Oregon’s Fastest Changing Jobs Between 2014 and 2024

Within the top 10 fastest changing jobs, half are related to health care. Physical therapist aides and assistants are both in the top five at 54 and 44 percent change in employment in the next 10 years, respectively. Employer surveys put a full-time average wage for physical therapist assistants at $55,000 a year and physical therapist aides at $29,000 annually.

Two information technology professions made the top 10 fastest changing jobs as well: web developers and computer and information research scientists. Computer research scientists develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software. Companies in Oregon that employ information research scientists include Intel, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Oracle. Jobs in this field require a professional or doctoral degree and typically pay $145,000 a year. 

Health care and information technology jobs are seen on the fastest growing lists consistently as the projections are updated every two years. Reasons for growth in health care jobs include a large, aging baby boomer population with complex medical needs and increased access to health care.

Web developers and computer research scientists are needed for the complex functions of businesses in the modern world. Even health care needs can be handled online, with doctors communicating primarily by email and web portals. Although health care and information technology jobs are frequently seen as the fastest growing industries, the specific jobs on the list can change, giving us insight into emerging trends.

For more information, read Workforce Analyst Kim Thompson's full article "Oregon’s Fastest Changing Jobs Between 2014 and 2024".