THE TOP 10 CAREER FIELDS IN AMERICA.

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You're a high school student heading out into the real world within the next few years, so you need to have some idea of what's going to be hot and what's not in tomorrow's job market. Although predicting trends and career demands has its challenges, the employment forecast for the immediate future is looking pretty bright.

For the third year in a row, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has reported that companies plan to increase the number of new college graduates they'll hire. NACE's Job Outlook Survey 2006 indicated that students with degrees in business, engineering, and computer-related fields will be in high demand. Increased competition among employers for qualified college grads also often translates into bigger paychecks and better benefits packages.

"College students should not expect employers to hire 'just anyone' to fill a job, though," cautions Marilyn Mackes, NACE's executive director. "Employers are looking thoughtfully for candidates who have the right mix of skills, enthusiasm, and experience for the job."

Those not heading to a four-year college can also take heart. The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that opportunities are on the rise for careers in the trades, the restaurant industry, and the fields of hospitality and tourism. Demand for "assistant"-related skills in the areas of medicine, education, and law are also rising.

Finding your career path is no easy job. But to help you get started, here's an overview of the top 10 career fields in the country with information about the prospects for each.

Progress in the Internet and other advances continue to make computers and technology a very hot career path, in particular, computer systems design and information services, such as software publishing and data processing, are expanding rapidly As cell phone companies feverishly compete, more specialists in microelectronics will be needed. Tech-savvy workers will be hired to build better laptops, digital cameras, MP3s, PDAs, and satellites for radio communications.

Technology is evolving into innovative areas--from advanced artificial intelligence, where computers can be programmed to beat top chess players, to nanotechnology, where scientists are investigating how to build futuristic gadgets atom by atom. "It's never too soon to begin talking to college and career counselors and do some homework on technology careers," says Marjorie Bynum, vice president for workforce development for the Information Technology Association of America.

As the "baby-boomers" are expected to live longer than ever before, research has accelerated in medicine and technology. Demands for health care services are expected to rise considerably. Fifteen of the 30 fastest growing careers in the country are health-related. Registered nurses currently lead the pack as far as greatest opportunities, but openings for chiropractors, veterinarians, and speech-language pathologists are also projected to rise. The health care industry, in an effort to keep costs under control, is shifting work formerly done by higher-compensated professionals such as doctors and dentists to the assistant level. Because of this, jobs for dental assistants, physician assistants, and therapy aides are on the rise. With stricter regulations and expanding services in health care, there is a considerable increase in paperwork and record-keeping. As a result, medical records and health information technicians will be needed. Plus, many going into these fields can start in technician and assistant positions with two-year degrees. (For more, see "Under the Microscope: A Look at Careers in Health Care" on page 13.)

If you want to make a difference in the world, then a career in education or social services may be perfect for you. Jobs in these fields are expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations, especially for private institutions, including elementary, secondary, technical, junior, and vocational schools, as well as in colleges and universities. However, as the pre-school population continues to increase, so will the demand for public school teachers. Schools have been hiring more educational paraprofessionals in recent years, and these assistant positions often do not require an advanced degree. Paraprofessionals include teacher's aides, special education assistants, early childhood assistants, and library assistants. One of the newest job titles is cybrarian, a librarian who is an expert at navigating the Internet.

Community and social services are expected to add jobs over the next few years as well, largely because of the issues related to an aging population. However, services are also expected to grow for the disabled, the sick, substance abusers, and people in crisis.

The visual and performing arts are alive and well in the 21st century, so say goodbye to the days of the starving artist. Although some artists may still struggle to make a living, opportunities are more plentiful than ever, especially for those who combine talent and technoiogy. Jobs in the arts and communications are wide-ranging, including graphic design, copywriting, advertising, broadcasting, and entertainment, as well as in the area of sports. Many of the new jobs will be related to professional, scientific, and technical services. "Corporations, hospitals, and schools all want animation, music, and interactive material for their presentations," says Marty Hasselbach, managing director of the Vancouver Film School in Canada. Also, as cable, the Web, satellite radio, electronic games, and CD-ROM manufacturing has expanded, so has the need for actors, directors, and producers. (For more, see "Turning the Camera on Communications Careers" on page 20.)

Jobs are expected to be abundant in the construction industry for the next several years. Positions for automotive repair, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics are among those on the rise. The manufacturing industry also needs skilled tradespeople with technical know-how. According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), manufacturing covers everything from making potato chips to computer chips, and opportunities range from tool and die work to advanced robotics. In NAM's 2005 survey, manufacturing employers rated "the shortage of qualified applicants" as one of their biggest problems. To deliver the goods and sen/ices, industries will be relying on more truck drivers. Airline pilots will also remain in demand as the industry competes for customers.

