“Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.” This famous Ronald Reagan quote reminds us about the importance of selecting the best entry-level business jobs with growth potential. Business jobs for recent college graduates with the best long-term prospects and growth opportunities have been evaluated and listed below.
1) MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST was ranked as the #1 top business job. Market research analysts assess data on sales trends, consumer demographics, preferences, needs and buying habits and make recommendations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 31.6 percent employment increase between 2012 and 2022 and 131,500 new job openings.
Median Salary: $60,300
Unemployment Rate: 3.9 %
Expected Job Openings: 131,500
2) OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST was ranked as the #2 top business job. Operations research analysts use optimization techniques, data mining, statistical analysis and mathematical modeling to help businesses operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 27 percent for operations research analysts between 2012 and 2022, much faster than average for all occupations. During that period, 19,500 new jobs will need to be filled.
Median Salary: $72,100
Unemployment Rate: 1.3 %
Expected Job Openings: 19,500
3) ACCOUNTANT was ranked as the #3 top business job. Accountants are responsible for auditing, preparing taxes, financial consulting, fraud-prevention and financial analysis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13.1 percent growth for accountants between 2012 and 2022, about as fast as average for all professions. An additional 166,700 accounting and auditing jobs will need to be filled during that period.
Median Salary: $63,550
Unemployment Rate: 4.2 %
Expected Job Openings: 166,700
4) FINANCIAL ADVISOR was ranked as the #4 top business job. Financial advisors help people better manage their money and meet their financial goals by recommending budgeting and retirement plans and investment strategies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 27 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 60,300 new positions will need to be filled during that time period.
Median Salary: $67,520
Unemployment Rate: 2 %
Expected Job Openings: 60,300
5) BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER was ranked as the #5 top business job. Business operations managers make sure that a company’s operations flow smoothly and their responsibilities include hiring people, negotiating contracts, budgeting and managing team projects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 12.4 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 244,100 new positions will need to be filled during that period.
Median Salary: $95,440
Unemployment Rate: 4.1 %
Expected Job Openings: 244,100
6) BOOKKEEPING, ACCOUNTING AND AUDIT CLERK was ranked as the #6 top business job. Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks are responsible for recording financial transactions, managing and updating financial statements and verifying financial records for accuracy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 11.4 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 204,600 new positions will need to be filled during that period.
Median Salary: $35,170
Unemployment Rate: 6.4 %
Expected Job Openings: 204,600
7) MARKETING MANAGER was ranked as the #7 top business job. Marketing managers are responsible for developing strategies and campaigns for products and services that help a company maximize profits without alienating customers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 12.7 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 22,900 new positions will need to be filled during that period.
Median Salary: $119,480
Unemployment Rate: 5.2 %
Expected Job Openings: 22,900
8) FINANCIAL MANAGER was ranked as the #8 top business job. Financial managers create financial reports, cash-flow statements, profit projections and additional financial analysis related to a company’s overall financial health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 8.9 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 47,100 new positions will need to be filled during that period.
Median Salary: $109,740
Unemployment Rate: 3 %
Expected Job Openings: 46,300
9) MEETING, CONVENTION AND EVENT PLANNER was ranked as the #9 top business job. Meeting, convention and event planners are responsible for selecting and negotiating the best rates for venues, exhibit space, lodging, transportation, telecommunications, audio-visual displays, print- and Web-based materials and food and beverages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 33.2 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 31,300 new positions will need to be filled during that period.
Median Salary: $45,810
Unemployment Rate: 5.6 %
Expected Job Openings: 31,300
10) COMPLIANCE OFFICER was ranked as the #10 top business job. Compliance officers are responsible for being “in the know” about all of the laws, regulations, licensing and permits that exist within certain industries in order to make sure that companies are in compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 4.6 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 11,000 new positions will need to be filled during that period.
Median Salary: $62,020
Unemployment Rate: 2.6 %
Expected Job Openings: 32,400
Leave a Reply