Top Jobs to Watch in 2025: Insights from Lightcast Data
Christopher Laney
To learn more about trends affecting the global labor market like AI, labor shortages, and geopolitics, read our latest research, Fault Lines.
Over 10 years ago when I started in workforce development, I chose growing industries to expose high school students in hopes that they would select industries that had the highest growth potential. At the time, I chose healthcare, technology, manufacturing, arts/culture, hospitality, and business. Fast-forward over a decade later, many of these industries round out the most demand jobs in America. Lightcast being the global leader in labor market information with access to both proprietary and government datasets, it’s the most robust labor market information on the globe.
For 2025, I developed a methodology to look at the top growing jobs and skills across the United States, using Lightcast data. One note when reviewing year-over-year growth between 2023 and 2024, many of these occupations saw negative demand growth. This directly aligns with slower hiring in 2024 as the economy was rebounding from a high inflationary environment and the pandemic hiring hangover many employers experienced. So here we go!
2025 Trending Jobs
1. Nurse Practitioners
Healthcare is the most in-demand industry in America across multiple occupations with nurses and doctors at the forefront of those needs. In a volatile labor market (especially in healthcare following a global pandemic), we need individuals to alleviate the workload of doctors and lead a new generation of nurses.
2025 Projected Growth: 5%
Average Earnings: $128k
Educational Requirements: Post-Baccalaureate
Current Demand: 198k
YoY Demand Growth: 16%
Top Skills: Nursing, Primary Care, Medical Records, Patient Education, Treatment Planning, Urgent Care, Geriatrics, Chronic Diseases
2. Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Energy-related jobs are essential to our economy and jobs related to clean energy are becoming a key opportunity for jobseekers. These technicians will experience job stability and opportunity for years to come and provide individuals with a non-degree opportunity for a great career.
2025 Projected Growth: 5%
Average Earnings: $65k
Educational Requirements: Industry Certification
Current Demand: 2,760
YoY Demand Growth: 4%
Top Skills: Wind turbines, Power Tools, Wind Farming, Hydraulics, Preventive Maintenance, Electronics, Technical Training, OSHA
3. Data Scientists
Data is everything in a knowledge economy. With the emergence of artificial intelligence and automation, individuals with skills to understand data, data connectivity, and communication of data are critical roles for jobs in nearly all industries. Data scientists are among the key occupations expected to be in demand for years to come. In much of the tech industry, we saw a huge hiring spree following the pandemic, but more recently has leveled out which explains the decrease in YoY demand.
2025 Projected Growth: 5%
Average Earnings: $119k
Educational Requirements: Bachelors
Current Demand: 249,265
YoY Demand Growth: -2%
Top Skills: Data Analytics, SQL, Computer Science, Python, Statistics, Machine Learning, R Programming Language, Tableau, Project Management
4. Couriers and Messengers
I swear Amazon did not convince me to add this to the top jobs list but with an increased demand in online shopping, grocery shopping, and delivery services, it’s no surprise the large demand for individuals willing to ensure I receive my latest package of chapstick on time. Depending on the company, these roles often provide families with great benefits and flexibility which makes these jobs enticing for high school diploma completers.
2025 Projected Growth: 5%
Average Earnings: $42k
Educational Requirements: High School Diploma
Current Demand: 16,300
YoY Demand Growth: 7%
Top Skills: Human Relations, Warehousing, Vehicle Maintenance, Traffic Patterns, Package Delivery, Specimen Handling, Valid Driver’s License
5. Solar Photovoltaic Installers
We already mentioned the emergence of clean energy and our reliance on it as a society, so it’s no surprise that solar energy continues to climb. Another great career pathway for non-college-seeking jobseekers, becoming a solar photovoltaic installer only requires a high school diploma and on-the-job training. This role continues to emerge in the clean energy sector and is a great opportunity for cable installation technicians to transfer their skills into a more sustainable occupation.
2025 Projected Growth: 4%
Average Earnings: $53k
Educational Requirements: High School Diploma
Current Demand: 6,810
YoY Demand Growth: -26%
Top Skills: Solar energy systems installation, Roofing, Power Tools, Electrical Wiring, Solar Systems, Electrical Equipment, Safety Standards
6. Information Security Analysts
If I were to select two of the most in-demand industries, it’s healthcare and technology. While we need assistance from people in all industries, choosing a technology pathway is a great way to ensure you’re going to have job stability for years to come. Information security analysts ensure our companies, organizations, and information is secure from hackers, and others trying to get ahold of our data.
