The 2008 Employment Rundown: Top Jobs of ‘08 and More

January 25, 2008

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It is safe to say that anyone currently in or around the job market is fully aware of our little economic crisis going on in the United States. Basically there is a recession looming, looking to hit in the very near future — in fact some economists are saying that we have already begun the big slide towards the R word. December’s numbers, (released in January), have been pretty bad, and that’s putting in nicely. Our unemployment rate is up, now sitting at 5%, retail sales have dropped to 0.4%, our industrial production is in an absolute comatose, and the housing market which officially kicked off the crummy economy is still sitting in the cellar. American banking institutions are reporting new, and bigger loses with a new twist -layoffs-. Turn on the television and you can visually see the stock market plummeting on a daily schedule basis, and if it couldn’t get any worse look for another increase in gas prices within the next 5-7 days.

So what’s out there in the job market? Is there anything with a sense of job security along with good pay accessible right now to entry level employees? The answers are yes, and yes. FastCompany.com and Yahoo have joined forces and released the “Top Jobs of 2008- The Top 8 Jobs of 2008 “:

Teacher –> For workers who have graduate school degrees, the clear leader in job growth - by a factor of 4 — is the position of postsecondary teacher. In 2008, roughly 38,000 of these jobs will be created in colleges and universities nationwide.
Computer Software Engineer –> Computer and mathematical science jobs are projected to grow at nearly double the rate of other types of jobs. Even though their growth rate has decreased significantly since the days of the tech boom, good times may be on the horizon once again, according to Chris Higgins, the associate director of career management at the Wharton School.
Social & Health Services –> Social and health service jobs are projected to grow 20 percent next year, thanks to the burgeoning population of senior citizens. This year will be the first year that baby boomers can officially claim early retirement, and they’re expected to do so in droves.
Sustainability Expert –> While they haven’t made the BLS reports to date, some career experts believe that so-called green” jobs will proliferate in 2008, shaking up the list of the fastest growing” jobs.
Peace Corps Worker –> If you’re new to the workforce, you may be one of many looking for jobs outside the US. Students in a variety of fields like business, communications and technology are inquiring about opportunities to work overseas,” says Nicole Schwab, a career counselor for undergraduates at the University of Virginia.
Nurse –> Financially, the best bet for a new worker is becoming a registered nurse. With more than 50,000 new nursing jobs to be created this year alone, nurses will have their pick of jobs and salaries, the latter averaging about $57,000 per year.
Franchisee –> I’m seeing a lot of people buying franchises, or setting up arrangements that involve multiple online businesses,” Piotrowski says. Lots of folks are trying to escape the desk job format” after becoming wary of new positions that promise little job security. The freedom some workers find with self-employment often allows for more vacation time, less anxiety about the future, and more potential for profit — even if it means assuming more risk.
Veterinarians –> Of the twenty fastest growing jobs, only one, computer software engineer, has a higher median salary. The median paycheck for vets: nearly $72,000.

And for the less serious job hunter, Yahoo and Fast web also worked together and with the “Top 10 Jobs You Didn’t Know You Wanted”. They’re are some weird forms of employment out there, but hey someone has to do them I guess. Here is the list:

Flavorist –> What gives your favorite foods their special taste? It’s the flavorist’s job to figure out the precise combination of chemicals. Flavorists’ creations most often mimic naturally occurring flavors while adding sharpness and robustness, though they create novel flavors as well, particularly for new candies and beverages.
Brewmaster –> Brewmasters, or head brewers, manage the daily operations of beer breweries, including ordering raw ingredients for brewing and planning the brewing schedule. They participate in the actual beer-making process as well, ensuring that each step transitions smoothly to the next. Doing so requires a combination of management skill and heavy physical labor, including shoveling the raw grain out of containers to prepare beer for fermentation.
Sensory Brander –> As brand strategy has grown increasingly sophisticated, it has expanded well beyond the visual. Using similar skill sets as interior designers and architects, sensory branders help companies incorporate the other underappreciated but powerful senses into their brands.
Carbon Coach –> Carbon coaches offer this essential information. In addition to calculating carbon footprints and offering advice for offsetting them, carbon coaches help companies fit sustainability into their overall mission. Their services range from providing branding strategy for “green” product launches to advising companies on their relationships with NGOs.
Sleep Instructor –> Sleep instructors help the overworked catch their zzz’s with mind-body exercises for the bedroom and beyond. With corporate clients, they focus on productivity, alertness, and cognitive performance during the day — key factors in achieving restful nights, according to Michael Krugman, inventor of the Sounder Sleep System.
Metaverse Evangelist –> As Second Life and other virtual worlds, called metaverses, have grown in popularity, they’ve transformed
from a gaming novelty into a communications boon for job-hunters as well as corporate leaders. Ian Hughes, an IT specialist at IBM Hursley in Hampshire County, England, has taken on a new title — metaverse evangelist — to advise how these virtual worlds can benefit individuals and companies.
Interaction Designer –> Interaction designers work at all stages of product development to design innovative and user-friendly products. In addition to wearing the traditional hat of a designer, they work with executives to define goals for products and systems in development.
Roller Coaster Engineer –> The experts behind a roller coaster’s loops, drops, and turns bring several disciplines of engineering — structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical — to each design.
Animator –> As animation technology has advanced, the field has expanded well beyond feature films to areas such as video games, television, and Internet projects. In all these areas, animators consult with their clients, whether film directors, Web advertisers, or game developers, and then collaborate to develop storyboards for the animations.
Travel Writer –> Travel writing certainly requires a love of adventure, but above all, it demands passion for the written word. The writers use the same skills as other journalists: an eye and ear for detail and the ability to fact check extensively and thoroughly. In transit, the latter often poses steep challenges, especially in rarely traveled locations.

There you go, a look at the “Top 8 Jobs in 2008″ and the “Top 10 Jobs You Didn’t Know You Wanted”, I would love to hear any feedback from people in any of the industries mentioned above, or if you have a suggestion of a job that you feel deserved to make the list.