What occupations will be in the highest demand across the Atlanta Metro region–and which will grow (in absolute numbers) the most over the next decade? Well to start, we need to make the distinction between demand and growth in employment. In short, demand is the estimated number of potential hires (i.e. job openings). Defined this way, total demand represents the sum of three components–growth is one of these, but also included are job exits and job transfers. The region’s total employment demand is forecast at more than 3 million job openings over the next decade. Distinct from exits and transfers, job growth comprises only newly created positions. Between 2018 and 2028, the Atlanta Metro is forecast to have growth of roughly 350 thousand new jobs. The first chart below displays the 10-year growth in employment alongside the current median wage for each major occupation group.
Source: JobsEQ
As the above chart demonstrates, the largest forecast growth in jobs will be in the food prep and service, transportation and material moving, and healthcare practitioners and technical fields. Food prep and service occupations, while adding the most jobs, have the lowest median wage among the major occupation groups. However, healthcare practitioner occupations along with those in management, which fetch considerably higher wages, are forecast to add a significant number of new jobs over the next decade.
The chart below displays total demand by major occupation groups in the Atlanta Metro region, and provides a different perspective. While many of the occupations exhibiting a large growth in overall jobs are also forecast to be in high demand, much of the demand can be attributed to high turnover (due to people quitting, getting let go, or transferring out of the region). Inversely, the relatively low amount of demand for healthcare practitioner and technical occupations, a growing field, can be explained by a much lower amount of turnover in that occupation sector.
Source: JobsEQ