best degrees for a career change
Considering a Career Change?
In 2006, according to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Statistics, there were approximately 151 million employment (filled positions) and job openings. In 2016, it is estimated that number will increase by around 15 million jobs to 166 million positions. So if you will soon be entering the workforce and are considering a career, or if you are currently in the workforce but ready for a change, you should know where the job openings will be and which careers will be getting the lions share of the new jobs.
Which Degrees Provide the Best Chance for Employment in the Future?
We thought the best way to answer this question is to find out what careers are forecasted to have the greatest number of job openings five to ten years in to the future. If you're looking to go back to school with the primary motivation of enhancing your career opportunities through an eventual career change, then pay attention. Below are the top ten graduate degrees to consider, based on the number of forecasted job openings five to ten years from now. Keep in mind, these are not necessarily the degrees that will lead to the highest-paying careers; but, rather the degrees that lead to careers which are expected to have the greatest number of available jobs in the future.
Top Ten Career Degrees
1. Education & Teaching
2. Nursing
3. Criminal Justice
4. Healthcare
5. Business School
6. Legal & Paralegal
7. Human Services
8. Religious Studies
9. Engineering
10. Science & Math
Source - US Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics
Career-Specific Opportunities
Want some numbers to support the list above? Over the next ten years, the Department of Labor is forecasting there will be an additional 725,000 job openings for teachers and educators - no wonder Teaching Degrees take the #1 spot on the list! Of those jobs nearly half are available for post-secondary (after high school) teaching positions. The forecasts show 587,000 new jobs for Registered Nurses (#2), 377,000 new jobs for Accountants and Salespersons (#5), and 137,000 new jobs for Lawyers and Paralegals (#6). With a forecasted 20%+ growth in demand for truck drivers, software engineers, network administrators, pharmacists, dental hygienists, and mental health workers, among many others, now is the time to start working towards the degree that you can use to start one of these careers.
How can you take advantage of these opportunities?
If you've got a career in one of these fields, then you're off to a great start. You want to consider investing in your future with an advanced degree (Masters, PhD, Certificate) that will make you stronger in the field and more attractive to prospective employers. If you are not in one of the fields, and thinking about a career change, now is the time to make that first move. Look at the available Associate, Bachelors or Masters degrees in your chosen field and find a school and program that works for your schedule and your budget.
In 2006, according to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Statistics, there were approximately 151 million employment (filled positions) and job openings. In 2016, it is estimated that number will increase by around 15 million jobs to 166 million positions. So if you will soon be entering the workforce and are considering a career, or if you are currently in the workforce but ready for a change, you should know where the job openings will be and which careers will be getting the lions share of the new jobs.
Which Degrees Provide the Best Chance for Employment in the Future?
We thought the best way to answer this question is to find out what careers are forecasted to have the greatest number of job openings five to ten years in to the future. If you're looking to go back to school with the primary motivation of enhancing your career opportunities through an eventual career change, then pay attention. Below are the top ten graduate degrees to consider, based on the number of forecasted job openings five to ten years from now. Keep in mind, these are not necessarily the degrees that will lead to the highest-paying careers; but, rather the degrees that lead to careers which are expected to have the greatest number of available jobs in the future.
Top Ten Career Degrees
1. Education & Teaching
2. Nursing
3. Criminal Justice
4. Healthcare
5. Business School
6. Legal & Paralegal
7. Human Services
8. Religious Studies
9. Engineering
10. Science & Math
Source - US Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics
Career-Specific Opportunities
Want some numbers to support the list above? Over the next ten years, the Department of Labor is forecasting there will be an additional 725,000 job openings for teachers and educators - no wonder Teaching Degrees take the #1 spot on the list! Of those jobs nearly half are available for post-secondary (after high school) teaching positions. The forecasts show 587,000 new jobs for Registered Nurses (#2), 377,000 new jobs for Accountants and Salespersons (#5), and 137,000 new jobs for Lawyers and Paralegals (#6). With a forecasted 20%+ growth in demand for truck drivers, software engineers, network administrators, pharmacists, dental hygienists, and mental health workers, among many others, now is the time to start working towards the degree that you can use to start one of these careers.
How can you take advantage of these opportunities?
If you've got a career in one of these fields, then you're off to a great start. You want to consider investing in your future with an advanced degree (Masters, PhD, Certificate) that will make you stronger in the field and more attractive to prospective employers. If you are not in one of the fields, and thinking about a career change, now is the time to make that first move. Look at the available Associate, Bachelors or Masters degrees in your chosen field and find a school and program that works for your schedule and your budget.