The value of job security is difficult to quantify. Your main income source shouldn’t putter out unexpectedly, leaving you looking for work and down on your luck in the interim. Your contributions are reliable, it’s important for your organization to return this favor.
Unfortunately, some industries aren’t as stable as others. During market downturns and economic hardship, the companies within these fields feel “the pinch” more firmly than others — forcing them to lay off workers in some cases.
Obviously, with commitments to meet and a standard of living to uphold, the last thing you need is the disruption an unstable job can cause. You deserve to work in an industry you can count on and for a company you love.
That’s why, as we head into 2024, a year that promises some challenges for the U.S. economy and labor force, it’s important the industry you occupy is as stout as possible.
How does yours stack up?
Here at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we've been a transportation industry employer for nearly seven decades. During this time, we’ve found transportation to be one of the more stable work environments for well-run organizations.
However, there are certainly pros and cons of working in trucking.
Additionally, our industry isn’t the only one where people can find a reliable career home.
In this article, you’ll get a list of the 12 best industries to work within in 2024. Here we’ve defined “best” using the median years of tenure data reported by The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the 2032 employment projection numbers from this BLS chart and the annual average job opening rates by industry here.
For each industry, we’ve also included an average pay range and a list of the top employers in that space. Note: These industries are listed in alphabetical order.
The 12 Best Industries To Work in For 2024:
- Construction
- Education Services
- Finance and Insurance
- Healthcare and Social Assistance
- Information
- Leisure and Hospitality
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Professional and Business Services
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
- State and Local Government
- Wholesale Trade
Construction
The construction industry plays an essential role in every country. Construction companies and professionals are responsible for repairing, building, renovating and creating man-made infrastructure, residential and industrial products. Primarily, this work includes building roads, bridges, buildings and homes as well as highways and industrial facilities (manufacturing plants, power stations, mining sites, etc.).
Designing, financing and executing complex infrastructure, residential and industrial construction projects is this industry’s responsibility. Join a construction company if you're looking for a fast-paced job that pays among the best on this list.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The construction industry is expected to add 114,600 jobs between 2022 (7,748,300) and 2032 (7,862,900) at an annual compounded growth rate of 0.1 percent per year.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 3.9 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 4.9 percent (4.4 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Estimator, Field Engineer, Surveyor, Construction Manager, Senior Construction Manager, Civil Engineer, Project Manager, Architect, Safety Manager, Superintendent, Construction Engineer, Inspector, Construction Assistant.
10 Largest U.S. Construction Industry Employers**:
- The Turner Corporation
- Bechtel Corporation
- Kiewit Corporation
- STO Building Group
- Fluor Corporation
- The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co
- DPR Construction
- Skanska USA
- Clark Construction Group
- AECOM
Education Services
The education services industry is responsible for educating students at all levels; elementary, middle school, high school, college, etc. Usually, these services are provided by properly certified/qualified teachers, instructors and coaches.
These institutions can either be private, public or not-for-profit.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The education services industry is expected to add 130,000 jobs between 2022 (3,794,300) and 2031 (3,924,300) at an annual compounded growth rate of 0.3 percent per year. This is down from education's ten-year previous projection of 1.2 percent per year between 2021 and 2031.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 4.1 years.
Annual Average Job Opening Rate in 2022: 4.5 percent (4.5 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Teaching Assistant, Custodian, Food Service Worker, Teacher, Academic Coordinator, Academic Advisor, Webmaster, Special Education Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Vice Principal, Athletics Director, Superintendent, Principal.
Find an education services industry job opening near you.
Finance and Insurance
This industry is made up of companies that primarily handle the liquidation, creation and/or change of ownership of financial assets. These activities include but are not limited to, providing mortgages and loans, making financial transactions, offering financial planning/advisement and raising funds by offering securities and/or accepting liabilities.
