You Don't Need a Four-Year Degree to Get a "Hot Job!"

'Hot' jobs? Health care, energy, many not requiring bachelor's

By Lindsey Anderson, USA TODAY

The hottest job areas from now to 2016 will be in health care, education, information technology and clean energy, a new report says.
And though some require bachelor's degrees or higher, many call for an associate's degree and sometimes additional vocational training.

Health care will generate 3 million new jobs by 2016, the most of any industry, says the report, by the Democratic Leadership Council, a non-profit think tank. Among "hot jobs" in health: physical and occupational therapist assistants, dental hygienists and radiation therapists, the report says.

A job is considered "hot" if it pays over the 2006 average wage of $32,000 and if projected growth is more than 10% in the next 10 years.

"Health care is already a large part of our economy and is going to remain one even after health reform, because we're getting older as a nation," report co-author Bruce Reed says.
More than three in 10 new U.S. jobs will be in health or education, the report says. But the highest-paying "hot jobs" are in information technology, averaging about $71,415. Computer specialists and computer support specialists are in high demand.

In clean energy, jobs are expected to triple in 10 years. The authors say wind energy will grow fastest, generating about 285,000 jobs with incentives from the economic stimulus package.


FASTEST-GROWING JOBS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS
Jobs, percentage growth and median income:
Physical therapist assistants
32.4%
$41,360

Dental hygienists
30.1%
$62,800

Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
28.0%
$38,090

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
25.5%
$42,300

Occupational therapist assistants
25.4%
$42,060

Radiation therapists
24.8%
$66,170

Environmental engineering technicians
24.8%
$40,560

Court reporters
24.5%
$45,610

Registered nurses
23.5 %
$57,280

Computer specialists, all other
15.1%
$68,570

Source: Compiled by the Democratic Leadership Council, 2009

See link to original story at http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-09-01-jobs-community-college_N.htm