Money Makers - Slowest-Growing Jobs

 The BLS estimates total employment to grow by 8.3 million jobs from 2021 to 2031. However, in the dynamic landscape of employment, it's essential to recognize that not all jobs evolve at the same pace. Some professions progress slowly, and it's crucial to understand that slow growth isn’t the same as stagnation; these roles continue to make progress, albeit at a more measured rate. 

To empower job seekers and employees with valuable insights into market dynamics and personal potential, ResumeGenius has identified the top 30 slowest-growing but not necessarily lowest-paying careers. 

In September 2023, ResumeGenius analysts took the following steps to create this list:

• Extracted the professions that showed positive growth in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment projections for 2021–2031.

• Determined which jobs also had a salary higher than the U.S. 2022 median of $46,310 (according to BLS).

• Only considered jobs with a specific and defined job title.

• Created a geometric mean of median annual wages and projected employment growth for each occupation. The lower the geometric mean, the lower the job in the ranking.

The top 10 slowest-growing jobs according to the above methodology are listed below, with all 30 found here. Each job title includes a projected change in employment, median annual wage, typical education requirements, and work experience and training required for the job. 

1. Dredge operators

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +2.9%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $47,090

• Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training

2. Sailors and marine oilers

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.4%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $47,490

• Typical educational requirements: No formal educational credential

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training

3. Statistical assistants

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +1.7%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $48,880

• Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None

4. Embalmers

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +3.5%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $49,910

• Typical educational requirements: Associate’s degree

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Long-term on-the-job training

5. Farm and home management educators

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.5%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $53,450

• Typical educational requirements: Master’s degree

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None

6. Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +2.1%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $56,340

• Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training

7. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +1.5%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $56,670

• Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: Less than 5 years

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Long-term on-the-job training

8. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.1%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $59,860

• Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: Short-term on-the-job training

9. Historians

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +4.5%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $64,540

• Typical educational requirements: Master’s degree

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None

10. Zoologists and wildlife biologists

• Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: +0.1

• Percent employment change from 2021 to 2031: +0.7%

• Median annual wage in 2022: $67,430

• Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree

• Work experience in a related occupation required for the job: None

• Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the job: None

Take professions like historians, astronomers, explosives workers, and pile driver operators. All of them have made the cut for our list of 30 slowest-growing occupations.

However, the labor market is a dynamic landscape, subject to perpetual transformation. In the coming years, with the advancement of NASA and SpaceX missions, including voyages to Mars and lunar exploration, astronomy professions may potentially become one of the fastest-growing occupations. Similarly, in light of groundbreaking innovations in cancer treatment, roles such as medical dosimetrists could ascend to prominence as one of the most sought-after professions.

The best advice for job seekers and workers—stay on the edge of anticipation, ride the waves of self-development, and skillfully adapt to the ever-shifting tides of market changes.

To view the complete list of 30 jobs and for more information, please visit https://resumegenius.com/blog/job-hunting/slowest-growing-jobs or contact Nicole Ostrowska-Cobas at nicole@resumegenius.com.

About ResumeGenius

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