Supply Chain

Help Wanted: Top 25 Most Wanted Professions

March 12, 2008

They say we're headed into a recession ("they" referring to various pundits who get paid to tell us how great or lousy we're doing at any given point in time), and yet we keep hearing that there is a serious shortage of skilled workers in various industries. So in the interests of offering career-enhancing advice to those thinking of changing professions before their professions change them, here is the list of the Top 25 Most Wanted U.S. Professions, according to Jobfox, along with median salary ranges:

1 Software Design/Development ($95K-$105K)
2 Nursing ($35K-$45K)
3 Accounting/Finance Executive ($65K-$75K)
4 Sales Representative/Business Development ($65K-$75K)
5 Administrative Assistant ($35K-$45K)
6 Corporate Finance ($75K-$85K)
7 Networking/System Administration ($75K-$85K)
8 Intelligence ($75K-$85K)
9 General Accounting ($45K-$55K)
10 Technical Customer Support ($45K-$55K)
11 Testing/Quality Assurance ($65K-$75K)
12 Project/Engagement Management ($85K-$95K)
13 Business Analysis (Software Implementation) ($85K-$95K)
14 Product Management ($95K-$105K)
15 Database Administration ($85K-$95K)
16 Technology Management ($125K-$135K)
17 Business Analysis ($75K-$85K)
18 Account/Customer Support ($35K-$45K)
19 Advertising (Online and Offline) ($65K-$75K)
20 Semiconductor Test Engineer ($55K-$65K)
21 Training ($55K-$65K)
22 Retail Banking ($45K-$55K)
23 Semiconductor Design/Verification Engineer ($105K-$115K)
24 Help Desk ($45K-$55K)
25 Medical Technologist/Technician ($35K-$45K)

Jobfox also polled more than 100 corporate recruiters to find out what the current trends are in job placement:

43% of corporate recruiters say staff levels at their organizations will significantly or slightly increase during 2008

19% say staffing levels will remain about the same

21% say staffing levels will significantly or slightly decrease

17% are unsure if staffing levels will increase, decrease or remain the same during 2008.

About the Author

Dave Blanchard Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Supply Chain

Email: [email protected]

Follow on Twitter @supplychainDave

Call: 216-931-9794

Contributing Editor Dave Blanchard provides the IndustryWeek audience his expertise in lean supply chain, reporting on topics from logistics, procurement and inventory management to warehousing and distribution. He also specializes in business finance news and analysis, writing on such topics as corporate finance and tax, cost management, governance, risk and compliance, and budgeting and reporting.

Dave is also the chief editor of Penton Media’s Business Finance and editorial director of Material Handling & Logistics.

With over 25 years of experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2010), and is a frequent speaker at industry events. Dave is an award-winning journalist and has been twice named one of the nation’s top columnists by the American Society of Business Publications Editors.

Dave received his B.A. in English from Northern Illinois University, and was a high school teacher prior to his joining the publishing industry. He is married and has two daughters.