The occupations with the most openings and those with the highest employment rate are nearly identical. While the majority of jobs on the list require an associates degree or less, there are a few occupations where a bachelors degree or higher is necessary.
Your level of education generally correlates to employment earnings. The more education and training you receive, the better your chances are of advancing in your field and earning a higher pay rate. Many of the training programs are adaptable to various lifestyles and can be found at online schools, 2-year community college, 2-year career training, 4-year colleges and universities, career colleges, and graduate schools.
The degree program option that best suits your needs depends on your chosen career path. Also, continued training or training in a variety of specialties can strengthen your job prospects, help you advance in your career and increase your salary.
This list represents the highest employment occupation rates as of 2008. Check out the fastest growing careers and fastest growing industries to find out the projected career growth between 2008 and 2018.
- Retail Salespersons – 4,489,200
- Cashiers, except gaming – 3,550,00
- Office clerks, general – 3,024,400
- Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food – 2,701,700
- Registered Nurses – 2,618,700
- Waiters and waitresses – 2,381,700
- Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners – 2,375,300
- Janitor training is completed on-the-job and most employers do not have a minimum educational requirement for entry-level positions, though workers should be able to perform basic arithmetic.
- Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand – 2,317,300
- Customer service representatives – 2,252,400
- Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks – 2,063,800
- Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive – 2,020,000
- Stock clerks and order fillers – 1,858,800
- Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer – 1,798,400
- General and operations managers – 1,733,100
- Business Administration and Management Colleges
- Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services Colleges
- Business/Managerial Operations Colleges
- Management Science Colleges
- Office Management and Supervisions Colleges
- Operations Management and Supervisions Colleges
- Small Business Administration/Management Colleges
- Postsecondary teachers – 1,699,200
- Educational requirements for postsecondary teachers vary from being an expert to holding a Ph.D. in your field.
- First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers – 1,685,500
- Executive secretaries and administrative assistants – 1,594,400
- Elementary school teachers, except special education – 1,549,500
- Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products – 1,540,300
- Maids and housekeeping cleaners – 1,498,200
- There is no minimum educational requirement to become a maid. The ability to follow directions and basic arithmetic are helpful.
- Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants – 1,469,800
- First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers – 1,457,200
- Maintenance and repair workers, general - 1,361,300
- Teacher assistants - 1,312,800
- Child care workers – 1,301,900
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Top 25 Fastest Growing Industries
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