When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, it quickly disrupted every aspect of work. Offices shut down. Those lucky enough to keep their jobs found themselves working from home, clicking into video meeting after video meeting, some while caring for kids and overseeing remote school. Millions were furloughed or laid off. Industries hit particularly hard continued to suffer as recovery felt increasingly out of reach.
But at the same time, the demand for some jobs grew at a swift pace. With its “Jobs on the Rise” analysis, LinkedIn has identified 15 areas with the most growth between April and October 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Their analysis concludes that these jobs should continue to be in demand now and into 2021.
“Whether you are looking to get back into the workforce or want to invest your talents in a new area, this data is designed to help you find an available path in confusing times,” writes LinkedIn’s Andrew Seaman in his introduction to the list.
If you’re career planning or job searching in 2021—whether you want to get ahead in your own field, make a career change, or prepare for graduation and the “real world”—you already know there are a lot of unknowns.
But here’s what we do know right now: There’s plenty of opportunity in these 15 job areas, according to LinkedIn’s analysis. See the list below, plus links to search for relevant open roles on The Muse.
1. Business Development and Sales
Organizations always need employees who can bring in revenue; develop new relationships with clients, customers, and other partners; and find and pursue opportunities to grow the business in different directions. But these folks are crucial as companies try to survive and thrive during difficult times. (Growth: 45%)
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
Read More: Careers in Sales
2. Workplace Diversity
It remains to be seen whether the racial justice and other diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments companies made in the wake of police violence and protests in the spring and summer of 2020 will yield long-term changes in the workplace. But with 90% growth in open roles related to workplace diversity, there’s an opportunity for folks to try to do this important work.
Search for open diversity jobs on The Muse
3. Digital Marketing
Digital marketers were already in demand pre-pandemic, and hiring for these professionals accelerated in 2020, according to LinkedIn’s analysis. So if you have or can develop digital marketing skills—from data analysis to copywriting—you’re in luck. (Growth: 33%)
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
- Digital marketing jobs
- Social media jobs
- Marketing representative job
- Search engine optimization (SEO) jobs
Read More: Careers in Marketing
4. Digital Content
Writers may not be used to the notion that there’s plenty of demand for their work, but at a time when live performances, social gatherings, and a slew of other activities are extremely limited, jobs for writers and other content creators—from bloggers to podcasters—are on the rise. (Growth: 49%)
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
5. Education
Just as the workplace changed dramatically and unexpectedly in 2020, so too did education. As schools, edtech startups, and other organizations adapt, there’s a rise in the number of available jobs in the education space. (Growth: 20%)
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
Read More: 15 Common Questions Asked in a Teacher Interview (and How to Answer Them With Ease)
6. Professional and Personal Coaching
If you’re a coach who helps businesses or individuals, your services are much needed during a tumultuous time. (Growth: 51%)
Search for open coach jobs on The Muse
7. Mental Health
One of the many devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic has been the mental health toll, with more than 40% of Americans suffering from anxiety, depression, increased substance use, suicidal thoughts, or other issues related to the stresses of this time. It’s not too surprising, then, that mental health professionals are in high demand. (Growth: 24%)
Search for open mental health jobs on The Muse
8. Engineering
Software engineering roles were already growing at a much faster rate than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and LinkedIn’s analysis found especially strong growth in hiring for specialized engineers—such as web developers, full-stack engineers, and front-end developers—in 2020. (Growth: 25%)
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
Read More: Careers in Software Engineering
9. User Experience
Professionals responsible for the way we interact with websites, apps, and other products fall into this category, which saw 20% growth in hiring.
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
- User experience designer jobs or UX designer jobs
- User experience researcher jobs or UX researcher jobs
- User interface (UI) designer jobs
- Product design jobs
Read More: Why UX Research Might Be the Perfect Career for You—and How to Get Started
10. Data Science
Data science is another field that was growing even before the pandemic, given the ubiquity of data at companies across industries and of all sizes and the need to understand and leverage it to drive performance. According to LinkedIn’s analysis, which found a 46% growth in data science roles, that trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
Read More: Careers in Data and Analytics
11. Artificial Intelligence
Closely related to data science professionals are folks who work on artificial intelligence, such as machine learning researchers and engineers. In a software-focused world where companies are developing and honing complex algorithms—from speech recognition to recommendation algorithms—these roles are in high demand. (Growth: 32%)
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
12. Loans and Mortgaging
Hiring for professionals who work on loans and mortgaging grew 59%, perhaps not surprising at a time when home sales are booming, interest rates are low, and the government rolled out its Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses.
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
13. Frontline E-Commerce
This category shouldn’t surprise you if you’ve taken to ordering everything from groceries to clothes to furniture online, or if you’ve read about the many impacts of the pandemic on supply chains across the country and around the world. (Growth: 73%)
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
14. Nursing
As we navigate a global public health crisis, nurses and nursing assistants working across different settings are in high demand, with 30% growth in hiring, according to LinkedIn’s analysis.
Search for open jobs on The Muse:
- Registered nurse jobs
- Certified nursing assistant jobs
- Nurse practitioner jobs
- Intensive care nurse jobs
Read More: 8 Questions You Might Get Asked in a Nursing Interview (and How to Answer Them)
15. Healthcare Support
Similarly, professionals who support doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers—including pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, and home health aides—are sorely needed as we navigate the continuing effects of the coronavirus pandemic. (Growth: 34%)
Search for open jobs on The Muse: