Future Job Openings at the High School Diploma and Bachelor's Degree Levels

By Taylor Hendrix, Workforce Insights Analyst

National Data

A person’s education plays a pivotal role in their career pathway. Luckily, there are lots of occupations available to people of all education levels, from high school graduates to those who obtain a post-secondary credential. Nationally, home health and personal care aides are projected to have the largest number of job openings from 2022-2032, averaging well over half a million each year. These openings are primarily due to labor force exits and occupational transfers, but some are because of newly created jobs within the healthcare industry.[1]

Over the current decade, approximately 7.1 million occupations per year will require a high school diploma or the equivalent, while approximately 3.3 million occupations per year will require a bachelor’s degree. However, employment in bachelor’s-level occupations is projected to grow faster than all other occupations.[2]

South Carolina Data

Based on DEW’s Projections Data for 2020-2030, our state has similar results to the national data. Home health and personal care aides are projected to have the most growth in employment numbers over the decade -- increasing by 10,000 employees, or almost 32 percent. Following that are stockers and order fillers with an increase of almost 6,000 employees, or 19 percent growth, and security guards with an increase of 3,500 employees, or almost 23 percent growth.[3] On the job openings front, customer service representatives, stockers and order fillers, and home health and personal care aides have the most job openings. All these occupations require a high school diploma or the equivalent. See Figures 1 and 2 for more information.

Among the positions requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher, registered nurses, general and operations managers, and management analysts show the most growth in employment numbers over the decade, as well as the most projected job openings. See Figure 3 and 4 for more information.

[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Projected job openings for occupations at the high school and bachelor’s degree levels at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/projected-job-openings-for-occupations-at-the-high-school-and-bachelors-degree-levels.htm

[2] https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/projected-job-openings-for-occupations-at-the-high-school-and-bachelors-degree-levels.htm

[3] DEW Employment Projections Program, 2020-2030 Long-term statewide data set