State Labor Department Projects Occupations Leading Job Growth in Years Ahead

Connecticut’s fastest growing occupations, according to projections from the state Department of Labor, are nurse practitioners; electronics engineers; restaurant cooks; baggage porters and bellhops; riggers; materials engineers; medical and health services managers; physician assistants; hotel motel and resort desk clerks; and lodging managers.

According to date highlighted on the department’s website, projections for the nurse practitioner career have increased 44.7% between 2022 and 2032, from 3,151 to 4,561 positions anticipated in the coming years.  The next highest employment projection increase is for electronics engineers, and increase of 42.2%, from 1,847 to 2,626.

Employment fields with the largest number of projected positions in 2032 are Stockers and Order Fillers (40,115); Fast Food and Counter Workers (33,402); Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (30,772); Financial Managers (22,855); Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (20,810); Software Developers (20,520); Restaurant cooks (17,710); Construction Laborers (13,411); First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (12,489);

Continuing beyond the top 10: Medical Assistants (11,422); Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (10,745); Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (10,187); Medical and Health Services Managers (9,596); Order Clerks (9,050); Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (9,049) and Electricians (8,974).

Continuing with the largest growth fields, according to the state Labor Department:  Preschool teachers (8,812); Bartenders (8,566); School Bus Drivers (6,481);Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants (5,971); Chefs and Head Cooks (5,456);  Animal Caretakers (5,418); Driver/Sales Workers (5, 335); Mechanical Engineers (5,149); Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs (4,550); Dental Assistants (4,375); and Physician Assistants (3,834).

The DOL website provides, at  https://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/hotnot_results.asp, detailed career descriptions for each of the projected growth occupations, as well as hourly and annual wages in each field.  Links to education and training courses in each occupation at Connecticut higher education institutions are also provided.