Brokerage firms, banks, insurance companies and CPA firms are examples of businesses in this industry. The finance industry has grown faster than most over the last few years, this trend is projected to continue (on a slower scale) going forward.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The finance and insurance industry is expected to add 349,300 jobs between 2022 (9,044,500) and 2032 (9,393,800) at an annual compounded growth rate of 0.4 percent per year. This mirrors its projected growth rate for 2021-2031.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 4.8 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 5.7 percent (4.6 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Claims representative, Insurance Agent, Auditor, Appraiser, Claims Adjuster, Actuary, Insurance Broker, Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Analyst, Accounting Clerk, Financial Advisor
10 Largest U.S. Finance and Insurance Industry Employers**:
- Berkshire Hathaway
- JPMorgan Chase
- Bank of America
- Citigroup
- Wells Fargo
- Freddie Mac
- MetLife
- Goldman Sachs
- American Express
- Capital One
*According to Indeed [Finance] [Insurance]
Healthcare and Social Assistance
This industry is comprised of companies and institutions that provide healthcare and social assistance for individuals. Facilities like hospitals, dentist offices and clinics fall within this sector, as do social service offices.
Learn more about the healthcare and social assistance industry
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The healthcare and social assistance industry is expected to add 2,092,000 jobs between 2022 (20,555,000) and 2032 (22,647,000) at an annual compounded growth rate of 1 percent per year. This is down from the healthcare industry's 2021-2031 projected growth rate of 1.2 percent.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 3.9 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 8.8 percent (7.5 percent in 2021). This percentage has been on the rise for three years, indicating individuals may be exiting the industry at accelerated rates.
Common Industry Job Titles*: Registered Nurse, Physician, Social Worker, Nursing Assistant, Personal Care Aid, Counselor, Home Health Aide, Human Service Assistant, Speech-Language Pathologist.
10 Largest U.S. Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry Employers**:
- CVS Health Corporation
- Chinese Hospital Association
- Centene Corporation
- Ahs Legacy Operations, LLC
- Aetna Inc.
- HCA Healthcare, Inc.
- CommonSpirit Health
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.
- Molina Healthcare, Inc.
- Ascension Health
**According to Dun and Bradstreet
Information
The information industry includes businesses/entities that produce and distribute information or create the means of distributing said information. Commonly, the information sector is comprised of publishing companies, broadcasting/network companies, web and data processing businesses as well as information technology companies.
Learn more about the Information industry.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The information industry is expected to add 201,800 jobs between 2022 (3,074,400) and 2032 (3,275,900) at an annual compounded growth rate of 0.6 percent per year. This is down slightly from the 0.7 percent growth that was projected between 2021 and 2031.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 4.2 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 6.9 percent (5.9 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Computer Support Specialist, Information Technology Analyst, Web Developer, Information Security Specialist, Network Engineer, Telecommunications Specialist, Systems Manager, VoIP Engineer, Editor, Publicist, Literary Agent, Production Manager.
Leisure and Hospitality
Leisure and hospitality is one of the largest segments of the U.S. service-providing marketplace. This industry includes accommodation and food service companies as well as arts, entertainment and recreation businesses. Typically, leisure and hospitality features higher-than-average turnover rates, but the job opportunities in this industry are immense.
Learn more about the leisure and hospitality industry here.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The leisure and hospitality industry is expected to add 350,600 jobs between 2022 (15,835,200) and 2032 (16,185,800) at an annual compounded growth rate of 0.2 percent per year. This growth rate is down significantly from the ten-year projection of 1.3 percent per year for 2021-2031.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 2 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 9.2 percent (9.1 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Event Manager, Event Coordinator, Hotel Manager, Concierge, Waiter, Head of Food and Beverage, Server, Housekeeper, Porter, Valet.
10 Largest U.S. Leisure and Hospitality Industry Employers**:
- McDonald’s Corporation
- Starbucks Corporation
- Marriott International, Inc.
- MGM Resorts International
- YUM! Brands, Inc.
- Darden Restaurants, Inc.
- Caesars Entertainment
- Carnival Corporation
- Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
- Royal Caribbean Group
Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry includes companies that are responsible for the production of durable and non-durable goods. This list includes, but isn’t limited to, equipment and car manufacturers, consumer goods manufacturers and food/beverage manufacturers.
Learn more about the manufacturing industry and its many subsectors.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The manufacturing industry is expected to lose 113,400 jobs between 2022 (12,825,600) and 2032 (12,207,200) at an annual compounded rate of -0.1 percent per year.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 5 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 6.2 percent (6.2 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Product Assistant, Production Assistant, Purchasing Agent, Inspector, Fabricator, Controller, CNC Machinist, Floor Assembler, Machinist, Master Planner, Metal Worker, Maintenance Manager, Operations Manager, Product Manager, Quality Control Director.
