Millennials are growing up. It’s happening at a slower rate than previous generations, but now the majority of those born between 1982 and 1995 are finding full-time jobs, maybe even buying homes or starting families. They’re not the same young sprites as before, and a new generation is slowly starting to bleed into the working world.
The next generation to mature and hit the real world is Generation Z. Born between 1995 and 2010, the oldest members are well on their way through college and finding their own stride in the job market. They may even be considering what their life will be like in 5 or 10 years: who they’ll be working for, whether they’ll be settling down, or whether they’ll be struggling, just like the generation before them.
Although it’s impossible to say just yet how the next generation will fare in the big working world, one can assume that there may be more opportunities for Gen Z when they graduate college than there were for millennials. For one, they’ll be starting out in an age of new possibilities, with new industries being created or evolving rapidly every year. Additionally, when they go to college, they can have a better understanding of what fields they should pursue for a strong career trajectory.
Whether you’re a member of the up-and-coming Generation Z or simply a person ready to investigate and invest in a new career path, consider one of these three growing career fields for your future. These job markets are flourishing, and no amount of economic or political change can hinder their growth.
Sustainability
Despite Trump’s best efforts to revitalize the coal mining industry, there’s obvious evidence to suggest that the future of power lies in sustainable practices and cleaner resources.
Even in the last year, coal mining has steadily dropped off in production and employment, and natural gases became the primary source of power for Americans, with sustainable energy slowly gaining ground. Part of the reason for this — as highlighted in a 2017 Time article that investigated the industry at its heart in West Virginia — is due to the fact that renewable energy is becoming less expensive to produce, growing rapidly in production while also offering more opportunities for employment. Although Pennsylvania saw the (rare) opening of a new coal mine in 2017, it can only offer up to 100 jobs over the next 15 years.
The sustainable energy field can offer a whole new era of job opportunities. From construction work on wind farms, to sustainable building design, sustainable tourism, biomimicry, and engineering — there’s a plethora of degrees offered within the sustainability field. And once you earn your degree, you’ll be sure to find a job almost immediately after college (a rarity for most modern post-grads) as the field is growing at a rate that is 12 times faster than the national economy.
Plus, working within the sustainability field gives you the opportunity to directly impact the world for the better. When it comes to finding a career that meets your needs, happiness and a sense of purpose tend to be high on the list — both of which can be met within this field.
If you’re thinking of starting a career that can make a difference, pay you well, and nurture your love for the environment, then sustainability is your calling.
Healthcare Leaders and Educators
If there is one career field that will always need employment, it’s healthcare. As long as humans are around, specialists will be needed to help heal all possible ailments. However, there is one unique subset of the healthcare field that is seeing a growth spurt: healthcare leaders, managers, and educators.
Currently, the nursing world is facing a serious healthcare shortage due to three factors: an aging population that requires more consistent care (along with a rise in chronic illness), a retiring nursing generation, and a flood of new patients that now have access to medical insurance due to the Affordable Care Act. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing world will grow about 15 percent by 2024, which is significantly faster than many other industries. However, leaders and educators are needed to help raise this new generation of nurses.
Herein lies the problem for the nursing shortage: although there is a plethora of people interested in joining the nursing field, it’s extremely difficult to get accepted into nursing programs. Mostly this is due to the restraints placed on schools that have a small faculty and limited classroom space. In fact, one study by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found the following: “According to AACN’s report on 2016-2017 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, U.S. nursing schools turned away 64,067 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2016 due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints.”
Additionally (despite popular belief) those that teach nursing are not required to have a PhD. prior to teaching. So if you’ve considered joining the healthcare field, aiding those in need directly, and making an impact in your community through your career, you may find your calling in the nursing or healthcare leadership sector. Jobs are a-plenty, and the industry (as well as the general population) could greatly benefit from your help.
Social Work or Counseling
One thing is for certain in the past decade: mental illness is finally being treated with the seriousness that it deserves. Although there is still a stigma associated with many mental illnesses, there’s an increased awareness of how prevalent these issues are and how hard it can be to seek help. Luckily, awareness has paved the way for better treatment, better representation, and an increased need for professionals that can help diagnose, treat, and manage mental illness issues.
Social workers, in particular, help with both diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, or behavioral issues, but their duties can extend far beyond the walls of their office. Schools, law enforcement offices, government welfare offices, hospitals, community centers, and so many more organizations need the expertise and assistance of social workers to help patients manage and cope with their everyday lives. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the social work field will grow at a similar rate to nurses: about 15 percent over the next 10 years, which is faster than the national average.
However, social workers are also presented with a unique opportunity in the modern world: an increased focus on rural community needs. Currently, close to 80 percent of registered social workers are living and working within urban metropolitan areas, and many towns scattered throughout the countryside have no access to psychiatric care. As technology advances and rural communities struggle with poverty and isolation or limited access, social workers and counselors can utilize telecounseling services (online video-calling services created for a more accessible counseling experience) to aid in reaching those in rural areas.
Especially in states like Nevada — where the population is widely spread out with limited access to healthcare or counseling services, and a large portion of the population is retired veterans of the military — social workers have the ability to provide quality care to a demographic that is extremely vulnerable. Many rural communities are also suffering from severe poverty, addiction, and other socio-economic barriers that could exacerbate mental health or behavioral issues.
Social work can be an emotionally draining job, but for those that don’t mind lending a listening ear and walking people through tough times onto recovery, the field of social work can be extremely rewarding. Although it isn’t for everyone, if the idea of helping those in need strikes a chord with you, then look into pursuing counseling or social work. You won’t regret the decision.
Seeking Out a Successful Future
Choosing your major in college can be difficult, and although these top three careers are promising, they might not be right for you. One of the trickiest parts of going to college can be finding your calling. How are you supposed to know what you want to do for the rest of your life when you’re only 18?
But whatever your career path entails, there are plenty of growing and prosperous industries out there for you to join. If medical, social work, and sustainability aren’t for you, you can always research the top growing careers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. No matter what happens in your life, be sure that your career — and every aspect of your life — makes you happy.
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