Layoffs in certain industries (like the tech-wide reckoning spanning from 2022 to present day) paired with the “Great Resignation,” of 2022 can make the job market look grim. However, there are several industries experiencing growth in 2024. So, if you’re a job seeker, fear not! The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 8.8 million job openings this year, after all. Here are some of the top industries seeing positive growth so far this year:
Healthcare
No surprise here, but jobs in healthcare have been increasing steadily. Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, people are realizing just how important our healthcare employees are, and the market reflects this sentiment. 2024 will see the continuation of this trend, with 72,000 jobs being added to this sector in March of this year. Check out this graph from Peterson-KFF to see the cumulative change from 1990 to 2024.
Government Employees
Another industry experiencing positive growth this year is employment in government. 2023 saw the highest year after year growth in this sector, averaging at 2.7%, the highest it’s been since 1990. In March of 2024, government employment grew by 71,000 split between local and federal government positions. Jobs in this industry are incredibly diverse; including civil engineers, accountants, police officers, practically anything!
Leisure and Hospitality
Leisure and hospitality appear to be returning to pre-pandemic levels. March of this year saw 49,000 jobs added to this industry, greatly surpassing the previous 12-month average of 37,000. This is largely tied to the travel industry’s recovery; after a sharp fall-off from 2019-20, visitation to the United States is slowly but surely recovering. This is another diverse industry, with a plethora of different hospitality opportunities for job seekers.
Construction
Now, this is a bit more of a niche industry, but its growth is undeniable. March of 2024 saw the average gain of jobs in construction double (39,000 versus the average of 19,000). Additionally, the Construction Confidence Index from the Associated Builders and Contractors reported that around 48% of builders are looking to increase hiring in 2024, as opposed to the 11% who are reportedly downsizing. All signs point to continued growth in this industry.
Social Assistance
One more industry experiencing continued growth in 2024 is social assistance. This industry consists of jobs such as childcare workers, social workers, care aides, and the like. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this industry is trending upwards in 2024, though at an admittedly slower rate than the previously listed industries. March of 2024 saw 9,000 jobs added, and while this is much lower than the average of 22,000 per month, the upward trend is expected to continue in the future.
The job market in 2024 isn’t all bad. There are quite a few industries experiencing growth, and the skill requirement across these industries is incredibly diverse. There are plenty of opportunities out there for practically every skillset.
This article was written by Cameron Ballard.
Cameron Ballard is a student at Seton Hall University and Vice President of the English Honors Society. He has always had a passion for reading and writing, especially poetry. Beyond this, you can usually find him fishing or hiking in his home state of New Jersey.