Top career options and considerations for new and soon-to-be grads
What college majors and careers are emerging as areas of opportunity for college students?
Many companies are reimagining the ways they operate, leading to noticeable changes in the workforce as well as in higher education. From remote and hybrid work to increasing demand in surprising new areas, students may wonder what the changes could mean for their college majors and future careers as new employment opportunities unfold.
The good news? Though career development specialists say it may be too soon to pinpoint specific majors or careers that will see lasting growth due to these shifts, recent trends could point to potential areas that you may want to keep an eye on. Here’s a sample.
Health care and the rise of AI
Overall employment in the health care field is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations at least until 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.1 This demand is due in part to the needs of the growing population of older adults.
Lakeisha Mathews, Director of the Career and Internship Center at the University of Baltimore, says the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) also will expand career opportunities, as companies across industries look for more ways the technology can streamline everyday tasks for employees and customers.
Social justice college majors
Mathews believes social justice is an expanding avenue for college students to explore as society remains polarized on numerous issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion and access.
“DEIA will continue to be an evolving topic,” she says. “Especially for companies seeking to create equitable and inclusive workplaces.” This is especially true in regard to LGBTQIA+ rights in the workplace for employees who may not identify as cisgender.”
The ongoing battle of remote vs. in-person work combined with the elevated cost of childcare may also strengthen advocacy efforts for working parents.
Continuous learning promotes opportunity
Mathews says college students need to understand the labor market and whether their field of interest is in demand in their preferred region. At the same time, they should know upskilling, continuous learning, and professional development will be required beyond their degree. Before they get to that step, though, there are things they should do to attract the attention of potential employers.
“Look for ways to gain experience,” she says. “Employers want to see students doing things, whether it’s volunteering or utilizing the skills you have.”
She says students who obtain internships, especially paid opportunities, find jobs faster after graduation. “In today’s labor market, it takes experience to gain experience.”
Be sure to also research any virtual career fairs in your field of interest. The early career networking platform Handshake has hosted large-scale virtual job fairs during the past several years. And Handshake’s research has uncovered some interesting findings. For example, there has been an uptick in fully remote job postings across Handshake’s network.
Top five industries for job seekers are:2
- E-commerce
- Cloud computing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Health care
- Hospitality
Your career center can help
Mathews recommends that students stay closely connected to their college’s or university’s career services center for information about virtual career fairs or other internship or job opportunities. It’s also important to become familiar with subjects like why you should book informational interviews, and tips about landing and managing an internship.
