Maurie Backman, The Motley Fool, USA Today
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In today's company-hopping age, job security can be tricky to come by.
Not only do workers tend to jump ship more frequently than in years past, but employers tend to have less loyalty, even with seasoned employees. That said, there are certain fields that are known to offer more job security than others by virtue of their anticipated growth over the next several years.
GOBankingRates recently analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and based on that, uncovered some of the best jobs around for those craving stability. Here's what the top 10 look like.
1. Wind turbine service technician (median pay: $52,260)
Like the idea of contributing to clean energy? Then consider this highly in-demand field. An estimated 4,800 technician jobs are expected to open up by 2024, and you only need a two-year associate's degree to qualify.
2. Nurse anesthetist, midwife, or practitioner (median pay: $107,460)
Going through medical school requires not just loads of time, but tons of money. If you're interested in a healthcare career but don't wish to bankrupt yourself in the process, you might consider studying to become a nurse anesthetist, midwife, or practitioner. Though you will need a master's degree and license, you should have a relatively easy time finding work — more than 53,000 nurse anesthetist, midwife, or practitioner jobs are expected to open up between now and 2024.
3. Physician assistant (median pay: $101,480)
Here's another way to provide patient care without getting a full-fledged medical degree. Physician assistants are equipped to treat and diagnose patients, but instead of four years of school, only two years are required. And with a growth rate of 30%, an estimated 28,700 physician assistant jobs will be available come 2024.
4. Optometrist (median pay: $106,140)
Eye care is something the public can't afford to skimp on, which explains why optometry in particular is a blossoming field within the medical space. With 11,000 new jobs anticipated by 2024, it's a good opportunity for medical students in pursuit of a specialty. And the fairly generous salary that comes with being an optometrist can help compensate for those medical school loans.
5. Financial adviser (median pay: $90,530)
If you're good with numbers and want to help families manage their money, you might consider a career as a financial advisor. Though you may need some specific certifications, depending on the services you provide, you don't need an advanced degree to work in this field. Furthermore, while some advisors are paid a flat salary, many work heavily on commission — which means that if you're good at what you do, you stand to help people and make money.
6. Personal care aide (median pay: $21,920)
Personal care aides are tasked with helping the elderly or infirmed function at home. As an aide, you may be required to help with things such as getting dressed, going grocery shopping, or traveling to and from appointments. And while the pay isn't particularly stellar, it's a job that's heavily in demand, with an additional 458,000 positions expected to open up by 2024.
7. Physical therapist (median pay: $85,400)
Like the idea of helping people recover from injuries or regain their strength? Then you might think about becoming a physical therapist. Though you'll need to get licensed, you'll be entering a field that's expected to add close to 72,000 new jobs by 2024.
8. Home health aide (median pay: $22,600)
Like personal care aides, home health aides assist elderly or infirmed patients with daily tasks. The primary difference is that as a health aide, you'll work directly under the supervision of a medical professional, such as a doctor or physical therapist. An estimated 348,000 home health aide jobs will be added by 2024.
9. Statistician (median pay: $80,500)
If you're a self-proclaimed data geek and love dabbling in trends and analysis, then you might think about gaining employment as a statistician. Statisticians can work in a variety of fields, from finance to marketing, and with a growth rate of 34%, it's a solid role to pursue right now if you're looking for a reasonable amount of job security. Best of all, you don't need an advanced degree to get hired, provided you have a bachelor's and the right skills.
10. Operations research analyst (median pay: $79,200)
Like problem-solving? Then you might fit into an operations research analyst role, where you'll help the business that hires you analyze data and determine the most efficient and cost-effective means of providing the product or service it's known for. More than 27,000 new jobs are expected to open up in this field by 2024, and while a master's degree might help you get hired, it's not necessarily a requirement.
While the above-listed roles offer great opportunity and growth, if you land in one, don't let yourself grow complacent. Even jobs in bustling fields are never guaranteed, so continue developing your skills, adding value to your company, and expanding your network of contacts so you're exposed to outside knowledge and opportunities. Furthermore, be sure to always have some emergency savings on hand, even if you're relatively secure in your job. This way, you're covered in the unlikely but possible event that things go south, and you suddenly find yourself out of work.
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