2017 is turning out to be a positive year for job seekers.  Last month, the national unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%  (the lowest it’s been in ten years) and 211,000 jobs were added to the US economy.  The employment sectors with the most job growth were mining, manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, education, health and business services.  Whether you are a recent college graduate, unemployed or looking to change careers, the job market has a lot to offer right now.  Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, along with April’s job growth information, we compiled a list of the five fastest growing careers of 2017:

1)  Physical Therapist

Physical therapists help patients of all ages recover from physical injuries.  Working with a team of other health care professionals, they help diagnose and treat patients with physical conditions such as arthritis, lower back pain and head injuries.  They help patients regain mobility, manage pain, and determine methods for preventing future complications with injuries.  With the BLS expecting jobs to grow 34% between 2014 and 2024, physical therapy is one of the fastest growing careers of 2017.  To become a physical therapist, you must receive a bachelor’s degree followed by a doctorate of physical therapy degree, which typically takes about 3 years to complete.   The average annual salary for physical therapists is about $85,000.

Physical therapist jobs in New York, NY

Physical therapist jobs in San Francisco, CA

2)  Operations Research Analyst

If you are good with computers and data analysis, this is currently one of the fastest growing careers in the business sector.  Operations research analysts use mathematical and analytical methods to gather information and determine the best ways to help businesses identify and solve problems, make decisions and manage their teams better.  The projected job growth for this career is 30% between 2014 and 2024.  A bachelor’s degree in a field such as math or computer science is required to become an operations research analyst, and the average annual salary is about $79,000.

Operations research analyst jobs in New York, NY

Operations research analyst jobs in San Francisco, CA

3)  Wind Turbine Service Technician

If you are good with your hands and are looking for a promising career in manufacturing, consider becoming a wind turbine service technician.   As a wind turbine service technician, you are responsible for assembling, installing, repairing and maintaining wind turbine systems.  You must be comfortable and familiar with electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems.  No college degree is required to become a wind turbine service technician, but you must undergo long term training on the job.  According to BLS, this is the fastest growing career of all, with a projected job growth of 108% between 2014 and 2024.  The average annual salary for wind turbine service technicians is about $52,000.

Wind turbine service technician jobs in New York, NY

Wind turbine service technician jobs in San Francisco, CA

4)  Home Health Aide

If you want to work in healthcare but don’t want to go through years of schooling, being a home health aide is one of the fastest growing careers of 2017.  You will provide at-home care for individuals who are elderly, disabled or have chronic illnesses.  Some of the duties involved include grocery shopping and preparing meals, housekeeping and transporting your client to doctor’s appointments.  In some states, home health aides monitor client’s vital signs and administer medication under the direction of a registered nurse.  The projected job growth for home health aides is 38% between 2014 and 2024.  The only education required is a high school diploma and short term on the job training, and the average annual salary for a home health aide is about $22,000.

Home health aide jobs in New York, NY

Home health aide jobs in San Francisco, CA

5)  Statistician

For those with a knack for working with numbers, statistician jobs are on the rise.  Statisticians collect numerical data and help companies interpret it to solve problems, identify trends and make predictions.  They work in a range of industries, including healthcare, engineering and business.  With jobs expected to grow 34% between 2014 and 2024, this is one of the fastest growing careers of 2017.  As a statistician, you can start out with a bachelor’s degree, but having a master’s degree in a field such as math or statistics will give you more leverage in the job market.  The average annual salary for statisticians is $80,500.

Statistician jobs in New York, NY

Statistician jobs in San Francisco, CA