The 5 Fastest Growing Career Fields

• Health Care: The 77 million baby boomers in America are aging, and require a whole host of products and services. The U.S. Labor Department projects that over 600,000 nursing jobs will open up by 2012. Physician's assistants, physical and occupational therapists, doctors, home care workers, emergency services personnel, and even dental hygienists will all see extraordinary job growth.
  
  Because of this acute need, many accelerated or online degree programs will allow you to enter the health care workforce in just 1-2 years.
• Information Technology: From the computer that stores all of your personal information to your neighborhood ATM, it's clear we depend on technology for survival in this day and age. Information technology is a hot industry that shows no sign of slowing.

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  Jobs in this industry include computer programming, software development, database administration, and computer support specializations. Because the industry relies on having the most up-to-date information, employers require at least a 2-year, and most often a 4-year degree in computer science, information science, or management information systems (MIS).
• Education: America always needs teachers. Today's employers rely on having an educated, professional workforce, placing great demand on our educational systems, both K-12 and post-secondary. Over 700,000 K-12 teaching jobs, and over 600,000 post-secondary positions will become available between now and 2012.
  
  This demand has fueled the creation of accelerated programs, offering teachers the opportunity to be in their own classroom within a year.
• Fitness Trainers/Instructors: America's obsession with weight loss has made the fitness industry a hot one. But luckily, the work is high energy, rewarding and fun. Jobs include aerobic instruction, personal training, and nutrition specialist.
  
  Educational requirements usually include a 4-year degree in nutrition, fitness training or physical education. CPR and additional certifications are often required as well. Fitness trainers should be in good shape, have lots of energy, and be able to motivate others.
• Criminal Justice: As technology makes the need to protect confidential information even greater, careers in private and corporate investigation, cyber security, and homeland security will grow rapidly, as will careers in crime prevention and litigation. Our increasingly litigious society, and its growing reliance on attorneys and paralegals make a criminal justice career a solid bet.
  
  Most careers in criminal justice require a solid two-year or four-year criminal justice degree, which may qualify you as a law clerk, title examiner, claims adjustor, appraiser, investigator, or paralegal.

Sources:

• "Fastest-Growing Fields"; EmploymentSpot.com
• "Where the hot jobs will be"; By Les Christie, CNN/Money, Feb. 4, 2005