6 Growing Career Fields You May Not Have Considered – But Should

According to Fast Company, skilled trades will be one of the top five hardest job categories for employers to fill in 2025. As this trend is already apparent, many companies look to a skilled trade staffing agency like Advastar to fill open positions. 

One of the primary reasons for the growing shortage of skilled trade workers is because more workers are retiring than new ones entering the job market. 

Attending college after graduating high school tends to be an automatic assumption for many young people. However, there are a lot of workers with four-year degrees who are unemployed. 

In addition, jobs requiring college degrees are not increasing at the same rate as the skilled trades sector. With the opportunities presented, it’s beneficial for those seeking employment to consider these fields. 

Here is an overview of the 6 growing career fields to consider: 

Our Skilled Trade Staffing Agency Recommends Construction

At first glance, growth in the construction industry doesn’t look as healthy as was predicted before the pandemic. Large-scale construction indeed saw a downturn last year. However, taking a deeper dive into the numbers shows why the construction job forecasts are still positive. The growth is in smaller residential construction projects. Privately-owned housing construction starts increased by 12.8% in 2020. 

Also, the slowdown in large scale construction projects is likely temporary. In fact, with stimulus funds and the vaccine making Covid less of an economic stressor, there may be a boom in large-scale construction. 

This means a significant need for an increased number of workers in a field that was already experiencing a labor shortage. Construction is a field worth considering that offers good wages and consistent work. General laborers are needed in this field, as well as site supervisors, project managers, and quality assurance/control positions, to name just a few examples.

Alternative Energy

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the position of wind turbine technician, or “windtech,” is the fastest-growing occupation in the United States. Windtechs install, maintain and repair wind turbines that generate electricity. The next fastest-growing occupation in the United States is solar photovoltaic (or “PV”) installers. PV installers, assemble, set up, and maintain rooftop systems that convert sunlight into energy.

Civil engineers are also in demand for the alternative energy sector. The need for civil engineering positions is expected to grow 11% by 2026. There is also a growing number of open positions for engineers in this field from several disciplines. 

With the United States rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, the green energy industry will continue to experience rapid growth. Along with the positions mentioned, there is a need for every type of worker, from managerial to sales staff, in this sector. Many of these organizations rely on staffing agencies like Advastar to meet their labor needs. 

Manufacturing

In October of 2020, BLS reported that job openings in the manufacturing sector were at an all-time high. Going into Q4 of 2020, there were 525,000 open manufacturing jobs. The largest job growth is in the transportation sector, but the overall health of manufacturing employment is strong. 

Job seekers will find a variety of open positions in manufacturing. Many open positions are available for assembly line workers that offer good wages and benefits. Additional positions in manufacturing to consider are managerial and administrative. Something that is specifically mentioned frequently in job market research is the need for industrial maintenance mechanics. 

Manufacturing is a sector supported by Advastar, and we can provide staffing solutions for companies in this industry. 

Engineering 

Advastar is a skilled trade staffing agency that specializes in the engineering field. We know many industries need engineers from a variety of disciplines. Currently, examples of some open positions are on the rise are civil, mechanical, and environmental engineers. 

As mentioned previously, there is a need for engineers in the alternative energy sector. While the oil industry is in a downturn, the job outlook for petroleum engineers is positive. 

Engineering is such a wide field that those with these skills and education are always in demand. 

Power and Communication Construction 

Companies that build structures for power and communication networks are career growth fields. Jobs from this sector would include working on or installing power lines and towers for electricity, radio, television, and telecommunications. With the information age we live in, it is easy to see why there is a demand for workers in this field.

Skilled Trade Apprentice Fields 

Positions that require apprenticeships are on the rise. Some examples of these jobs are electricians, plumbers, welders, masons, and elevator repair operators. The government recognizes this labor need and is offering grant incentives to grow apprentice programs. The US Department of Labor is a good resource for information on apprentice programs.

Skilled trade jobs such as these tend to pay better-than-average wages. Of course, apprentices aren’t at the top of the wage scale for these positions; however, they receive payment and simultaneously learn a trade. In addition, the payoff potential is significant once they are on their own. For example, the median income for an elevator repair operator is over $76,000 per year; in some parts of the country, they make around $100,000 per year. 

Advastar is a Skilled Trade Staffing Agency Leader

Many top companies from the industries mentioned rely on Advastar’s expertise as a skilled trade agency. We have the resources to meet your workforce needs. Advastar will create a staffing solution custom-tailored to the needs of your organization. 

We’ve developed a talent pool of engineers across disciplines with experience in a variety of industries. We can also fill construction positions for management and labor. Our team has experience in providing staffing solutions to the manufacturing industry as well. In addition, we have long-term relationships in providing labor to energy and oil companies. 

Please contact us to discuss how we can help meet your staffing needs in any of these growing industries.