The latest forecast from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in the United States in 2026 shows that between 2025 and 2035, the two major categories of healthcare support and healthcare practitioners will account for nearly one-third of all new job openings in the United States.
According to the BLS publication “2025-2035 Employment Projections,” the total employment in the United States is projected to increase from 170.3 million to 176.2 million over the next decade, adding approximately 5.92 million new jobs, a growth rate of 3.5%, significantly lower than the 10.9% increase seen from 2015 to 2025.
Among the 22 major occupational categories identified by the BLS, Healthcare Support is expected to grow by 13.3%, adding about 1.12 million jobs, making it the fastest-growing category. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical occupations are projected to grow by 8.0%, adding around 820,000 new jobs, ranking second in growth.
The BLS indicates that the likelihood of health issues increases with age, and the aging population is expected to drive the demand for various healthcare and social services such as home health care and personal care. Furthermore, the prevalence of chronic diseases and behavioral health disorders in the general population is expected to continue increasing the need for diagnosing, treating, and managing these conditions until 2035.
In terms of specific occupations, Nurse Practitioners are projected to grow by 41.0%, making it the fastest-growing occupation. The BLS attributes this to the core role that this profession plays in collaborative and team-based healthcare models. According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual salary for Nurse Practitioners in May 2025 was $132,300, requiring at least a master’s degree, state licensure, and national certification for entry.
Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Psychiatric Technicians, and Ophthalmic Medical Technicians also rank among the top ten fastest-growing detailed occupations.
Apart from healthcare, occupations in life, physical, and social sciences are expected to grow by 7.5%, ranking third in growth, more than double the average growth rate for all occupations. The BLS notes that this primarily reflects the demand for scientific research in areas such as biotechnology, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Occupations in computer and mathematics are projected to grow by 7.3%, ranking fourth. The BLS attributes this growth to the continued proliferation of digital tools and AI solutions across various industries. Data Scientists (+34.6%) and Computer and Information Research Scientists (+21.8%) are among the top ten fastest-growing occupations.
The increasing demand for electricity also drives occupations related to energy. Solar Photovoltaic Installers and Wind Turbine Technicians are projected to grow by 36.5% and 29.5%, respectively, both entering the top five fastest-growing occupations. However, due to the small base of practitioners in these fields, the total number of new job openings for both professions is under 15,000.
On the industry level, the “Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing,” which includes energy storage and electric vehicle battery production, is expected to grow by 25.9%. The BLS indicates that the demand for fiber optic cables driven by AI infrastructure and telecommunications networks is a contributing factor to the growth of this industry.
Conversely, occupations in office and administrative support are projected to decrease by 4.0%, about 752,000 job openings, with both the percentage decrease and the number of job losses being the highest among all categories. The BLS suggests that the continued integration of automation tools, including AI, into workflows may reduce the demand for various administrative roles.
Occupations in sales and related fields are expected to decrease by 1.4%, attributed by the BLS to the continued expansion of e-commerce and the integration of AI tools into sales processes. Production occupations are also expected to decrease by 0.4% due to the ongoing deployment of automation equipment in manufacturing.
The BLS also cautions that while the forecast data is presented with precision, it cannot fully reflect the uncertainty of long-term labor market changes, emphasizing that understanding the direction of change and its relative scale is more meaningful. To complement the current projections, the BLS has introduced new data products that compare and classify occupations based on their theoretical and practical susceptibility to AI.
On a global scale, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released the “Future of Jobs Report 2025” in January 2025, surveying over a thousand businesses in 55 economies for the period from 2025 to 2030. The report predicts that by 2030, technological changes, green transformation, and demographic shifts will create 170 million new jobs, while approximately 92 million jobs will be displaced, resulting in a net increase of around 78 million jobs.
The report estimates that an average of 39% of existing labor skills will be transformed or become obsolete during this period. Among the surveyed employers, 85% plan to prioritize upskilling their current workforce, 70% expect to recruit talent with new skills, and about two-thirds plan to hire individuals with specific AI skills. The WEF report also anticipates significant growth in care professions such as nursing professionals over the next five years.