Job Trends
A recent survey found that—besides specific job skills—Washington employers want employees with problem-solving abilities, positive work habits and attitude, communication and teamwork skills, and adaptability to change.
- 1/3 of employers said the skills they require have increased over the last three years.
- 82% cross-train employees to do a number of jobs, which means employees need skills in multiple areas or a willingness to learn.
Some jobs are literally “dream jobs“—they’ve been dreamed of
and don’t even yet exist. Other jobs, like green technology and alternative energy
are in the early stages of growth. Source: State Employers’ Workforce Training Needs and Practices, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, 2006.
Depends How You Slice It
You can look at top jobs in many ways: by number of openings, highest wages or regional demand. We looked at the latest Washington state data by occupational categories and provided sample hot job titles.
Top jobs by highest median hourly wage
| Category |
Hourly Wage |
Sample Occupations |
Sources:
- Labor Day Report, Washington State Employment Security Department, Sept. 2007
- State Spring 2008 Job Vacancy Survey Report, Washington State Employment Security Department, June 2008
|
| architecture and engineering |
$24.04 |
architect, chemical engineer, drafter |
| health care practitioners and technical |
$23.00 |
dentist, physician, registered nurse |
| computer and mathematical |
$21.52 |
computer programmer, actuary, statistician |
| management |
$21.05 |
marketing manager, healthcare administrator |
| installation, maintenance and repair |
$15.00 |
automotive mechanic, HVAC mechanic |
| construction and extraction |
$15.00 |
carpenter, electrician, construction laborer |
| arts, design, sports, media |
$15.00 |
technical writer, graphic designer, advertising |
| business and financial operations |
$14.42 |
accountant, financial analyst, human resources |
| community and social services |
$14.06 |
family therapist, human services provider |
| education, training and library |
$12.80 |
special education teacher, science teacher |
Top jobs by annual job openings
| Category |
Hourly Wage |
Sample Occupations |
Sources:
- Labor Day Report, Washington State Employment Security Department, Sept. 2007
- State Spring 2008 Job Vacancy Survey Report, Washington State Employment Security Department, June 2008
|
| office and administrative support |
8,842 |
customer service, teller, secretary |
| sales and related |
8,069 |
cashiers, retail salesperson |
| food preparation and serving related |
8,051 |
cook, wait staff, hostess, maître d’hôtel |
| health care practitioners and technical |
7,778 |
dentist, physician, registered nurse |
| computer and mathematical |
4,557 |
computer programmer, actuary, math teacher |
| transportation and material moving |
4,292 |
pilots, truck drivers, bus drivers |
| business and financial operations |
3,871 |
accountant, financial analyst, human resources |
| management |
3,679 |
marketing manager, healthcare administrator |
| health care support |
2,842 |
dental assistant, home health aide, pharmacy aide |
| architecture and engineering |
2,729 |
architect, chemical engineer, drafter |
What You Can Do
All jobs experience ups and downs due to the economy, changes in technology and globalization. The key to surviving and thriving in the career game is to do work you are passionate about. Take the Career Assessment Test to discover what might suit you best.
Explore which jobs are hot—or not—in your region of Washington at the Career Demand and Wage Information page.
For national job outlook projections for 2006-2016 see the Outlook Quarterly.