But there's something to be said for the careers that have existed for centuries - "everyday jobs" that are not new and are often not glamorous, but they are still on track to be highly in demand in the coming years.
The world will always need nurses, police officers, teachers, and lawyers. If you're looking to change your career in 2014, and are honest, dependable, and want to give back to your community, you might consider one of these jobs.
Read on to learn what the job forecast looks like for each of these occupations, how much you can make and - most importantly - what degree you need to have in order to reap the benefits of these four fast-growing jobs.
Registered Nurses
What's the outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for registered nurses should grow 19% until 2022, which is faster than average across all other occupations. What causes this growth? A number of things, including increased access to health care due to federal health insurance reform, growing rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity, as well as the demand for services from the aging yet active baby boomer population.
How much can you make as a nurse: $65,000/year on average
Best college degree for nursing: To become a registered nurse, you should get a bachelor's degree in nursing. Though many employers require a bachelor's degree, you could also find nursing opportunities that require an associate's degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. RN's must also be licensed from an approved nursing program, and must pass the National Council Licensure Examination.
Police Officer
What's the outlook: Employment of police officers and detectives is projected to grow 5% into 2022. This growth will be driven by the need to maintain and improve public safety, but employment opportunities will certainly vary by your location, depending on local & state budgets.
How much can you make as a police officer: $55,000/year on average
Best college degree for a police officer: An increasing number of police departments would require you to have an associate's degree in criminal justice. Some opportunities exist for police officers who have been trained from vocational schools and have related on-the-job experience.
Teacher
What's the outlook: Employment of teachers will grow because of increases in enrollment paired with declines in student-to-teacher ratios. Of course, employment growth will vary by region, but overall projections anticipate 12% growth through 2022.
How much can you make as a teacher: $53,000/year on average
Best college degree for a teacher: All teachers must have at least a bachelor's degree in elementary education, early childhood education, or in a specialty area they might teach (such as math, biology, Spanish, or history, for example). Public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license - the requirements vary from state to state.
Lawyers
What's the outlook: The forecast for employment of lawyers suggests growth of 10% through 2022 because individuals, businesses, and all levels of government will always require legal services in many different areas. Law firms will continue to be the largest employers of lawyers, but many large companies are staffing up in-house legal departments as well.
How much can you make as a lawyer: $113,000/year on average
Best college degree for a lawyer: A law degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) will be required for you to practice law. To get a law degree, you'll have to have a Bachelor's degree in political science, or sometimes a major such as history, economics or English.
