63 percent of this decade’s new jobs will not require a college degree.
Industries and occupations related to health care, personal care and social assistance, and construction are projected to have the fastest job growth between 2010 and 2020.
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The upward trend in healthcare jobs would seem to be consistent with a United States that is beginning to resemble Europe, with a declining birth rate and an aging population.
As the population continues to age, older groups of Americans are expected to have more rapid growth than younger groups. The 16-to-24 age group is anticipated to experience little population change, with a growth rate of 0.3 percent during 2010–20, while the population ages 25 to 34 is projected to grow 10.5 percent over same timeframe. Meanwhile, the 45-to-54 age group is expected to shrink by 7.6 percent, reflecting the slower birthrate following the baby-boom generation. As the baby boomers continue to age, the 55-and-older population is projected to increase by 29.1 percent, more than any other age group.
Low wages
With only one spouse working, most of these jobs that do not require a bachelor’s degree are unlikely to support a middle-class lifestyle for a family. But for a two-wage earner family, these jobs can provide a reasonably comfortable lifestyle. Here are the income figures for the five occupations projected to add the greatest number of new jobs.
| Occupation | Number of new jobs added | Percent change | Wages (May 2010 median) | Entry-Level Education | Related Work Experience | On-the-job Training | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 711,900 | 26 | $64,690 | Associate’s degree | None | None | |
| Retail Salespersons | 706,800 | 17 | 20,670 | Less than high school | None | Short-term on-the-job training | |
| Home Health Aides | 706,300 | 69 | 20,560 | Less than high school | None | Short-term on-the-job training | |
| Personal Care Aides | 607,000 | 70 | 19,640 | Less than high school | None | Short-term on-the-job training | |
| Office Clerks, General | 489,500 | 17 | 26,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | None | Short-term on-the-job training |
A married couple working at any combination of these jobs would land above the “contemporary” poverty line – $33,686 for a family of four. Based on the median wages from this chart, a registered nurse and a personal care aide would bring in a total income of $84,330. However, it should be noted that the trend is for a nurse with a bachelor’s degree or a diploma to fare better in the job market. But even combining the two lowest paying jobs from this chart would generate $40,200 total annual income.
Related: ‘How Many College Graduates Does the U.S. Labor Force Really Need?’ (Cost of College)
