Fastest-Growing Jobs are expected to emerge across healthcare, energy, technology, and other industries through 2035. New employment projections show how changing demographics and economic demand could reshape America’s workforce. Meanwhile, healthcare positions account for several of the occupations expected to expand most quickly. Energy and technology roles also appear prominently among the occupations with the strongest projected growth.
The projections cover the period from 2025 through 2035 and estimate overall employment growth across the U.S. economy. During that period, total employment could increase by approximately 5.9 million jobs. That increase would move overall employment from about 170.3 million to 176.2 million positions. However, the projected 3.5% increase represents slower growth than the previous decade experienced.
Healthcare stands out because an aging population continues to increase demand for medical and social services. As people grow older, they generally require more assistance with healthcare and everyday personal needs. Consequently, occupations supporting older adults could experience particularly strong demand during the coming decade.
Nurse practitioners rank first among the occupations with the strongest projected percentage growth. Employment in that profession could increase by approximately 41% between 2025 and 2035. That growth represents an estimated addition of about 137,800 nurse practitioner positions nationwide. Rising healthcare needs could therefore create more opportunities for advanced nursing professionals across the country.
Solar photovoltaic installers rank second, with projected employment growth reaching approximately 36.5% during the same period. The occupation could add roughly 11,300 positions as electricity demand continues to increase. In addition, expanding renewable energy development could support continued demand for workers who install solar equipment.
Data scientists rank third among the projected fastest-growing occupations, with employment expected to rise by 34.6%. The profession could gain approximately 95,400 positions between 2025 and 2035. Businesses increasingly rely on data analysis, which could continue supporting demand for workers with specialized technical skills.
Wind turbine technicians rank fourth, with projected employment growth of approximately 29.5% over the decade. The occupation could add around 3,500 positions as electricity demand increases and renewable projects expand. Therefore, energy-sector development could continue creating specialized opportunities across several regions of the country.
Medical and health services managers also rank among the fastest-growing occupations during the projection period. Employment in these positions could increase by approximately 24.2%, adding about 155,100 jobs. Notably, this occupation represents the largest projected numerical increase among the listed positions.
Physical therapist assistants rank sixth, with projected employment growth reaching approximately 23% through 2035. That increase could create around 26,200 additional positions during the decade. Growing healthcare needs could contribute to stronger demand for rehabilitation services and supporting medical professionals.
Psychiatric technicians rank seventh, with employment projected to grow by approximately 22.3%. The occupation could add roughly 36,000 positions over the next decade. Growing demand for mental health services could contribute to continued employment opportunities in this area.
Computer and information research scientists rank eighth among the projected fastest-growing occupations. Employment could increase by approximately 21.8%, resulting in about 8,400 additional positions. Technology development and continued research could support demand for professionals working on advanced computing systems.
Occupational therapy assistants rank ninth, with projected employment growth reaching approximately 21.5% through 2035. The profession could add around 11,200 positions as healthcare demand continues changing. Similarly, rehabilitation services could remain important as the population ages and medical needs evolve.
Ophthalmic medical technicians complete the top ten, with employment projected to increase by approximately 21.4%. That growth could result in roughly 15,500 additional positions during the projection period. Overall, the Fastest-Growing Jobs reflect several broader changes affecting healthcare, technology, and energy.
The projections also highlight how employment growth can vary significantly between occupations and industries. Some professions may experience rapid percentage growth despite adding relatively few positions nationwide. Meanwhile, larger occupations can produce substantial job gains even when their percentage growth remains comparatively moderate.
Healthcare remains the clearest theme across the projected rankings because several listed occupations directly support medical services. At the same time, energy and technology occupations demonstrate the influence of changing electricity demand and technological development. As a result, workers considering career paths may see opportunities emerging across several different sectors through 2035.