In 2005 there was a strong upward shift in the hiring of MBAs, according to TopMBA. com. Opportunities for those with business smarts are expected to keep rising over the next several years. Many of the positions will be related to scientific and technical consulting as well as accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services. Insurance is also expected to be a hot field, plus more administrative assistants will be needed as corporations expand. Because people continue to be concerned with funding their children's college educations and retirement, they are expected to rely more on personal financial advisors. As always, in a business-to-business and consumer society, specialists in sales, marketing, and advertising will continue to be in demand to keep services and products moving around the world. Two growth areas to keep an eye on are e-commerce (selling over the Web) and forensic accounting (using accounting, auditing, and investigative skills in legal matters).

This country will always be building, but jobs for architects are expected to grow more slowly than other categories in the next several years. Those with a knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting technology will have an edge when it comes to finding employment. Architectural opportunities are strongly tied to the construction industry, especially for projects such as office buildings, shopping centers, schools, and health care facilities. After homeland security threats and a year of deadly hurricanes, civil engineers are more in demand. These professionals design and supervise the construction of roads, levees, tunnels, water supply, and sewage systems.

Scientists boldly go where no one has gone before, using their knowledge of the physical world to discover ways for improving our lives. Scientists are chemists who create drugs, pesticides, synthetic fibers, household cleaners, and alternative fuels. They are oceanographers who develop methods for measuring seismic activity that can lead to a tsunami. They are meteorologists who follow weather patterns, including the development of hurricanes. They are volcanologists who study when a volcano like Mount St. Helens may erupt. Scientists are also experts at NASA who help design innovative rockets that will further our knowledge of outer space. Their specialties are wide-ranging, and their services are in demand. Not all science positions require an advanced degree. Science technicians with two-year degrees are also needed to support research.

According to leaders in retail and industry, although products may be comparable, customer loyalty is most impacted by service. Because of this, people-focused fields like hospitality and tourism are growing rapidly. The service industry needs fresh faces in many areas, including hotel and restaurant management, retail and service work, travel planning, personal health and fitness consulting, and culinary arts. The 24/7 lifestyle of many Americans has created a desire for both balance and traditional pleasures like fitness and fine dining. As a result, good chefs are in great demand, and the top ones end up as celebrities. The country is increasingly more "body conscious," so fitness trainers and aerobics instructors will find steady employment. Finally, as business and personal travel grows, so does the need for hotel management and event planning.

The legal services industry is more popular than ever. Even on TV, lawyers and criminal justice professionals seem to be multiplying on shows like CSI and Boston Legal. While more positions are expected for lawyers, paralegals and legal assistants are the ones experiencing the biggest job boom. When it comes to enforcement, homeland security has driven up the need for FBI workers, customs agents, and border patrol. Openings are projected in local and special police departments as well.

Legend for Chart:

A - OCCUPATION
B - AVERAGE SALARY

Accounting (private)                          $44,564
Management Trainee (entry-level management)   $35,811
Teaching                                      $29,733
Consulting                                    $49,781
Sales                                         $37,130
Accounting (public)                           $41,039
Financial/Treasury Analysis                   $45,596
Software Design and Development               $53,729
Design/Construction Engineering               $47,058
Registered Nurse                              $38,775

Source: Spring 2005 Salary Survey,
National Association of Colleges and Employers

1. Registered nurses
2. Computer support specialists
3. Preschool teachers
4. Licensed practical nurses
5. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
6. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
7. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
8. Medical records and health information technicians
9. Dental hygienists
10. Emergency medical technicians

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics/College Board

1. Elementary school teachers
2. Accountants and auditors
3. Computer systems analysts
4. Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education
5. Computer software engineers, applications
6. Special education teachers
7. Computer software engineers, system software
8. Network systems and data communications analysts
9. Network and computer systems administrators
10. Computer programmers

Source. Bureau of Labor Statistics/College Board

1. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
2. Lockheed Martin
3. Walgreen Company
4. PricewaterhouseCoopers 5. Federal Bureau of Investigation
5. Schlumberger
6. U.S. Department of Agriculture
7. Ernst & Young
8. Cendant Car Rental Group
9. Hertz
10. IBM
11. Target
12. U.S. Customs and Border
13. KPMG
14. Teach for America
15. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers
16. U.S. Marines
17. Deloitte & Touche
18. Wells Fargo
19. Boeing

Source: www.collegograd.com