Are Job Seekers Seeking the Right Jobs?

Watch the 60 Minutes segment “99 Weeks: When Unemployment Benefits Run Out,” and you will feel the pain of those seeking work. College-educated people who had great jobs are no longer employed. You would think that after 99 weeks, one would find something. But it’s just not that easy. Going from a job that earned $200,000 to one that is paid less than $10 an hour requires a total shake-up in lifestyle.

Being out of work for extended periods, puts the individual at a disadvantage. Skills are not being developed and with the changing economy and technology, many jobs will never come back. In the Wall Street Journal article “New Library Technologies Dispense with Librarians,” it explains how the library as we have known it may be a thing of the past–and with it the librarians that serviced it. Look what’s happening to the newspapers, printing businesses and other businesses impacted by technology. Entire professions are fading from the workplace. If your job can be performed by a computer or outsourced for a cheaper price, maybe it’s time to rethink the job you need to seek. It may not be the job you once had. Maybe it’s time for a career change.

So what are the jobs in demand? Maybe the right jobs are different jobs.

According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition:

Of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the economy, half are related to healthcare. Healthcare is experiencing rapid growth, due in large part to the aging of the baby-boom generation, which will require more medical care. In addition, some healthcare occupations will be in greater demand for other reasons. As healthcare costs continue to rise, work is increasingly being delegated to lower paid workers in order to cut costs. For example, tasks that were previously performed by doctors, nurses, dentists, or other healthcare professionals increasingly are being performed by physician assistants, medical assistants, dental hygienists, and physical therapist aides. In addition, patients increasingly are seeking home care as an alternative to costly stays in hospitals or residential care facilities, causing a significant increase in demand for home health aides. Although not classified as healthcare workers, personal and home care aides are being affected by this demand for home care as well.

According to the BLS report, occupations that are estimated to have the highest percentage of growth are (listed starting with the fastest growth):

• Biomedical engineers
• Network systems and data communications analysts
• Home health aides
• Personal and home care aides
• Financial examiners
• Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
• Physician assistants
• Skin care specialists
• Biochemists and biophysicists
• Athletic trainers
• Physical therapist aides
• Dental hygienists
• Veterinary technologists and technicians
• Dental assistants
• Computer software engineers, applications,
• Medical assistants
• Physical therapist assistants
• Veterinarians
• Self-enrichment education teachers
• Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation

As the report further explains:

Two of the fastest growing detailed occupations are in the computer specialist occupational group. Network systems and data communications analysts are projected to be the second-fastest-growing occupation in the economy. Demand for these workers will increase as organizations continue to upgrade their information technology capacity and incorporate the newest technologies. The growing reliance on wireless networks will result in a need for more network systems and data communications analysts as well. Computer applications software engineers also are expected to grow rapidly from 2008 to 2018. Expanding Internet technologies have spurred demand for these workers, who can develop Internet, intranet, and Web applications.

Developments from biotechnology research will continue to be used to create new medical technologies, treatments, and pharmaceuticals. As a result, demand for medical scientists and for biochemists and biophysicists will increase. However, although employment of biochemists and biophysicists is projected to grow rapidly, this corresponds to only 8,700 new jobs over the projection period. Increased medical research and demand for new medical technologies also will affect biomedical engineers. The aging of the population and a growing focus on health issues will drive demand for better medical devices and equipment designed by these workers. In fact, biomedical engineers are projected to be the fastest growing occupation in the economy. However, because of its small size, the occupation is projected to add only about 11,600 jobs.

Increasing financial regulations will spur employment growth both of financial examiners and of compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation.

Self-enrichment teachers and skin care specialists will experience growth as consumers become more concerned with self-improvement. Self-enrichment teachers are growing rapidly as more individuals seek additional training to make themselves more appealing to prospective employers. Skin care specialists will experience growth as consumers increasingly care about their personal appearance.

So what type of education is required?

Of the 20 fastest growing occupations, 12 are in the associate degree or higher category. Of the remaining 8, 6 are in an on-the-job training category, 1 is in the work experience in a related occupation category, and 1 is in the postsecondary vocational degree category. Eleven of these occupations earn at least $10,000 more than the National annual median wage, which was $32,390 as of May 2008. In fact, 9 of the occupations earned at least twice the National median in May 2008.

Seeking work and finding it may require a new view of oneself and a new direction. Rather than running into a wall that opens no doors, consider where you might have a better opportunity and what is a fit for you. Education may bring renewed opportunities and a chance to feel fulfilled through work. The right job may be a job you previously didn’t even consider.