24 Emerging Hot Careers

What’s the next hot career field? Are fuel cell technicians and chief privacy officers here to stay? Which unusual jobs are ready for a growth spurt? People ask questions like these hoping to learn about an entirely new occupation or some small, overlooked career that is poised for a breakthrough. And it’s no wonder they ask.

In the not too distant past, many of the jobs we now take for granted didn’t exist. But as technology developed, so did the need for workers who could build and use it-and sometimes, the tasks those workers performed were so different that they became part of new occupations.

Technology is only one cause of new occupations. Demographic trends-such as increased immigration, aging, and higher levels of education-also cause new types of jobs to emerge, as do business trends and shifts in consumer needs and tastes.

Information technology

• GIS project managers
• GIS analysts-map production
• GIS analysts-land use

The pivotal role of visual information in land use decisionmaking at the local government level continues to generate emerging Geographical Information System (GIS) occupations. Local government infrastructure investments and land-use regulations require systemic development plans and other land use data in visual form. Among other uses, GIS information and models aid in discussions and negotiations between local governments and various private entities, including developers.

Manufacturing

• Sr Engineers-operations due diligence
• Quality control crew leaders-prod line

The concept of “due diligence” typically refers to a profound review of financial and accounting documents in the acquisition of a firm or in the process of investing in a firm. The concept also applies to the engineering and production activities, for which functional plans and systems may assume equal importance with the financial picture of a firm.

Industry adoption of new standards

(referred to as International Standards Organization (ISO) 9000 procedures) is closely related to the creation of a variety of management and technical positions that certify the efficiency of the engineering and production functions. Positions intended to certify manufacturing standards and quality production through use of well-documented procedures and processes continue to emerge. v Healthcare o Credentialing positions o Eligibility, necessity, & utilization reviewers o Selected medical specialties o Adjuvant therapists

In the health field, new & emerging occupations have addressed concerns with legal liabilities, responses to advancing medical technologies, administrative adjustments to rising costs, and alternative medical approaches. As a consequence, increased attention has been directed toward establishing and updating the credentials and certifications of medical personnel. New technologies and related certifications have created or changed work content in emergency medicine, endoscopy, enterostomal therapy, sonography, and retinal angiography, to list only some areas. Rising costs have created the need for additional cost-containment positions that determine the necessity of treatment, the form of treatment, the duration and location of treatment, and approved providers, among other cost control measures. Adjuvant, or “helping,” therapies of alternative varieties (acupuncturists, cultural healers, biofeedback clinicians, and sleep technicians) have created additional occupational opportunities as insurers extend coverage options.

Human Services

• Death and burial management
• Chaplains and religious educators
• Bereavement specialists
• Behavioral modification and adaptation

The aging of the American population continues to create occupations related to deaths and burials. Some associated occupations include “death-call drivers,” who handle initial disposition of human remains. Others are cemetery personnel, who handle grave preparation and graveside arrangements. Other positions exist for persons who help in the management of bereavement and subsequent grief management. Chaplain occupations and others dealing with religious education have been reported in nontraditional areas such as home healthcare services, residential care facilities, other health and allied services, labor unions and similar labor organizations, and some units of local government.

Transportation

• Aircraft line and support technicians
• Armored car drivers
• Aircraft interior refurbishers
• Ship container placement planners

Aircraft occupations are associated with corporate aircraft ownership. These aircraft owners require line technicians to move, fuel, and clean airplanes. The growth in the number of corporate aircraft has led to demand for interior refurbishers to maintain and renew interior accommodations. The continued growth of various convenience stores and fast-food outlets, among other factors, has created a need for armored car drivers to collect receipts and deliver operating funds. Finally, international trade and current ship container technology have resulted in occupations for specialists who plan the loading and placement of containers aboard ships.

Security

• Security screeners, Managers and Supervisors
• Crisis response phone specialists
• Surveillance analysts
• 9-1-1 coordinators
• Alarm monitoring center operators

In 2000, a variety of airport screening occupations appeared. Similar occupations were created for work in the lobbies and public areas of commercial and government buildings. Camera surveillance of retail sites created the need for analysts to review videotapes and reports. The need for telephone companies to support 9-1-1 call systems required the use of various coordinators to oversee the installation and maintenance of required switches. The expansion of telephone call centers of 9-1-1 type systems required increased staffing of crisis response specialists. Finally, an expanded reliance upon silent alarm systems at businesses and homes supported the need for alarm monitoring personnel at central alarm locations, partly due to local police complaints about having to respond to false alarms.

Management support

• Total quality management
• Bankruptcy coordinators
• Governmental affairs specialists
• Disaster business plan specialists
• Regulatory specialists
• Overseas operations specialists

The total quality management label denotes a number of related occupations that incorporate integrated management functions. These positions have resulted from widespread adoption of the process improvement approach to management. The positions of governmental affairs specialist and manager of environmental affairs were created to address conditions outside of internal operations. Global business opportunities and requirements have spurred demand for international sales managers, senior managers of international affairs, overseas operations specialists, directors of international accounting, and export/import trade representatives. Domestically, business failures and personal credit problems have created the need for bankruptcy coordinators at a variety of loan and consumer finance establishments. At another level, concerns about business disruptions resulting from natural and other disasters have provided opportunities for specialists who prepare contingency plans that address possible risks. Tec
hnology-specific o Satellites o Wheelchair and scooter maintenance o Environmental care o Nonmetallic technicians o Underground operations o Salvage technicians

The extensive development of satellite technology has created occupations such as satellite engineers, technicians, and repairers. Increased attention to environment management and care has led to growth in the numbers of restoration cleaning technicians, fire and water damage restoration technicians, mine cleanup technicians, waste water technicians dealing with disposal to city systems, and reverse osmosis repair and service technicians. The expanded use of underground routings of various pipeline and cable systems has boosted demand for underground specialists. The mobility needs of an expanding senior population have driven increases in the numbers of wheelchair and scooter repair and service technicians. The prevalence of nonmetallic materials in everyday products has created positions for laminator/ welders of fiberglass tanks and pipes, plastic welders, and laminators. Finally, the high intrinsic value of components and materials going into high-technology products has resulted in an increase in salvage activities and in the growth of occupations engaged in the salvage of such goods as automobile parts and materials in x-ray units.

Summary and conclusions

A number of occupations have been highlighted here to substantiate patterns with specific details.

If any conclusions are possible, they are that new and emerging occupations are appearing throughout the economy, in many industries in many States. Increasing human needs and new technology serve as the engine and fuel for the creation and expansion of these jobs

[ Adapted from : Bureau of Labor Statistics; June 2003; Bulletin 2559 ]