Fastest-Growing Jobs Through 2034: Healthcare and Energy Boom, But AI Clouds Tech Roles

The sluggish job market has you thinking of switching careers? Jobs in tech, health, and energy generation are projected to grow fastest.

Key Takeaways

• Healthcare and energy jobs are expected to grow the most in the coming years.
• The outlook for data scientists is uncertain as AI could either boost or undercut demand.

Healthcare and Energy Lead Growth

Many of the fastest-growing careers through 2034 will be in healthcare and social services as the American population ages, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections. The energy sector, including wind and solar power, will also grow as AI, data centers, and electric vehicles drive demand. Jobs like nurse practitioners and physical therapist assistants are expected to see the most new openings.

Tech Jobs: Data Science in the Spotlight

BLS projects strong growth for some tech jobs, particularly data scientists. "The growing demand to build AI models, conduct data analysis, and integrate applications into business practices is expected to drive employment of data scientists," making it the fourth fastest-growing occupation in the economy.

The AI Dilemma for Data Scientists

Despite the BLS projection of 34% growth through 2034, the job market is looking tougher for data scientists and other tech workers. Experts aren't sure whether the build-out of AI will help or hurt those in the field. The information sector has shed 342,000 jobs (about 11% of its workforce) over the past three-and-a-half years. Employment in professional and business services, which also employs data scientists, has been fairly flat.

AI's Dual Impact

Tech companies have been laying off thousands while pouring money into AI infrastructure. Data and analytics is the lowest-hiring sector on Indeed. Once the technology matures, demand for professionals who can work with AI, including data scientists, could pick up. But AI can perform tasks assigned to data scientists and could undercut growth in the field. Laura Ullrich, Indeed's director of economic research, says it's too early to know which way it will break. For now, companies are mostly using AI to cut labor costs, but in the longer run, we might see a different path.