By: Linda Nwoke 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is the country’s federal agency in charge of protecting and promoting the welfare of job seekers, workers, and retired workers. The agency provides opportunities across various industries.

There are about six major sectors in the economy. As of the end of March 2023, there were more than 9.50 million job openings in the United States. Findings also show that most American workers work in the service sector. The largest employment industries include public schools, hospitals, fast food restaurants, professional organizations, office staffing and temp agencies, and the retail jewelry market. Other sectors, including industry and agriculture, account for less than 20 percent of the U.S. economy.

Fastest-growing sectors with opportunities 

Some of the fastest-growing sectors with many job opportunities include healthcare, technology, renewable energy, and logistics. The healthcare sector offers nursing, physical therapy, and medical coding job opportunities. The technology sector is booming in data analysis, software development, and cybersecurity.

Other sectors of note include the renewable energy sector, with various openings in the field of solar and wind energy development, and the logistics sector, especially transportation and warehousing. In recent years, these sectors have seen significant growth, and the DOL keeps providing job opportunities to meet the demands of these industries.

Thus, any hard-working individual who wants results is fit for the American job market and economy. Yet, the amount any worker can earn on the job is driven by factors like state, industry, job title, and skill level.

For instance, in 2021, two states, New York and California, tied for the location with the highest number of Fortune 500 companies. New York, in particular, is attractive to many foreign travelers because it embraces diversity. In the state, over one-quarter of its population comprises immigrants.  

Year after year, many people travel to New York City for various reasons, including its wealth of entertainment, landmarks, and structures housed in museums and art and searching for a source of livelihood. In March 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in March 2022, the unemployment rate in the state dropped to 4.6%

Jobs at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

The BLS offers job opportunities and positions in various fields, and interested applicants can learn more about available options through the agency’s job portal.

According to the Bureau’s occupational outlook handbook, some fast-growing occupations nationwide are expected to keep growing until 2031. Some of the best-paying and fastest-growing ones with projected salaries are:  

• Nurse practitioners (46%)- 120,680 yearly
• Data scientists (36%)-$100,910 yearly
• Sports and Athletes competitors (36% )-$77,300 per year
• Information security analysts (35%)-$102,600 per year
• Statisticians (33%)- $95,570 per year
• Web developers (30%)-$77,030 per annum
• Health Service and Medical managers (28%) – $101,340 per annum
• Logisticians (28%)- $77,030 per year
• Physician assistants (28%) – $121,530 per year

The following are other fast-growing industries, albeit with fewer salaries:

• Wind turbine service technicians (44%) $56,260 per annum
• Tickets, Ushers, and lobby attendants (41%)24,440 yearly
• Motion picture projectionists (40%) $29,350 per year
• Cooks, restaurant (37%) $30,010 per year

Opportunities for Immigrant Workers in the U.S.

Immigrant workers make up over 15% of the nation’s total workforce. In 2021, there will be more than 28 million foreign-born workers in the United States who will contribute knowledge, skills, and labor to the United States economy across various sectors, including health care, information technology, agriculture, hospitality, and construction.

Over the past few years, immigrants have occupied many positions in medical and life sciences, market research, software development, and computer sciences based on their educational level and place of origin. 

Others with less formal and more technical skills occupy several service-oriented positions, such as graders and sorters of agricultural products, dressmakers and sewing machine operators, taxi operators, and chauffeurs.

Training Opportunities in Different Fields

Like other countries, to qualify for work in any of the many sectors within the U.S. job economy, individuals, irrespective of their nationality and immigration status, must undergo some form of education or unique training to meet the job opportunities.  

There are several training and job opportunities in the six sectors and beyond within the U.S. job economy, and some of the leading ones are:

Healthcare Sector: As one of the largest employers of labor after public education in the U.S., this sector is always in need of health professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other forms of allied health professionals. Different training programs are available at community colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Some examples of healthcare training programs include:

• Medical Assistant Training: https://www.medicalassistanttrainings.com/Physical Therapy Assistant Training: https://www.ptaonlineprogram.com/
• Dental Assistant Training: https://www.dentalassistant.net/
• Nursing Programs: https://www.nursingworld.org/education-career/

Hospitality Sector: This sector covers subsectors such as tourism, hotel management, and food service, including restaurants and fast food. It often thrives on the contributions of many immigrants, who can get training programs at vocational schools and community colleges; some hospitality training programs include:

• Hospitality Management Training: https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=hospitality%20management
• Culinary Arts Training: https://www.culinaryarts.org/

Technology Sector: The technology sector is noted for its rapidly growing opportunities in software development, data mining and analysis, and cybersecurity. The industry requires specialized training to acquire skills from formal institutions and technical training programs. A few examples include:

• Software Development Training: https://www.codecademy.com/
• Data Analytics Training: https://www.edx.org/course/subject/data-analysis-statistics
• Cybersecurity Training: https://www.cybrary.it/

Education Sector: Another large employer of labor, the field is responsible for providing instruction to learners and job opportunities for professionals like teachers, administrators, and support staff. Besides the formal training, there are alternative certification programs that can help interested candidates qualify for a job:

• Teacher Certification Programs: https://www.teach.org/
• Educational Leadership Programs: https://www.educational-leadership-degree.com/

Professional Sector: This sector includes financial, management, and consulting services, have several institutions that offer standardized training and skill acquisition. Some of these include:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Programs: https://www.accounting.com/certifications/certified-public-accountant/
• Financial Planning Certification Programs: https://www.cfp.net/
• Management Consulting Services Certification Programs: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/certifications-in-consulting

Technical Skill Sector: Represents all jobs within the manufacturing, construction, and electrical sectors, to mention a few; they cover opportunities in production, quality control, carpentry, electricians, and management. Apprenticeship programs thrive within the industry as well as vocational schools; examples include:

• Welding Certification Programs: https://www.aws.org/welding-certification
• Machining Training Programs: https://www.haascnc.com/machining-classes.html
• Electrical Apprenticeship Programs: https://www.electricaltrainingalliance.org/
• Carpentry Training Programs: https://www.nccer.org/training-development/training-catalog/carpentry

Logistics Sector: Oversees the movement of goods and materials across the country. It includes warehousing, transportation, and supply chain management. Some of the popular logistics training programs include:

• CDL Training for Truck Driving: https://www.cdl.com/
• Supply Chain Management Training: https://www.ascm.org/learning-development/endorsement-and-certificate-programs/

Interested individuals can explore the numerous options for jobs in the sectors and training programs that will help them become qualified and ready to fit their interests and career goals. The DOL continues to offer a wide range of job opportunities across various industries and fields.

With the increasing demand for skilled and talented individuals in the workforce, these job opportunities present an excellent chance for job seekers to advance their careers. Interested applicants can visit the agency’s job portal within their states to learn more about available opportunities, application requirements, and benefits.

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