As we approach the fourth quarter of 2026, you are probably thinking about whether you have met goals for the year. Career management coaches recommend that you also start looking ahead. The latest 10-year employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provide a useful view of where jobs may be added through 2035.

Many discussions of the future of work emphasize artificial intelligence, healthcare, and occupations with the fastest percentage growth. This article takes a different approach: it ranks detailed occupations by the largest projected numerical increases in employment. That gives jobseekers, career changers, students, and workforce planners a broader picture of where the economy may create the greatest number of positions.

What You Will Learn

BLS projects that total U.S. employment will increase by about 5.9 million jobs, or 3.5%, from 2025 to 2035. Private healthcare and social assistance are expected to account for about 37% of all new jobs. Demand for artificial intelligence systems and related services is also expected to support growth in professional, scientific, and technical services. These are projections rather than promises, but they can help us identify the direction and relative scale of long-term labor-market change.

The Federal Government’s top 20 list shows a broad range  of opportunities. Home health and personal care aides remain far ahead of every other occupation. Stockers and order fillers rank second, while software developers place sixth.  Data science, finance, trucking, industrial maintenance, accounting, and the electrical trade are also in the top 20.

Top 20 Occupations by Projected Numerical Job Growth

Employment estimates are BLS projections for 2025 to 2035. Wage figures are 2025 median annual wages; BLS does not project future salaries.

Rank	Occupation	New jobs	Growth	2025 wage
1	Home health and personal care aides	847,300	18.1%	$35,800
2	Stockers and order fillers	250,700	8.9%	$37,330
3	Fast food and counter workers	223,300	5.8%	$31,200
4	Registered nurses	194,700	5.6%	$97,550
5	General and operations managers	181,300	5.0%	$105,770
6	Software developers	174,700	10.2%	$135,980
7	Cooks, restaurant	171,400	12.1%	$37,390
8	Medical and health services managers	155,100	24.2%	$123,860
9	Nurse practitioners	137,800	41.0%	$132,300
10	Construction laborers	109,300	7.3%	$47,120
11	Management analysts	109,200	10.1%	$101,860
12	Computer and information systems managers	108,100	15.8%	$175,140
13	Medical assistants	107,600	12.9%	$45,690
14	Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors	98,000	18.4%	$59,350
15	Data scientists	95,400	34.6%	$120,230
16	Financial managers	84,900	9.7%	$166,570
17	Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	83,800	3.8%	$58,640
18	Industrial machinery mechanics	79,700	17.8%	$64,520
19	Accountants and auditors	79,400	5.0%	$83,680
20	Electricians	75,900	9.2%	$63,190

Source:

BLS Table 1.4 Occupations with the most job growth 2025 and projected 2035

What the Updated Projections Tell Us

Healthcare Support Leads Numerical Growth

Home health and personal care aides are projected to add 847,300 jobs—nearly 600,000 more than the second-ranked occupation. An aging population, the prevalence of chronic health conditions, and demand for home-based care continue to drive this exceptional growth according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The occupation’s 2025 median wage of $35,800, however, remains well below the $50,980 median for all occupations.

Healthcare Creates Opportunities at Several Career Levels

Four healthcare-related occupations appear in the top 20: home health and personal care aides, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and medical assistants. Medical and health services managers add a fifth healthcare-related path. The education requirements and pay vary widely. Nurse practitioners, for example, are projected to grow 41%—the fastest rate among all  occupations detailed in the Occupational Outlook Handbook—and had a 2025 median wage of $132,300 according to BLS. This range matters to career changers because healthcare growth is not limited to one credential level or type of work.

Technology Remains Important but Does Not Dominate the List

Software developers are projected to add 174,700 jobs, placing sixth in numerical growth, while computer and information systems managers rank twelfth with 108,100 new jobs. Data scientists are listed at number 15, with 95,400 projected new jobs and 34.6% growth. BLS expects the spread of digital tools and AI solutions to support some technology occupations. At the same time, AI-related productivity gains may limit demand in some offices, administrative support, sales, media, and production roles. Jobseekers should therefore evaluate how technology changes the work—not merely whether a job is labeled “technical.”

Service Logistics Construction and Management Also Matter

Stockers and order fillers, fast food and counter workers, restaurant cooks, and construction laborers all rank in the top 10. General and operations managers and management analysts also make the top 20. Financial managers and accountants and auditors strengthen the representation of business and financial careers. This mix reminds us that large numerical gains occur across the economy, including roles that require very different combinations of education, experience, licensing, and on-the-job training.

Mental Health Counseling is Prominent

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors rank fourteenth, with 98,000 projected new jobs and 18.4% growth. Their place on the list is consistent with BLS expectations that persistent behavioral health needs will increase demand for diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support.

Transportation and Skilled Trades Expand the Picture

The top 20 rankings also include heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, industrial machinery mechanics, and electricians. Together, these occupations point to continuing demand in freight movement, equipment maintenance, construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure. They also show why jobseekers should not assume that the largest employment gains will be limited to occupations requiring a four-year college degree.

High Growth Does Not Always Mean High Pay

The 2025 median wages in the table range from $31,200 for fast food and counter workers to $175,140 for computer and information systems managers. Many occupations adding the most jobs pay below the national median, while higher-paying occupations often require a bachelor’s or graduate degree, professional licensing, specialized training, or prior management experience. Numerical growth is therefore a useful starting point—not a complete career decision.

Key Takeaways

The good news is that BLS expects job growth across multiple skill levels and occupational families. Caregiving, healthcare, logistics, food service, construction, management, finance, technology, transportation, and skilled trades all appear among the leaders.

The caution is that projections cannot tell us whether a particular occupation is a good fit for an individual. Before selecting a target, compare the work itself, required qualifications, compensation, local demand, and the time and cost of retraining. Then consider how your transferable skills, work style, communication style, and accomplishments would help an employer solve problems in that field. For jobseekers, students, and career changers, the most useful takeaway is not that everyone should pursue one of these 20 occupations. It is that reliable labor-market data can narrow the search, challenge assumptions, and lead to better-informed career conversations.