The Four Hottest Job Industries Right Now
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1.4 million in August. In a difficult year, it’s a positive sign to see employment trending in the right direction.
At Lucas Group, we’re often chatting with hiring managers looking for specific traits and abilities. Sometimes, they may be hiring for a contract position instead of full-time roles, which can still be highly beneficial for job seekers. Even better: a lot of the fastest-growing industries are set up for these types of contract jobs.
Here are the four hottest industries and a look at some of the roles within each.
Government
Employment in government trade increased by 344,000 in August, accounting for one quarter of August’s total employment gain. A large portion of this growth came from temporary 2020 Census workers.
While many government jobs at the federal, state, and local levels may start out as temporary or contract positions, they can still prove quite fruitful. Contract jobs offer benefits that full-time positions can’t provide, like a quicker start and more flexibility for both employer and employee. If the pairing between the two parties is a good fit, a transition to full-time is that much easier.
High-level government jobs, like a chief information security officer (CISO) or chief resilience officer, often work with partners in other industries to ensure their security and compliance initiatives are up to par. Having strong people skills is a big plus for these roles.
Retail trade
With nearly 249,000 new jobs in August, retail trade is the second-highest growing industry. This encompasses a variety of fields, including motor vehicle and parts dealers, electronics and appliances stores, food and beverage stores, and sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores.
Retail trade is another industry with frequent contract positions. Even in an unusual year like 2020, people are still shopping, and more Americans than ever are relying on online ordering to purchase everything from groceries to home goods to clothing. Experience with ecommerce or social media is a plus for candidates applying to managerial positions.
Professional and business services
Another hot growth industry, professional and business services produced 197,000 new jobs in August. This industry includes professional and technical services, like accounting, architectural, engineering, and computer systems design careers. Also included are administrative and support services, like facilities support, employment services, and investigation and security services.
Many of the technical jobs in this industry require highly focused skills, especially as candidates advance to manager and executive positions. For example, a chief technology officer (CTO) may do an audit of the current computer systems and processes in place. If the CTO can find a better solution that can make employees more efficient and save the company money, that’s a valuable asset for just about any employer.
Similarly, a facilities manager oversees the operations, maintenance, and security of buildings. This role has changed over the past decade, with an added focus on smart buildings. And with good reason — by 2024, there will be 451 million annual shipments of Bluetooth smart building devices. Facilities managers that can plan and execute with smart buildings often have a leg up on those with less smart tech experience.
Leisure and hospitality
Leisure and hospitality saw solid growth in August, as well, creating 174,000 new jobs. Accommodation and food services make up the largest percentage of this group, though arts, entertainment, and recreation positions are also options.
Like government work, many leisure and hospitality positions may start out as seasonal or contract jobs that can turn into long-term careers. At higher levels, managers may be overseeing a large team of people, with both full-time and contract positions.
The leisure and hospitality industry, perhaps more than any other, is focused on ensuring customers are having a great experience. That customer-centric approach starts with a strong company foundation, making positions like Chief operating officers (COO) and chief human resources officers (CHRO) sought-after roles.
It’s encouraging to see so many industries experiencing positive growth. If you’re looking for a new role, search our jobs to find tomorrow’s success.