Ringing in the New Decade – These Are the Jobs That Will Dominate the 2020s
New year, a new decade and with it, new career paths for all. The U.S workforce has seen the tech industry boom during the 2010s as artificial intelligence, spatial computing, virtual reality, and other innovations were born and grew exponentially.
New occupations arose, and job descriptions were adjusted to keep up with the trends. A study by LinkedIn is now showing that this growth in technology has set a precedent for the tech industry to dominate the 2020s. It also shows that these occupations are in high demand as they fail to find enough qualified workers to fill positions.
Engineering – Hottest Career Path
According to LinkedIn, among the top 15 projected hottest jobs, 13 of the occupations are related to the tech world, most are in the areas of engineering. Topping the list is artificial intelligence specialists, an occupation that calls for software or computer engineers since complete degrees in the field are not offered yet. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that average wages in the field range from $100,000 to $150,000, and the industry has seen job growth of 74 percent over the past five years.
Among the other hot jobs projected are robotics engineers, with starting salaries at $85,000; full-stack engineers, earning around $82,000; site reliability engineers, with wages averaging $130,000; data engineers, who can earn $100,000; and cloud engineers, earning around the same $100,000, complete the list for the 2020s.
Information Technology - It’s All About Computers
Traditional jobs such as software developers ($88,000) in Information Technology will continue to be in high-demand, but cybersecurity will take the spotlight as employers search for specialists in the area. The average occupation salary is $103,000 and has a projected job growth rate of 32 percent annually.
Java script developers will also take part in the 2020s workforce as the career path will see job growth of 25 percent and $83,000 annual salary.
Health Care – Making it a Priority
One of the biggest changes we saw during the 2010s was people breaking the stigmas surrounding mental health and more open discussion about mental health issues. This awareness has led to a demand for more behavioral health technicians, with employment in the field projected to grow 32 percent annually.
The demand for more Physical therapists is also expected to increase this decade as more people experience physical pain and complications due to reduced physical activity activities brought on by the developments in technology that have made our life much more sedentary.
Whichever career path interests you as you think about your future. Broward College has the programs to get you there. Explore the opportunities available in engineering, IT, and health science at Broward College.
Ignite Your Child’s Passion for a Career in STEM – STEMBeez Hosts Interactive STEM Day for Children Across South Florida
Employment in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) has grown 79 percent since 1990, according to a study from the Pew Research Center. And the demand for qualified workers remains high since the latest data was released in 2018, which showed over two million jobs failing to be filled. But even with the high demand and above-average wages, STEM appears to be an out-of-reach career path for many students in low-income communities. “It’s common that kids in these communities are not introduced to STEM in any way, mostly because they can’t afford it” explains Shari Campbell, co-founder of STEMBeez.
Making STEM Accessible and Reachable
Experts say there remains a gap in filling STEM careers as many children lack exposure to STEM from an early age, making it difficult for them to develop an interest in something they don’t even know exists. As part of the effort to make STEM education accessible to low-income communities in South Florida, Broward College will host STEMBeez’s Second Annual STEM Day on January 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a free and family-friendly event with the mission to encourage children to pursue rewarding careers in STEM.
“The greatest goal of STEM Day is to create a bridge for our children to become one of the experts they meet that day when they grow up,” says Campbell.
Through events like this, STEMBeez hopes to bridge the gap and “show the members of the community, both children and their parents, that STEM is accessible, rewarding, and in high demand,” adds Campbell. The inaugural event last year saw an attendance of over 230 children, mostly between the ages of 5 and 13.
What to Look Forward to
With a setup similar to a science fair, the Judson A. Samuels South Campus gymnasium in Pembroke Pines will hold games, music, and interactive activities that include anatomy puzzles, terrarium making, DNA extraction, and much more. “Through these hands-on activities, we are hoping that children will embrace their curiosity, participate, and discover a passion in STEM,” explains Campbell.
It is also an opportunity to promote healthy living and raise awareness about environmental issues. In addition, the College’s Health and Wellness department will host an outdoor relay event to promote fitness and encourage children to engage in socializing and spending more time outdoors.
You can register for this free event through Eventbrite.
Broward College is an equal-opportunity institution that seeks to provide high-quality, low-cost education to the community. The College offers degrees in many high-demand career paths within STEM.