The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released a report predicting the growth of the American workforce from 2025 to 2035, as well as identifying which occupations will see the most significant increase in job opportunities as the economy develops.
According to the BLS employment projections, the US economy is expected to add 5.9 million new jobs between 2025 and 2035, bringing the total number of employed individuals from 170.3 million to 176.2 million. This growth rate is projected to be 3.5%, lower than the 10.9% growth rate observed from 2015 to 2025.
The report outlines the top 10 occupations expected to experience the fastest growth from 2025 to 2035, with positions in the healthcare industry leading the pack, followed by roles in the energy sector.
The BLS emphasizes that as the population ages, the likelihood of health complications increases, driving the demand for various healthcare and social services, including home health care and personal care services.
Nurse practitioners are projected to be the fastest-growing occupation in the next decade, with a 41% increase in employment expected between 2025 and 2035. This growth rate translates to an addition of approximately 137,800 nurse practitioner positions.
The second fastest-growing occupation listed in the report is solar photovoltaic panel installers, with a projected growth of 36.5%, leading to around 11,300 new job openings by 2035.
The BLS notes that during this period, there is expected to be a “significant increase” in electricity demand, which will drive the need for positions like solar photovoltaic panel installers.
Data scientists rank third in terms of job growth, with a 34.6% increase in employment, resulting in an additional 95,400 positions. Wind turbine service technicians come in fourth, expected to grow by 29.5% between 2025 and 2035, creating 3,500 new jobs.
The growth rate for medical and health services managers is projected to be 24.2%, with the highest number of new job openings during the same period, reaching 155,100 individuals.
Physical therapist assistants are ranked sixth in the BLS report, expected to grow by 23% by 2035, with an increase of 26,200 positions.
Healthcare occupations have consistently dominated the top ten fastest-growing occupations in the next decade, with psychiatric technician positions ranking seventh at 22.3% growth, expected to add 36,000 jobs over the next ten years.
Rounding out the remaining three positions on the list of the top ten fastest-growing occupations from 2025 to 2035 are: computer and information research scientists, with a growth rate of 21.8% and an increase of 8,400 jobs; occupational therapy assistants, growing by 21.5% and adding 11,200 positions; and ophthalmic medical technicians, growing by 21.4% and adding 15,500 positions.