Jobs in the information technology (IT) and health care and medical industries dominate the list of the fastest-growing occupations, according to a report by the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Of the top 25 fastest-growing occupations, only a few are not in the health care/medical or IT industries, according to the report. Among these jobs are forensic science technicians (14th on the list), preschool teachers (21) and post secondary teachers (23).
All of the jobs in the IT industry require a bachelor's degree, while a number of the healthcare positions require only short to moderate on-the-job training. Thirteen of the jobs on the list require a bachelor's degree or higher.
| 25 Fastest-Growing Occupations |
| |
|
Employment |
|
|
# |
Occupation |
2004 |
2014 |
Percent Change |
Education or Training |
| 1 |
Home health aides |
624,000 |
973,700 |
56% |
Short-term on-the-job training |
| 2 |
Network systems and data communications analysts |
231,300 |
357,500 |
55% |
Bachelor's degree |
| 3 |
Medical assistants |
387,100 |
588,600 |
52% |
Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| 4 |
Physician assistants |
62,000 |
92,700 |
50% |
Bachelor's degree |
| 5 |
Computer software engineers, applications |
459,800 |
682,200 |
48% |
Bachelor's degree |
| 6 |
Physical therapist assistants |
58,700 |
84,600 |
44% |
Associate degree |
| 7 |
Dental hygienists |
157,800 |
226,200 |
43% |
Associate degree |
| 8 |
Computer software engineers, systems software |
340,300 |
486,500 |
43% |
Bachelor's degree |
| 9 |
Dental assistants |
267,400 |
381,700 |
43% |
Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| 10 |
Personal and home care aides |
701,200 |
988,500 |
41% |
Short-term on-the-job training |
| 11 |
Network and computer systems administrators |
278,400 |
385,200 |
38% |
Bachelor's degree |
| 12 |
Database administrators |
104,400 |
144,300 |
38% |
Bachelor's degree |
| 13 |
Physical therapists |
154,500 |
211,300 |
37% |
Master's degree |
| 14 |
Forensic science technicians |
9,800 |
13,400 |
36% |
Associate degree |
| 15 |
Veterinary technologists and technicians |
60,000 |
81,200 |
35% |
Associate degree |
| 16 |
Diagnostic medical sonographers |
42,300 |
57,000 |
35% |
Associate degree |
| 17 |
Physical therapist aides |
42,800 |
57,500 |
34% |
Short-term on-the-job training |
| 18 |
Occupational therapist assistants |
21,300 |
28,600 |
34% |
Associate degree |
| 19 |
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists |
72,500 |
97,200 |
34% |
Doctoral degree |
| 20 |
Occupational therapists |
92,100 |
123,100 |
34% |
Master's degree |
| 21 |
Preschool teachers, except special education |
430,700 |
573,300 |
33% |
Postsecondary vocational award |
| 22 |
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians |
44,900 |
59,500 |
33% |
Associate degree |
| 23 |
Postsecondary teachers |
1,628,200 |
2,152,600 |
32% |
Doctoral degree |
| 24 |
Hydrologists |
8,000 |
10,600 |
32% |
Master's degree |
| 25 |
Computer systems analysts |
486,500 |
639,500 |
31% |
Bachelor's degree |