South Dakota's 'hot careers'

This article was published in the September 2006 South Dakota Labor Bulletin.

What is the definition of ‘hot careers?’ The literal definition would be a career which exposes a worker to heat - welders, metal pourers and casters, and paving, surfacing and tamping machine operators. In fact, protective equipment has to be worn for welding and pouring and casting metal is a particularly hot field anytime of the year. More often than not, when people inquire about ‘hot careers’ they are not speaking literally. Even within a labor market perspective, there are different ways to define ‘hot’ occupations. First, let’s consider those occupations projected to grow the fastest, which are considered ‘hot’ careers by many. 

To define fastest growth occupations, we must first have a measuring stick to determine what fast growth will be. Total employment in South Dakota is expected to grow from 442,403 in 2004 to 499,467 in 2014, a rate of 13.0 percent. Using that percentage growth as our measuring stick, there are 12 occupations that are expected to see employment grow at least three times faster through 2014 in South Dakota, or greater than 38 percent.  Of these 12 occupations, six of them are healthcare related, while three of them are computer occupations. The three remaining occupations are two personal care occupations and one social service occupation.

Job growth in healthcare occupations has been a trend over the last decade in South Dakota. An aging population and continued medical advancements are two reasons for most of the expected job growth. Also at play is a greater health consciousness, due in part to public and private promotional campaigns to improve health and contain healthcare costs. Diagnostic medical sonographers, (projected job growth of 45 percent) physician assistants (44 percent) and dental hygienists (41 percent) are healthcare practitioner and technical occupations which are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations in South Dakota. The use of physician assistants (PAs) in clinics and hospitals as a way to help curb the rising costs of healthcare is expected to continue. Physician assistants can provide much of the same medical care as physicians and work under the direct supervision of a physician. Diagnostic medical sonographers and dental hygienists are expected to see above average job growth over the next decade as more people take advantage of the services that they provide, and as technological advancements continue to be made in medical sciences.

The other three medical field occupations are all within the healthcare support occupational group. Medical assistants, physical therapy assistants and dental assistants are expected to see employment growth of 44 percent, 40 percent and 39 percent, respectively. As the medical industry continues to expand services offered, these healthcare support occupations will see employment growth as they are relied on to help with direct patient care. The continued aging of South Dakota’s population will also contribute to the growth of these healthcare support occupations.

Technological advances and increased reliance on computer technology across all industries will continue to result in increased employment levels for network systems and data communications analysts (58 percent); computer software engineers, applications  (48 percent); and computer software engineers, systems software (47 percent). Employers continue to streamline and cut costs within their companies by purchasing or designing computer systems to manufacture products and to track inventory and other processes, which will result in above average job growth in computer occupations. These employers also need to be able to network and hold teleconferences with not only their own satellite locations across the country and world, but also with all of their customers and vendors to ensure their company operates at maximum efficiency. Continued business efforts to further expand networking and computer systems are expected to continue, helping make these computer occupations among the ‘hottest’ jobs in South Dakota.

Two of the hottest occupations can be found in personal care and service worker occupations. Personal and home care aides (with projected growth of 50 percent) and fitness trainers and aerobics instructors (38 percent projected growth) are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations in South Dakota through 2014. The continued shift in elderly care from nursing homes to assisted living facilities will be the main reason personal and home care aides is expected to be among the 12 fastest growing occupations in South Dakota. In addition, fitness trainers and aerobics instructors are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations within South Dakota, as people continue to try and increase their health and wellness to ensure a healthier and longer life span.

Forty percent job growth is expected for social and human service assistants. This occupation in community and social service occupational group is among the fastest growing, as society continues to expand programs and services for the less fortunate. The needs of the physically and mentally challenged, as well as the need to help out the underprivileged and low income members of the community, are expected to be the main reason for the job growth for social and human services assistants.

The 12 occupations listed above are expected to be the fastest growing in South Dakota from 2004 through 2014. Does that make them the ‘hottest’ occupations in the state? As mentioned above, these occupations are all expected to grow at least three times faster than the total of all occupations in South Dakota. However, combined they are expected to add just 373 jobs to the labor market annually. Meanwhile, there are seven occupations that are each expected to need more than 300 new workers on average each year in South Dakota from 2004-2014. Should we instead consider these ‘hot’ careers?

How we determine the yearly need for new workers by occupation is a combination of new job growth as well as job openings created due to the need to replace workers who will leave an occupation specifically or leave the workforce entirely. Retail salesperson (projected to need 676 new workers yearly) and cashiers (639 workers yearly) are the top two occupations using this perspective of ‘hot’ careers. They are both classified as sales occupations and will continue to need more workers because of new business and expansion of existing retail establishments. The expansion of urban retail centers will also continue to be a leading cause for workers needed yearly in these occupations. Two food service occupations are also among the occupations projected to need the most workers, again because of urban center expansion.  Those occupations are waiter and waitresses (519 workers annually) and combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food (357 workers annually). Fast food restaurants and specialty restaurant growth is the main reason these two occupations are expected to be among the leaders. 

The final three occupations expected to need more than 300 workers annually are very unique and diverse in nature. They are registered nurses (498 new workers annually), customer service representatives (324 new workers annually), and janitors and cleaners (322 new workers annually). Expansion of job duties, aging population and medical business growth are the three main reasons registered nurses are expected to be among the occupations needing the most new workers annually. Business growth and customer satisfaction are the main reasons for customer service representatives being on this list. Janitors and cleaners are found in almost every business and industry across the state, so as new businesses develop and existing businesses expand, there will continue to be a high demand for these workers. 

There are two different groups of ‘hot’ occupations, three if you include the rather tongue-in-cheek mention of occupations involving hot working conditions. The definition of ‘hot’ is sometimes in the eye of the beholder when career trends are considered. Projected trends such as these are important for businesses (with a vested interest in an adequate supply of workers being available), educational program planners (tasked with supplying those workers) and individuals (making career decisions). The Labor Market Information Center develops this type of data using several different measures of occupational employment trends. This information is available in various publications, on the LMIC website and upon request for special information needs. One such publication, the "South Dakota's Hot Careers" brochure, looks at high demand and high way occupations by level of education and training recommended. Click here for the brochure in .pdf format. The projections data is also incorporated in the South Dakota Careerways magazine designed for those making career and post-secondary education plans. Click here for .pdf files from that publication.

If you have questions or need more information, contact Merle Aske of the Labor Market Information Center at (605) 626-2314 or e-mail him at merle.aske@state.sd.us.