3 Things to Keep in Mind for Fall Job Hunting

The United States currently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in more than 20 years.  Not to mention, the country is creating and adding new jobs: 164,000 jobs were created in July 2019 alone.

While now is a great time to find work, there are certain things you should be aware of while job hunting this fall: recruitment cycles, in-demand jobs, and labor shortages.

Recruitment Cycles and Hiring Trends

Summer is almost over. Before you know it, fall will be in full force and pumpkin spice aromas will be inescapable.

Hiring ebbs and flows. Some months are better for finding work than others. For example, trying to find work in the summer is always more difficult. People take vacations and its hard to get a team together to make big hiring decisions.

The fall, on the other hand, is a great time. For one, everyone is returning to work, and as result, hiring picks back up. Not to mention, budgets need to be spent before the year rolls over.

Having said that, there are certainly industry exceptions. If certain jobs are seasonal in nature, you may be out of luck as the calendar changes. For example, the construction industry is booming now and looking for talent. But hiring is likely to slow down in areas that are prone to harsher winters and inclement weather.

2019 In-Demand Jobs

Not all jobs are created equal in this economy. Meaning, there are certain careers and fields that are hiring quicker, and have a greater need for talent, than others. Below are jobs that are very much in demand, and less prone to cyclical hiring.

• Software Developer. The tech industry continues to be a hot area for growth. Consumer demand pushes innovation, and companies need the talent to keep up. Software Developers top the list of most in-demand job in many states.
• Medical Services Manager. You’ll notice several medical care positions on this list. The reality is, people always need medical care. There are more than 76 million baby boomers in the United States, and they are reaching an age that requires more care.
• Nurse. Greater medical needs go hand-in-hand with providing patient care. Nursing jobs are expected to continue increasing by 15 percent over the next 5 years.
• Home Health Aide. Not all medical treatment is provided in clinics and hospitals. Many people require in-home care, whether for chronic illness or cognitive impairment. The growth outlook over the next 5 years is almost 50 percent.
• Retail. You didn’t read that wrong. Despite the ever-growing popularity of e-commerce and online shopping, there’s still a strong demand at brick and mortar locations.

Another way to boost your chances of finding a job is to focus on industries with significant labor shortages. Meaning, the number of positions available outpaces those with the skills to match. Here are three industries craving talent.

1. Construction. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are still nearly 200,000 unfilled construction industry jobs nationwide.
2. Transportation. Someone has to deliver all those Amazon orders. But seriously, a booming economy increases the need for everything from drivers to truckers.
3. Healthcare. We said it above, and we’ll repeat it. There is an incredible demand in the healthcare industry to meet the needs of aging baby boomers.