Jobs in demand
The jobs the US needs most, and the license each one takes
Health care has the highest job openings rate of any major US industry. Here’s where the openings are, what they pay, and what you need to start.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects which jobs will grow over the next ten years. Its 2025–35 projections, published in August 2026, put health care at the center: private health care and social assistance accounts for about 37% of all projected job growth.
Openings and pay
| Job | Employed 2025 | Growth | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 3,465,400 | +5.6% | ~180,800 | $97,550 |
| Home health & personal care aides | ~4,677,100 | +18.1% | ~760,500 | $35,800 |
| Nursing assistants (incl. orderlies) | 1,558,700 | +3% | ~203,300 | $42,260* |
| Childcare workers | 1,010,300 | −2% | ~150,300 | $34,980 |
| Heavy & tractor-trailer truck drivers | ~2,221,200 | +3.8% | ~214,500 | $58,640 |
*Median for nursing assistants only. “Openings a year” includes jobs that open when people retire or change careers, which is why childcare still has about 150,300 openings a year while total jobs are projected to shrink. This issue doesn’t cover BLS data for dental hygienists, dental assistants or automotive technicians.
What each job requires
Registered nurses
Nursing licenses are issued state by state, by each Board of Nursing. If your home state belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), a multistate license lets you practice in other compact states without another license. As of September 2026, 43 jurisdictions have enacted the NLC; Pennsylvania implemented it on July 7, 2025 and Connecticut on October 1, 2025. Several large states, including California, New York, Illinois and Michigan, don’t appear on the compact’s list, so you need that state’s own license. Check the current NLC map before you apply.
Nursing assistants (CNAs)
CNAs are listed on their state’s nurse aide registry. For nursing homes certified by Medicare or Medicaid, federal rules require state-approved training of at least 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Some states require more.
Caregivers
Requirements for home health and personal care aides depend on your state and on the type of employer. Before you accept a job, ask whether it needs a state certification, a background check or specific training.
Childcare workers
Childcare centers are licensed by the state, and states set background-check and training rules for staff. Requirements vary, so check with your state’s childcare licensing agency.
Truck drivers
Heavy trucks require a commercial driver’s license (CDL). BLS notes that many employers look for a high school diploma and a course at a truck-driving school.
How to read these numbers
A projection isn’t a job offer. BLS projects employment and openings; it doesn’t publish a count of “missing” truck drivers, for example. And pay varies widely by state and city. Use these figures to pick a direction, then look at the employers near you.
Sources
- Employment Projections — 2025–2035Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (registered nurses, nursing assistants, home health aides, childcare workers, truck drivers)Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
- Occupational Employment and Wages — May 2025Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
- Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary — July 2026Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
- NLC state map and implementation datesNCSBN / NurseCompact.com, accessed 2026
- 42 CFR 483.35 and 483.152eCFR, 2026
This guide is general information, not legal advice. We checked the figures against these sources on September 25, 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source for your situation.