Moving to another country is a major lifestyle decision. One of the most important questions on everyone’s mind is earning a living, or finding a suitable job that not only pays the bills but has prospects for the future. Immigrants are typically concerned with finding their way in a new country with a different culture. Understanding the job market in the U.S. is crucial to making the best of your potential.

An important book dealing with different occupations and their place in the 21st century job market is Best Jobs for the 21st Century. One of the authors, J. Michael Farr, is a renowned specialist on careers in the U.S. and has written extensively on careers and the job market.

Best Jobs for the 21st Century is the result of extensive research and evaluation of existing data as to different occupations and the way they are projected to develop in the next century. First the authors started with the jobs included in the O*NET database. The O*NET (Occupational Information Network) is an extensive database of occupational information compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor, which includes information on about 1,200 occupations. This data was then supplemented by information on earnings released by the U.S. Census Bureau, since the O*NET does not include that information.

The occupations included in the book are the ones that met the following criteria:

• Provided earnings of $40,000 or more a year (the average earnings for all workers in the U.S. being approximately $26,500 a year).
• Are expected to increase the number of employees in that occupation by at least 10 percent by 2006.
• Have the potential to create 100,000 or more job openings each year.

A total of 686 O*NET occupations met these criteria and were therefore included in the book.

The book starts with “The Best of the Best” – all of those wonderful jobs that combine high pay, high growth and the most openings. The occupations are then grouped into four lists: The 50 Best Jobs for the 21st Century, Best-Paying Jobs, Fastest-Growing Jobs, and Jobs With the Largest Number of Annual Openings. This is “the cream of the crop” in terms of the job market.

There are many different kinds of lists that present interest. For example Lists for Different Types of Workers has best jobs for older workers, best jobs for women, etc. The lists based on levels of education, training and experience include best jobs ranging from those requiring graduate or professional degrees to the ones requiring short-term on-the-job training. Various occupations are also grouped under Best Jobs Lists based on interests, such as best artistic jobs, best plant and animal jobs, best industrial jobs, best humanitarian/helping others jobs, etc.

The second section of the book is essentially a directory of descriptions of the 686 best jobs for the 21st century. These descriptions are neatly organized under 279 titles of major jobs. For each occupation there is a job title, which is the title commonly used in the U.S. to describe the occupation, projected growth through 2006, annual job openings, and yearly earnings, which is the average total pay received by all workers in the U.S. in this occupation.

If you look under Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations Managers, for example, you will find that growth is expected to be 29%, there are 54,600 annual job openings, yearly earnings are $53,601, required education is usually “work experience, plus degree”, self-employed in this occupation are 2%, and part-time workers are also 2%. The Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations Managers job title includes the following job descriptions: Advertising and Promotions Managers, Sales Managers, Marketing Managers, Fundraising Directors, Grant Coordinators, and Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes. Each description in turn provides in-depth information as to what the job entails, as well as what knowledge and abilities are required.

This book is a must-read for anyone who is serious about their future. Extensively researched, yet presented in a clear and easy-to-understand way, the information will give you the tools you need to plan your future and take the necessary steps to succeed in America. Whether you want to stay in your particular field or are thinking of making a change this book will give you an insight in the job market now and in the years to come.

Read more  about this book.

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