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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

CareerBuilder’s Labor Day Study Reveals 3 Major Forces Shaping the U.S. Job Market

As the country gets ready to celebrate the contributions of American workers on September 5th, CareerBuilder is releasing new research that sheds light on the marketplace in which they operate.

CareerBuilder’s 2016 Labor Day study explores three key drivers of employment changes in the U.S., trends associated with each driver and occupations that are among those benefitting the most.

“There are multiple factors that will influence job growth or deceleration, but most of the major shifts in employment today are tied to lifestyle changes, technology advancement and globalization,” said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder and co-author of The Talent Equation. “Whether we’re talking about the rise of the sharing economy, the power of smart technology or companies communicating in multiple languages and time zones, these trends are moving the needle on job growth for a wide variety of fields.” 

CareerBuilder’s labor market analysis arm Emsi collects and interprets data from more than 100 national and local employment resources. While there are numerous variables that will influence employment shifts, for the purposes of this study, CareerBuilder and Emsi looked at a short list of trends that have played some part in the growth of specific occupations. The following tables highlight trends that fit within the main categories of lifestyle changes, technology advancement and globalization and show how specific occupations have been positively impacted.

Lifestyle Changes

 

Occupation Impacted

Current Number of Jobs

Number of Jobs Added 2012 to 2016

Percentage of Job Growth

2012 to 2016

People are choosing to eat out more, giving rise to the “foodie” generation.

Cooks, Restaurant

1,219,433

164,804

16%

More people are embracing the sharing economy. (example: Uber)

Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

283,175

37,023

15%

America is becoming more health-conscious.

Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

309,519

33,303

12%

Families are more careful with finances after the last recession.

Personal Financial Advisors

257,493

29,913

13%

More people are choosing to bank and shop online.

Information Security Analysts

86,563

9,342

12%

Couples are postponing having children until later in life.

Obstetricians and Gynecologists

25,219

1,082

4%

 

Technology Advancement

Occupation Impacted

Current Number of Jobs

Number of Jobs Added 2012 to 2016

Percentage of Job Growth

2012 to 2016

There’s an “app” for everything and “smart” technology is moving beyond phones to clothes, homes and more.

Software Developers, Applications

772,195

112,045

17%

Technology has made advertising become more intuitive and effective based on ability to track and interpret online behavior.

Marketing Managers

208,611

19,024

10%

Technology has become ingrained in everyday life and is how people stay connected.

Computer User Support Specialists

665,646

63,849

11%

Technology is catching health disorders sooner and extending lives.

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

198,831

14,451

8%

Technology is enabling companies to corral and interpret big data to make better business decisions.

Database Administrators

120,476

9,794

9%

Technology is integrated into countless consumer and business products with new offerings and iterations released all the time.

Technical Writers

55,129

5,381

11%

 

Globalization

Occupation Impacted

Current Number of Jobs

Number of Jobs Added 2012 to 2016

Percentage of Job Growth

2012 to 2016

Companies are serving customers in different time zones, meaning workers are needed at all hours.

Customer Service Representatives

2,674,925

225,910

9%

Companies are looking to gain a greater understanding of international markets they’re targeting.

Market Research Analysts

532,336

67,551

15%

Expanding beyond borders is requiring communication in different languages.

Interpreters and Translators

78,455

9,845

14%

There is greater emphasis on preserving the global environment.

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

7,061

1,889

37%

Maps for mobile phones and navigation systems are in demand as people explore new terrain.

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

13,193

1,802

16%

Students and workers looking for information on careers can get detailed insights at findyourcalling.com or by viewing career profiles under the “Browse Jobs” header on the CareerBuilder homepage.