What Are The Jobs of The Future For Our Kids Today?

Every parent dreams of their child’s future and what they’ll decide to become. Will they be a doctor, a lawyer, or a teacher? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment is projected to grow by 8.4 million jobs from 2018 to 2028. With technological advancements and environmental changes, the world today’s children will enter as adults will look different than anything seen before, so how can parents help them prepare? 

Is a College Degree Necessary?

Student loan debt has jumped to over $1.4 trillion, with the average student loan at $35,000. These numbers are one of the reasons that trade careers are becoming popular again. Two of the fastest-growing jobs are new to the skilled trades and come from a growing emphasis on environmental changes. 

Future Job Opportunities Saving The Environment

Solar photovoltaic installers and wind turbine service technicians assemble, install, and maintain solar panels and wind turbines. Both careers are expected to grow at a rate of 60% in the next ten years. These jobs are commonly located outdoors or in confined spaces, but this well-paid opportunity will help your child’s wallet and the planet. 

Healthcare Continues to Dominate

A majority of the jobs with growing demand remain in the healthcare field. Thanks to an aging population, these continue to be an option for anyone looking to make a difference in people’s lives while also gaining a good salary. These in-demand jobs offer a variety of different types of employment opportunities and are a great career path for people who do not want to work behind a computer all day. 

Home health and personal care aides are two professions requiring only a certification rather than strict educational requirements and work in a variety of settings. These places may include clients’ homes, group homes, as well as day programs. Aides care for the needs of patients and individuals with physical and mental disabilities or chronic health issues. These positions are already a popular career choice and will continue to grow as the need for healthcare increases. 

Phlebotomists are another growing healthcare career that requires only a professional certification. Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations and mainly work in hospitals and diagnostic centers.

Future Jobs For Students

Higher paying jobs will continue to require more education. For children who enjoy school, there are a number of future job opportunities for students. 

Healthcare Career Opportunities For Students

The healthcare industry has always offered some of the fastest-growing jobs that have a high annual average salary. Health care is a popular choice for those gaining a post-secondary degree, but you may be surprised by the requirements for many of these jobs. 

Physical and occupational therapy assistants require an associate degree from an accredited program and work under the supervision of physical and occupational therapists. Therapy assistants help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living. Students can expect to be on their feet most of the day as they work with patients on their therapies. 

Like physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists focus their careers on one specialty. They assess, diagnose, treat, and prevent communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. With a rising population of baby boomers suffering from strokes or dementia, the future of this job is growing at a rate of 27%.

For those willing to put more time into their education, physician assistants and nurse practitioners promise future jobs for students with a master’s degree that offers an excellent salary and a dynamic work environment.  Physician assistants practice medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers, and nurse practitioners are licensed, autonomous clinicians focused on managing people’s health conditions. Both have become necessary parts of a growing healthcare system that focuses on preventative care.

In the last 20 years, there have been significant changes to health care, and technological advancements in lab testing and genomics have created a new career in genetic counseling.  Genetic counselors assess individual or family risk for inherited conditions, genetic disorders, and congenital disabilities. Their work is mainly in university medical centers, hospitals, and diagnostic laboratories.

Does Your Child Excel in Mathematics and Computers?

Healthcare isn’t the only area of career growth, though. Job opportunities for individuals with mathematical and computer skills promise an excellent future. If your child is already showing problem-solving skills from a young age, technology may be a great area for them to enter the workforce. The positions below require an analytical mind and an interest in piecing together information others take for granted.

Software developers create computer systems, and informational security analysts are hired to provide security measures for these systems. As threats of hacking businesses across all industries grow, these positions are becoming increasingly necessary.

The Federal Government and private research firms also offer opportunities for students with analytical skills. Operations research analysts and statisticians and mathematicians analyze mathematical and statistical techniques to solve complex issues, and as the amount of digital data grows, the need for these jobs will increase.

What Does The Future Look Like For Our Children?

The future has many opportunities and job openings for our children, and with a little help, parents can encourage their kids to follow a career path that speaks to their desires and ambitions. To learn more about programs and parenting resources at Children’s Bureau, visit our parenting blog or talk to one of our helpful representatives today.