The fastest-growing jobs this decade, sorted by who enjoys them

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics published its 2025-35 employment projections on August 27, 2026. Here are the twelve fastest-growing occupations, grouped by the kind of work each one involves.

On August 27, 2026, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its employment projections for 2025 to 2035.^[1] It expects the US economy to add 5.9 million jobs over the decade, a rise of 3.5 percent.^[1] The twelve fastest-growing occupations are projected to grow between 21 and 41 percent.^[2]

A growth list shows where jobs are being added, not whether you'd enjoy the work. So we looked up all twelve on O*NET OnLine, the US Department of Labor's occupational database.^[6] O*NET rates every occupation on six interest types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. That's Holland's RIASEC structure, the model behind our test.^[8]

The twelve fastest-growing occupations, 2025 to 2035

The last column gives the first two interests in each O*NET interest code, in O*NET's order, linked to the O*NET page.

Seven of the twelve are in health care. BLS links that to an aging population and more chronic illness, and the solar and wind jobs to rising demand for electricity.^[1]

The same list, sorted by interest type

Find the one that sounds most like you. Each occupation sits under its first interest, its second in parentheses. The descriptions are O*NET's, shortened.^[7]

If you're mostly Investigative

You like studying and researching: things, living organisms, illness or human behavior. On the list: nurse practitioners (Social), data scientists (Conventional), computer and information research scientists (Conventional).

If you're mostly Social

You like helping, teaching, advising or caring for other people. On the list: physical therapist assistants (Realistic), psychiatric technicians (Investigative), occupational therapy assistants (Conventional), physician assistants (Investigative).

If you're mostly Realistic

You like building or repairing equipment, being physically active or working outdoors. On the list: solar photovoltaic installers (Conventional), wind turbine service technicians (Conventional), ophthalmic medical technicians (Investigative).

If you're mostly Enterprising

You like managing, negotiating and leading. One on the list: medical and health services managers (Conventional).

If you're mostly Conventional

You like clear procedures that keep information and data in order. Only information security analysts (Investigative) lead with it, but it is the second interest for six of the other eleven.

If you're mostly Artistic

None of the twelve has Artistic anywhere in its O*NET code. That's a fact about twelve occupations, not a verdict on creative work: O*NET profiles more than 900.^[6] BLS does say generative AI may limit demand for some jobs in the arts, design and media.^[1] Check the outlook for the job you have in mind.

What this list can't tell you

US data only. The projections describe the US economy.^[1] If you live elsewhere, look for your country's official figures.

Fast growth can mean few jobs. Solar photovoltaic installers and wind turbine service technicians rank second and fourth. Yet together they're projected to add fewer than 15,000 jobs by 2035, as BLS itself notes.^[1] Home health and personal care aides, further down the same table at 18.1 percent, are projected to add 847,300.^[2]

Growth isn't the same as openings. Most chances to enter an occupation come from people leaving it. In most occupations, BLS says, openings from workers who leave "provide many more opportunities than employment growth does."^[4] Across all occupations it projects about 17.5 million openings a year, against 5.9 million net new jobs over the decade.^[3]

A projection isn't a forecast. BLS is careful here: its figures describe what to expect under specific assumptions, and it suggests looking at the direction and relative size of changes, not the exact values.^[5][1]

A fast-growing job isn't automatically a good fit. An interest code describes the work, not you. The first letter can hide a near tie: O*NET rates nurse practitioners 76 on Investigative and 75 on Social.^[21] And interests say nothing about entry requirements. Three of the twelve typically need a master's degree.^[3]

What this means for you

If you're 16 or 17, treat this list as a map, not a ranking of careers.

• Start with your interests, then check demand. Find your type above and open the O*NET page for one or two occupations. Each page lists the job's tasks.^[10] If those sound dull, the growth rate doesn't matter.
• Read the education column. Half of the twelve typically need less than a bachelor's degree to enter: an associate's degree, a postsecondary nondegree award or a high school diploma. The other half need a bachelor's or master's.^[3]
• Look at your second letter too. Jobs mix interests, and so do people. Social with Realistic and Social with Investigative land on different rows.
• Expect the numbers to move. BLS releases new projections every year, so expect new figures.^[5]

Parents and counselors: BLS names you among the people who use these projections.^[5] The table is a conversation starter, not the answer.

Your next step

If you don't know your letters yet, take the CAT test: 23 questions, about 10 minutes, free. Then read what RIASEC is to make sense of your result, and come back to this table. The test supports career reflection. It's guidance, not a definitive answer.

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