Despite widespread layoffs impacting various sectors due to automation and economic challenges, certain job categories in the United States are experiencing significant growth and offering lucrative salaries, even for those without extensive experience or a college degree. A 2020-2024 analysis of government data by Plus Docs highlights a contrasting landscape where some fields struggle to fill positions, while others see a sharp decline.
Workplace expert Liz Bentley noted that many mid-career professionals are spending months searching for employment, often sending hundreds of applications without success. "From the job-seeker side, the stories are tough," Bentley told the Daily Mail. "Many mid-career professionals are on the market for four to nine months, sending out hundreds of applications - sometimes 200 to 400 - before getting traction."
However, a select few sectors are facing hiring shortages. Hospitals, for instance, are increasing their recruitment of midwives, a role that has seen a more than 260 percent growth in employment since 2020. Midwives, who provide care during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, typically require a graduate degree and can earn approximately $131,000 annually.
"Companies can't hire enough nurses and care coordinators," Bentley stated, aligning with recent data from ZipRecruiter, which indicated that a quarter of its most in-demand roles are in the medical field.
Lab researchers, including scientists and mathematicians, also represent a fast-growing, high-paying sector, with average annual salaries around $161,000. These positions generally require a bachelor's degree and about five years of experience.
Not all booming professions necessitate advanced degrees or extensive training. Roles such as automotive tire makers, picture editors, construction steel workers, dancers, machine operators, ambulance drivers, and railway track workers have seen substantial hiring increases with only a high school education and minimal prior experience. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows a significant surge in new ambulance driver hires from 2020 to 2024, with a 130 percent increase. Dancers and choreographers also experienced a 143 percent rise in employment over the same period, with many finding opportunities following the resumption of live events.
Conversely, the labor market is showing a decline in entry-level positions. Bentley observed that "senior-level roles are holding strong while junior postings are down about seven percent from last year," adding that "entry-level candidates are actually the ones being squeezed the hardest."
Several job titles at the lower end of the career ladder have seen sharp decreases since 2020. American companies hired 88 percent fewer metal makers, 80 percent fewer poll surveyors, and 75 percent fewer animal control workers. According to Daniel Li, CEO and co-founder of Plus Docs, these declines are largely attributed to the ongoing integration of robotics and artificial intelligence. "Traditional roles are rapidly declining, largely due to automation," Li told the Daily Mail. "Innovation, societal needs, and technology are reshaping the job landscape, creating opportunities in some sectors while reducing demand in others."