Thinking about a two-year program instead of a four-year college degree but not sure what jobs would be out there for you once you graduate? Here’s a list of the 10 careers for associate and vocational degrees that the government projects will offer the most new jobs between 2006 and 2016.
| Occupation |
Number of Jobs
(in thousands) |
New Jobs
(in thousands) |
% Change |
| 2006 |
2016 |
| Registered Nurses |
2,505 |
3,092 |
587 |
23.5 |
Nursing Aides, Orderlies,
and Attendants |
1,447 |
1,711 |
264 |
18.2 |
Preschool Teachers
(excluding Special Ed) |
437 |
552 |
115 |
26.3 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics |
773 |
883 |
110 |
14.3 |
Licensed Practical
and Vocational Nurses |
749 |
854 |
105 |
14.0 |
Hairdressers, Hairstylists,
and Cosmetologists |
617 |
694 |
77 |
12.4 |
| Computer Support Specialists |
552 |
624 |
72 |
12.9 |
Fitness Trainers
and Aerobics Instructors |
235 |
298 |
63 |
26.8 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants |
238 |
291 |
53 |
22.2 |
| Dental Hygienists |
167 |
217 |
50 |
30.1 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics