Find A Job In A Fast Growing Field Using Labor Market Information For Your State

The question confronting most people who want to find a job is "what's a good paying job with growth potential?"

At one time, the Conestoga wagon building trade boomed as people joined the wagon trains heading west.

Today, the boom is long gone and those wanting to find a job with a future will most likely wish to stay away from such a field.

So how can you find a job that will reasonably be expected to thrive in the future either in your home state or the state in which you choose to reside?

One key is through using Labor Market Information to research potential jobs as you create a long term plan to find the job you feel is ideal for your skills and interests.

Your first step to find a job with potential is to use the free service available at "America's Career InfoNet" a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

To find a job with growth potential in your state, visit this state by state database. (This opens in a new window so you will not lose the instructions on how to find a job with potential on this page when you click the link!)

After you've searched for a particular state - we'll use Alabama as an example - here's what you'll find...

1) Basic demographic information under these headings:

(Again, these are for Alabama.) Demographic Information:

2001 Population 4,468,900

2002 Labor Force 2,102,800

2002 Unemployment Rate 5.9%

2002 Median Household Income $37,600

2001 Per Capita Income $24,500

You'll be able to see how the state ranks nationally and you'll be able to check unemployment rates by county just to know what you're up against in your job search for a particular county!

2) The next step to find a job in a growing occupation is to choose the kind of growth occupation you have in mind.

Your options will be...

Fastest growing occupations

Occupations with the most openings

Occupations with the largest employment

Occupations with declining employment

Highest paying occupations

At this point in your career search you'll also be asked to choose the level of education you're willing to achieve to enhance your income. The options listed are... Overall

Requiring only work experience or on-the-job training

Requiring post-secondary training or an associate's degree

Requiring a bachelor's degree or higher

Click the appropriate button to make your selections and then you can hit "search" to find a job with growth potential.

In this case we'll select "Fastest growth" and "overall" educational requirements.

When you search to find a job with these criteria, you'll receive results based on the fastest growth in sheer number of jobs and you'll receive listings that may require no education beyond high school up to jobs requiring a two year community college or vocational school training program or 4 year bachelor's degree.

What do you see when you do the job information search?

You see the first 25 of (for Alabama) 513 fastest growing jobs as determined by the number of jobs that will be available between 2000 and 2010.

As might be expected the job with the highest growth prospects for Alabama is computer software engineering and applications.

By clicking on the job itself you find the "Occupation Report" for that state.

You'll learn a wealth of information about this particular job and be able to watch an online job video showing you just what a particular job involves.

Since you want to find a job with good income potential, you'll see - on average - the kind of money people in this job make in the particular state and nationwide based on government labor market information.

Now let's try to find a job that's in the "Highest Paying" category but only requiring a 2 year training program at the most.

What job's come up? Hint: They'll be listed by the highest pay expressed (when possible) as an HOURLY wage and then an ANNUAL WAGE for the job you find in Hourly/Annual format.

For Alabama (the answer may vary for your state) the Top 10 are:

1 Commercial Pilots N/A /$59,100

2 Computer Specialists, All Other $24.52/$51,000

3 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay $23.59/$49,100

4 Radiation Therapists $22.67/$47,200

5 Electrical and Electronics Drafters $22.02/$45,800

6 Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians $21.98/$45,700

7 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians $21.71/$45,200

8 Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate $21.16/$44,000

9 Ship Engineers $21.13/$44,000

10 Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers $20.79/$43,200

Again, you can click on the job titles you find and go directly to an occupational report.

By using Labor Market Information, you can find a job with high growth potential, high wages, and usually a training requirement that involves only 2 years of training or less beyond high school.

Remember, you do not necessarily need a traditional 4 year degree to find a job with high growth potential. You DO need specific skills however not more "underwater basket weaving courses" at college that are unrelated to a specific field.

4 year degrees are nice and even graduate degrees are important to find a job in some fields. But increasingly, 2 year specialized programs are dominating the field as far as improving wages.

About The Author

Chuck Huckaby is the webmaster for http://1stHowToWorkAtHome.com and http://LayOffNews.com to help people take control of their career and not be victimized by the dramatic changes occuring in the U.S. Economy!

---

10 Warning Signs That You?re Ready for a Career Transition

1. You dread getting out of bed and going to... Read More

Career Development - When Its Time for a Change

There's a certain courage required to hear your gut. To... Read More

In a Rut? Ready for a Career Change?

Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and... Read More

Waiting for Lightening to Strike

Author and management guru, Peter Drucker says, "People adjust to... Read More

Job Interviews: Six Steps to Acing a Telephone Interview

Telephone interviews are becoming more popular these days. Whether that's... Read More

How To Get A Job Fast

In today's unpredictable economy, the idea of job security with... Read More

How to Write a Better CV (UK), or Resume (USA and elsewhere)

The first point to make is that the terms "CV"... Read More

How Important Is It To Stand Apart From Others In An Interview And How Difficult Is It?

Any professionally trained interviewer can attest these questions are the... Read More

Interview Preparation

The dreaded job interview is the Number 1 source of... Read More

Online Resume Tips and Secrets

I manage a website for corporate flight attendants that features... Read More

Discontentment in the Workplace

While more people are finding employment, more employed workers are... Read More

Make Your Résumé Sizzle with Success Stories

In today's competitive job market you can't afford a résumé... Read More

Work at Home Jobs Vs Self Employment

Work at Home Jobs vs Owning a Home Based BusinessNot... Read More

Resume Objectives ... The Hidden Pitfalls

Why Use Resume ObjectivesBefore we can discuss the pitfalls you... Read More

Get Beyond Your Tasks

Ever hear the story of the two masons working side... Read More

Mastering the Job Interview - 5 Tips to Make Yourself Irresistible to the Interviewer

So you've figured out, more or less what you want... Read More

What Your Guidance Counselor, Career Counselor, and Own Mother Probably Never Told You...

The alarm clock jars you awake at some insanely... Read More

It Takes Time

The story goes that after one of Ludwig van Beethoven's... Read More

Finding a Job Under Tough Circumstances

Anyone can find a job. That's right, I said "anyone".... Read More

Career Success Through Self-Marketing

Marketing shouldn't be limited to advertising companies. Finding a job... Read More

How To Become A Computer Consultant

Have you ever wanted to become a computer consultant, but... Read More

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone in the Job Search

Most everyone these days knows what a comfort zone is.... Read More

Booster & Drainers

Like huge anchors on cruise ships, other people... Read More

5 Ways to Combat Job Burnout

Job burnout happens when the stress or prolonged frustration of... Read More

How People Really Explore New Careers: What Does A Real Career Search Look Like?

The traditional model of career choice suggests a linear pattern.... Read More

Seven Ways to Say You?re Fired and What to Do When It Happens to You

Today's employers scramble for creative ways to advise employees of... Read More

How to Give Job-Winning Answers at Interviews

Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts... Read More

Resurrecting the Perfect Resume, Part Two

Are you in denial about the lifelessness of your resume?... Read More

Answering The What Are Your Weaknesses? Interview Question

One of the trickier questions an interviewer might put to... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Taking Care of Yourself

Looking for work is generally a miserable undertaking. No matter... Read More

The 5 Ps Of A Job Search

Step One - Plan:Most people spend more time planning a... Read More

Continuing Professional Development

Continuing professional development (CPD) is promoted by the CIPD to... Read More

Ten Great Careers For Computer ?Geeks

The universal acceptance of computers into our daily lives, both... Read More