Where the Hiring Is the Hottest
Here are some sweet spots in the job market
The job market hasn't been this good in four years, and new entrants into the labor force are finding employers finally ready, willing, and able to hire them. The country's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in February. Businesses are hiring more workers, paying them more money, and letting them use technology to work from home, according to surveys. "Companies are now fat with cash, and they need to invest in workers to increase their productivity," says Richard Castellini, senior career adviser for CareerBuilder.com. Many employers are even looking to hire retired workers to compensate for lost experience as the baby boomers approach their own retirement.
But some fields are still faring better than others--providing that demographic, technological, and economic trends hold. Whether you are changing jobs or just venturing out into the working world, here are some of the brightest spots in a generally rosy job market.
FINANCE
Accountant
CAREER OUTLOOK: A rash of corporate scandals, enabled in part by accounting shenanigans, has led to new government regulations on corporate governance. The practical upshot is that companies now need more eyes watching the books. Couple those new demands with an aging workforce, and the future for young accountants looks bright. The government estimates that jobs for accountants will increase by between 18 and 26 percent through 2014.
PREREQUISITES: Most employers, and the federal government, require four years of college with a major or minor in accounting. Other positions require a master's degree in finance or an M.B.A. with a concentration in accounting. The vast majority of states require certified public accountants to be college graduates, but some substitute a number of years of public accounting experience for an advanced degree. Earning a certification from a state board of accountancy will considerably improve your employment prospects.
FOLLOW THE MONEY: The average accountant's salary is $50,800. Overall, one quarter of the country's accountants work in tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services firms. About 1 in 10 accountants is self-employed. Executive branch employees and Postal Service accountants earn an average $56,900 per year, while state government accountants pull in around $43,400.
TRANSPORTATION
Truck Driver
CAREER OUTLOOK: The fortunes of the trucking industry are directly tied to the health of the national economy. As the economy booms, so does the demand to move more goods. What's more, companies that focus on increased or more-efficient production will often outsource their transportation needs to trucking companies, which, in turn, will need drivers. The government pegs the expected job growth in the trucking and warehousing industry at around 14 percent from now through 2014. The job outlook is especially promising for truck drivers, diesel service technicians, and mechanics.
PREREQUISITES: Most jobs in trucking require a high school diploma, though workers hoping to move into management would do well to have a college sheepskin, too. Commercial driver's licenses are issued by individual states; companies might have additional training requirements. Earning a commercial license usually means attending a trucking school. The need for a clean driving record goes without saying.
advertisement
