When people talk about the future of work, the conversation often centers on artificial intelligence (AI) transforming industries and eliminating millions of jobs. However, a new report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) offers a more complex and data-driven view of what lies ahead. The agency’s Employment Projections: 2024–2034, released in August 2025, projects that the US economy will add 5.2 million jobs over the next decade — many of them outside Silicon Valley’s AI boom.By 2034, total employment is expected to reach 175.2 million, a modest 3.1% increase from today. While this pace is slower than the remarkable 13% growth recorded in the previous decade, it reflects deep structural shifts driven by automation, an ageing population, and evolving consumer demands.
10 Professions expected to grow the fastest by 2034
According to the BLS, the following ten occupations will lead job growth through 2034:Nurse practitioners: Provide advanced primary and specialty care, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and fill critical gaps in healthcare access, especially amid physician shortages and rising patient demand.Physical therapist assistants: Support physical therapists in implementing rehabilitation plans, helping patients recover mobility after injuries, surgeries, or chronic conditions, ensuring faster recovery and improved quality of life.Physician assistants: Work alongside doctors to examine patients, interpret tests, perform procedures, and manage treatment plans, playing a vital role in expanding healthcare services in underserved areas.Data scientists: Analyse complex data sets to uncover trends, build predictive models, and support data-driven decisions across industries, fueling innovation in AI, finance, healthcare, and business strategy.Information security analysts: Safeguard digital infrastructure by identifying vulnerabilities, implementing security protocols, and defending against cyber threats — crucial as organisations face growing risks of hacking and data breaches.Wind turbine service technicians: Install, maintain, and repair wind turbines, ensuring efficient energy generation and supporting the transition to renewable power sources as wind energy demand continues to surge.Solar photovoltaic installers: Assemble and maintain solar panel systems for residential, commercial, and industrial clients, enabling widespread adoption of clean energy and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.Operations research analysts: Use advanced mathematics, statistics, and modeling techniques to solve organizational challenges, optimize supply chains, reduce costs, and improve efficiency in business, military, and government operations.Medical and health services managers: Oversee hospital departments, clinics, or entire facilities, managing budgets, staffing, and compliance to ensure efficient healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes.Actuaries: Apply mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess risk, design insurance policies, set premiums, and guide investment decisions, helping organizations remain financially stable and resilient.These roles reflect a blend of healthcare, technology, and sustainability-focused careers, offering a roadmap for students, job seekers, and policymakers.
Healthcare, AI, and clean energy: The 3 pillars driving the future of work
Ageing population and chronic illnesses as key driversThe healthcare and social assistance sector is projected to see the largest employment gains, expanding by 8.4% by 2034. Two powerful forces explain this trend:An ageing population: As life expectancy rises, the number of older adults requiring medical care, rehabilitation, and daily support is increasing.Rising prevalence of chronic illnesses: Conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease are becoming more common, leading to sustained demand for medical professionals.Fastest-growing roles in healthcareAmong all detailed industries, services for the elderly and persons with disabilities stand out with an impressive 21% growth rate, adding over 500,000 jobs. Roles in high demand include:Nurse practitioners: Delivering primary care and filling gaps created by physician shortages.Physician assistants: Assisting in diagnostics, treatment, and patient management.Physical therapist assistants: Supporting rehabilitation programs for injury recovery and mobility improvement.These roles form the backbone of care teams, ensuring patients receive timely and comprehensive healthcare.AI’s dual impact: Job creation and job displacementArtificial intelligence continues to be a double-edged sword for the labor market.The BLS projects that computer and mathematical occupations will grow 10.1% over the next decade. This surge is fueled by demand for:Data Scientists to interpret and extract insights from complex datasetsInformation Security Analysts to protect organizations against cyber threatsAI and Machine Learning Engineers to build the next generation of intelligent systemsThese roles are expected to be among the fastest-growing and most lucrative, reflecting the centrality of data, cybersecurity, and automation expertise in the future economy.Job losses in routine and entry-level rolesHowever, the report warns that automation will reduce employment in office support, production, and routine sales roles. Tasks like back-office paperwork, customer service calls, and assembly-line operations are increasingly being handled by algorithms, chatbots, and robotics.A study from the Stanford Digital Economy Lab reinforces this finding, noting that young workers in AI-exposed fields like marketing and customer support are already experiencing job losses, while older, more experienced workers have largely retained their positions. This trend suggests that entry-level pathways are shrinking, which could reshape traditional career ladders for new graduates.Clean energy on the riseThe shift toward a cleaner energy future is also shaping employment trends. The BLS projects that renewable power industries — including solar, wind, geothermal, and battery production — will be the fastest-growing sectors through 2034.Key renewable energy careersAlthough the number of jobs is smaller compared to healthcare, the growth rates are exceptional. Leading roles include:Wind Turbine Service Technicians: Among the fastest-growing professions in the USSolar Photovoltaic Installers: Supporting the expansion of solar infrastructure nationwideIn addition, battery production for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems is expected to add nearly 48,400 jobs, signaling that the clean energy economy will continue to create high-demand technical roles.
AI vs human skills: Finding balance in the next decade of employment
While sensational headlines often warn of robots taking over human jobs, the BLS projections tell a more optimistic and nuanced story. The future of work will involve both job displacement and job creation, with the greatest opportunities concentrated in sectors that require specialized knowledge, technical skills, and human judgment.For younger workers, the challenge will be to adapt through continuous learning and upskilling, as traditional entry-level pathways may erode. For policymakers and educators, the focus must shift to preparing the workforce for emerging opportunities in healthcare, clean energy, data science, and cybersecurity.In short, the next decade is not just about AI — it’s about building a resilient, skilled, and future-ready workforce that can thrive in an economy shaped by both technology and human needs.Also Read | Chennai’s Assana Clinic’s witty ‘Let Elon explore Mars, our mission is Uranus’ billboard goes viral to raise gut health awareness