As college students prepare to head back to school, job site Indeed released the fields of study and majors that will best lead to jobs of the future.
“Our recent research tells us that the most high-potential jobs of the future are concentrated in a relatively few key sectors, creating both an opportunity and challenge to students figuring out a major,” said Tara Sinclair, chief economist for job site Indeed. “Gone are the days when a college degree could guarantee financial security–it is increasingly important for job seekers to think carefully about where their studies will lead them.”
Students looking for strong career paths in the future should consider majors such as computer science, engineering, healthcare administration, and finance, according to Indeed’s findings. As of 2014, business, health services, and biological and biomedical services were among the country’s top five most popular majors, while engineering ranked eighth, and computer and information services came in at 11, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
“If you’re interested in computer science, engineering, or another area with high demand and potential for strong salaries, the data shows it would be smart to consider a major in the field,” Sinclair said. “However, if you’re focused more on the liberal arts, you may want to look to supplement your degree with additional courses or relevant work experience through a part time job or internship.”
Overall, getting a college degree is a benefit to landing a job of the future, as 75% of opportunity jobs require a 4-year degree.
“The list below may be food for thought for people entering college or still undecided in their major,” Sinclair said. “Meanwhile, people who are not pursuing a four-year degree should consider getting skills that will lead to other in-demand roles, perhaps getting experience with certificate programs or requests for on-the-job training.”
In a recent study, Indeed found that 92% of all jobs that have shown wage growth keeping up with inflation, and an annual salary of over $57,700, are concentrated in 5 occupations: computer and mathematical, architecture and engineering, management, healthcare practitioners and technical, and business and financial operations.
Beyond competitive pay, the jobs Indeed identified have a number of other traits in common, including: high employer demand versus supply, little chance of automation, and dynamic fields that will expand, not shrink, as technology changes the workforce.
Best Fields of Study and Majors for Jobs of the Future
1.Computer and information sciences
Majors include: Computer Science, Computer Programming, Computer Networking
•55,367 graduates in 2014
2.Engineering
Majors include: Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
•92,162 graduates
3.Architecture
Majors include: Architecture
•9,144 graduates
4.Business – Management
Majors include: Business Administration, International Business
•358,079 graduates (general business)
5.Health Professions & Related Programs
Majors include: Biology, Nursing, Medical Assistant, Healthcare Administration, Medicine, Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy
•198,770 graduates
6.Business – Finance
Majors include: Finance, Accounting, Economics
•358,079 graduates (general business)
Most Popular Fields of Study (2014)
1.Business
358,079 graduates
2.Health Professions and related services
198,770 graduates
3.Social Sciences & History
173,096 graduates
4.Psychology
117,298 graduates
5.Biological and Biomedical Sciences
104,633 graduates
6.Education
98,854 graduates
7.Visual & Performing Arts
97,246 graduates
8.Engineering
92,162 graduates
9.Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
87,604 graduates
10.Homeland security, law enforcement, and firefighting
62,409 graduates
11.Computer & Information Services
55,367 graduates
12.English Language & Literature/Letter
50,404 graduates
*Data source: National Center for Education Statistics.
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About Indeed
More people find jobs on Indeed than anywhere else. Indeed is the #1 job site in the world and allows job seekers to search millions of jobs on the web or mobile in over 50 countries and 28 languages. More than 180 million people each month search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies on Indeed, and Indeed is the #1 source of external hires for thousands of companies (sources: SilkRoad & iCIMS). For more information, visit indeed.com.
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Alex Ortolani
Posted By: Cheer Leader
Thursday, August 18th 2016 at 10:58AM
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