The need for these occupations is expected to grow. How much does this outlook influence your students’ career choices?

Answer:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these five occupations are projected to add the most new jobs from 2025 to 2035:

1. Home health and personal care aides: 847,300 new jobs
2. Stockers and order fillers: 250,700 new jobs
3. Fast food and counter workers: 223,300 new jobs
4. Registered nurses: 194,700 new jobs
5. General and operations managers: 181,300 new jobs

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Questions:

• What are some factors that might contribute to the growth of these particular fields?
• How does “median pay” differ from average pay? Why might we use median figures in this kind of data?
• What type of education or training might be needed for each of these occupations?
• Are there any occupations not on this list that you believe will see significant growth in the next ten years? Why?

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Behind the numbers (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• This ranking counts the total number of new jobs projected for each occupation, not the percent growth. Large occupations can add many jobs even with modest growth rates.
• Home health and personal care aides are projected to add more than three times as many jobs as any other occupation.
• Pay varies widely across the list. Registered nurses and general and operations managers earn nearly three times the median pay of fast food and counter workers.
• Healthcare shows up repeatedly beyond the top five, with medical and health services managers, nurse practitioners, and medical assistants all in the top 15.

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.