government agencies. Formally
trained paralegals with experience, a certificate, and/or a degree will
have the best job options.
Hot Job: Nursing Administrator Most people are aware
that nursing careers are hot. With an RN or especially a BSN, you’re
in a better position to get the job as supervisor or administrator, with
a better choice of schedules. It’s a health care “seller’s
market,” with the extra nursing school courses under your belt.
Hot Job: Accountant/Bookkeeper With an associate-level
accounting degree or higher, you can establish a career in this field.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires public companies and accounting firms
to manage complex accounting programs, thus creating more jobs in this
arena. Demand for in-house bookkeepers for small businesses is growing,
as the number of entrepreneurs steadily rises. This portends a strong
job outlook this year, and next year, and next ...
Green-Collar Jobs
According to some people, skilled blue-collar work and government jobs
offer a better quality of life than the white-collar jobs college grads
often hope to land. Now there’s the new Green-collar jobs to consider.
Many pioneers of this up-and-coming sector find the work quite satisfying
for a variety of reasons.
These new jobs are for those who have skills to straddle tradition and
innovation. Our oil-based economy now requires an energy-efficient renovation
to sustain our resources. Businesses now realize that it’s better
to be green for economic sustainability and to ensure there will be a
market at all.
Green Job: Eco Travel & Hospitality If you want to
go places, the tourism industry, the largest sector worldwide, has sprouted
a new green subset known as “Ecotourism” that is really taking
off. Workers with knowledge and commitment to sustainability are desired.
Green hotels are more popular, and as the owner takes simple steps to
be more sustainable, the guests learn as well. Jobs in ecotourism are
in management, operations and as tour guides. Check out International
Ecotourism Society, 202-347-9203, and Green Hotels Assoc., 713-789-8889.
Green Job: Sustainability Stewards/ Planning and Land Use
A growing number of municipalities want to reduce their carbon footprint,
and require city planning professionals to help do it. Wetlands management,
brownfields restoration, transportation and urban design are major considerations
for towns thinking about becoming carbon neutral.
Green Job: Green Architects These professionals can adapt
their skills, and acquire new ones to incorporate more green, energy efficiency
and renewables into urban living. Both homeowners and commercial builders
are now seeking professionals with the green touch.
Green Job: Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialists
With the urgency to connect transportation lines that are more sustainable
to life and work, these specialists will be in increasing demand. Check
with American Planning Association, 202-872-0611, and International City/
County Management Association, 202-289-4262.
Green Job: Complementary Health Care Surveys show 36
percent of adults in the U.S. use some form of alternative care, including
acupuncture, massage, homeopathy, naturopathic medicine, detoxification,
nutritional counseling, spinal manipulation, adjunctive cancer therapy
and yoga instructors. The need for skilled alternative medicine practitioners
is spread. Check out National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine, 888-644-6226.
Green Job: Clean Energy and Renewables Many are saying
that renewable energy careers have the potential to re-establish America’s
lost middle class. Renewable energy requires more manpower than fossil
fuel. Wind power creates about three jobs for every megawatt produced,
solar PV creates about seven jobs per megawatt. Solar and wind are now
multi-billion dollar industries that seek technically proficient and able-bodied
installers. They are in high demand, especially with certification. Marketing
and sales jobs in clean energy are also flourishing.
Green Job: Energy-Efficiency Professionals are now being
sought after. Some states, like New Jersey, are providing contractors
with all or part of the fees for the professional education required to
become certified as a Home Performance with EnergyStar auditor.
Additional resources: You’ll see more classes and courses, and perhaps an entire renewable energy school soon, to fill the growing demand. (see page 27 for online solar courses).
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