There has been a huge mass of growing occupations over the last several years. These careers will continue to grow and have been projected growth through the year 2018.  With this current economic turndown there have been many out of work individuals who are considering changing careers and trying a different type of career within the same industry.  The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has a projection list of the 30 fastest growing careers.

Several of the careers highlighted:

Physician assistants have a projected increase by 27 percent by the year 2016.  The number of employees employed in the year 2006 was 66,000 people. The median pay for physician assistants is $74.980.   Physician assistants practice medicine and prescribe medication under the supervision of surgeons and physicians. Education/training: completion of a two-year physician assistant program is required before students can take the test.

Home health aides are one of the top healthcare related occupations with a percentage growth of over 50% and the number of new jobs within the 1000s of 460.9.  The median wage is $77, 400.  Home health aides assist people who are disabled, chronically ill, need assistance, assist people in homes, hospices, and day programs.  A home health aides’ best way of gaining education is through on-the-job training.

Unfortunately there are occupations that are on the decline are primarily within manufacturing such as Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operations and textile cutting machine setters, operators and tenders. Sewing machine operators are among fastest declining occupations and the salary is now down to $19,870.  Postal Service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operations have a yearly salary of $50,020.

Reference:  http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_103.htm