2025 Projected Growth: 4%
Average Earnings: $125k
Educational Requirements: Bachelors
Current Demand: 46,000
YoY Demand Growth: -4%
Top Skills: Cyber Security, Auditing, Vulnerability, Computer Science, Information Systems, Incident Reports, Risk Analysis, Security Controls, Risk Management, Cyber Threat Intelligence
7. Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
When was the last time you saw an artistic job on any top jobs list? Well, today is your lucky day — art teachers around the world rejoice! In a technically driven economy, our craving for art is increasing and our need for quality artists is still essential to our lives. Traditional artists have crossed their expertise into the digital world and we’re finding your average designer carries skills in both the technical and non-technical art world. While the demand isn't massive in comparison to other industries, encouraging young people to follow their passion for art, is as important today as ever.
2025 Projected Growth: 4%
Average Earnings: $41k
Educational Requirements: Bachelors
Current Demand: 6,010
YoY Demand Growth: -2%
Top Skills: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Painting, Animation, Autodesk Maya, Illustration, Graphic Design, Workflow Management, 3D Modeling, Drawing
8. Software Developers
It’s not a surprise that software developers still hold a top spot in an annual top jobs report as the demand for software developers continues to be high. Arguably, this occupation is one that experiences some of the largest skills disruption in a short period of time. While today’s software developers might be making fewer websites, and more internal applications for businesses, the need for individuals with an array of programming language skills is an essential need for many businesses and organizations. This occupation saw one of the largest YoY drop but with a current demand of over 570k jobs in 2024, they continue to hold a top place on this list.
2025 Projected Growth: 4%
Average Earnings: $138k
Educational Requirements: Bachelors (Arguably, not required)
Current Demand: 570k
YoY Demand Growth: -15%
Top Skills: Computer Science, Software Engineering, Agile Methodology, Software Development, Java, Python, Amazon Web Services, SQL, Application Programming Interface (API), JavaScript
9. Statisticians
When we talk about statisticians, this is certainly an adjacent occupation to data scientists. There are some key differences as statisticians focus on theoretical aspects of statistical methods and modeling vs. how it’s applied in the world of machine learning. Statisticians are often found in academia and research-related organizations and are necessary in our data-driven economy. This is another occupation that saw a massive drop YoY but the demand and need for this job is still high and therefore, squeaked into the top 10. If you’re a fan of mathematics, this might be the job for you.
2025 Projected Growth: 4%
Average Earnings: $109k
Educational Requirements: Masters
Current Demand: 7,800
YoY Demand Growth: -28%
Top Skills: Statistics, SAS (Software), Biostatistics, R Programming Language, Clinical Trials, Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Statistical Programming
10. Medical and Health Services Manager
In the fast-paced environment of healthcare, having quality medical managers is essential to keep these organizations running smoothly. These jobs require someone with healthcare knowledge, combined with management experience to manage an array of people from nurses to billing and scheduling personnel. For those of us not interested in seeing blood but love the opportunity to help people, this is a great route to go.
2025 Projected Growth: 4%
Average Earnings: $133k
Educational Requirements: Bachelors
Current Demand: 397,000
YoY Demand Growth: -4%
Top Skills: Nursing, Care Coordination, Medical Records, Billing, Auditing, Marketing, Workflow Management, Social Work, Quality Improvement
Honorable Mentions
12. Physical Therapy Assistants
14. Computer and Information Research Scientists
15. Home Health and Personal Care Aides
16. Software Quality Assurance Analysts
18. Occupational Therapy Assistants
19. Epidemiologists
20. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
Methodology
Using Lightcast projection methodology, I chose the occupations with the highest projected growth in 2025 in the United States. Additionally, I limited occupations to only jobs that employ over 10,000 people in America. For Year-Over-Year Growth, I pulled Lightcast Job Postings for 2023 and 2024 for those specific occupations. This is where I also collected the top skills being requested by employers for each of these roles. Lightcast data included salary, earnings, and minimum education requirements.
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