10 Largest U.S. Manufacturing Industry Employers**:
- Tesla
- Intel
- Boeing
- Caterpillar
- Lockheed Martin
- John Deere & Company
- Analog Devices
- Illinois Tool Works
- Amphenol
- Emerson Electric Company
**As reported by Companiesmarketcap.com
Mining
The mining industry comprises companies that extract natural minerals — in solid and liquid form — from the earth. Here, the term mining is used in a broader sense to include activities such as well operations and quarrying.
Learn more about the mining industry.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The mining industry is expected to lose 14,500 jobs between 2022 (559,900) and 2031 (545,400) at an annual compounded rate of -0.3 percent per year. This is a significant drop off from the mining industry's projected ten-year growth rate of 1.2 percent for 2021-2031.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 5.2 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 5.5 percent (4.6 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Mining Engineer, Accounts Payable Technician, Miner, Health and Safety Manager, Environmental Officer, Metallurgist, Geologist, Geoscientist, Project Controls Manager, General Manager.
10 Largest U.S. Mining Industry Employers**:
- Newmont Corporation
- Southern Copper Corporation
- Freeport-McMorRan
- Albermarel Corporation
- Royal Gold. Inc.
- Mosaic
- Hecla Mining
- Alcoa
- Clevland-Cliffs, Inc.
- Alacer Gold
*According to Miningdigital.com
**According to Northernminer.com
Professional and Business Services
The professional and business services industry is, technically, part of the service industry. That said, these businesses serve a more specialized realm. The majority of companies in this industry fall into these categories:
- Management of companies and enterprises
- Administrative/support and waste management and remediation services
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Learn more about this industry.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The professional and business services industry is expected to add 1,420,200 jobs between 2022 (22,571,500) and 2032 (23,991,700) at an annual compounded rate of 0.6 percent per year. This is down slightly from its 0.7 percent growth rate between 2021 and 2031.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 3.4 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 8.6 percent (8 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Engineer, Lawyer, Scientific Researcher, Developer, Advertising Agent, Computer Systems Designer, Drafting Servicers, Consultant.
10 Largest U.S. Professional and Business Industry Employers**:
- Automatic Data Processing (ADP, LLC)
- Marsh & McLennan Companies
- Paychex
- IQVIA
- Cognizant Technology Solutions
- Gartner
- EPAM Systems, Inc.
- Broadridge Financial Solutions
- Omnicom Group
- Iron Mountain
*According to Earnmydegree.com
**According to Companiesmarketcap.com
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
This industry includes companies that rent, lease and provide temporary use of office/residential spaces. The purchase and rental of commercial and private real estate are also included here, encompassing all companies that engage in this activity.
Learn more about this industry from the BLS here.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 3.9 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 6.4 percent (5 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Counter and Rental Clerk, Property Manager, Real Estate Manager, Community Association Manager, Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Agent.
10 Largest U.S. Real Estate Employers**:
- Keller Williams Realty
- Real Estate Maximums (RE/MAX)
- Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC
- Century 21
- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
- Compass
- eXp Realty
- Sotheby’s International Realty
- HomeServices of America
- EXIT Realty
*According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
State and Local Government
State and local governments employ a lot of people, allowing them to make a measurable impact on their communities. This “industry” includes working in government at municipal, regional and state levels. The government employs people in this field. Examples include those working for the police force, parks department and social service offices.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: State and local governments expected to add 65,300 jobs between 2022 (19,301,800) and 2032 (19,367,100) at an annual compounded rate of less than 0.1 percent per year.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 6.6 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 4.5 percent (4 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: City Manager, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager, Finance Director, Economic Development Manager, Parks and Recreation Director.
Wholesale Trade
This industry includes all companies engaged in the wholesaling process including the distributing of goods to/from their warehouses/facilities. Wholesalers act as a participant in the distribution of goods, they don’t actively sell products to end consumers. Typically, wholesalers work with manufacturers or distributors on one end and retailers on the other, connecting two (or more) other businesses.
Learn more about the wholesale trade industry here.
Projected Employment Growth 2022-2032: The wholesale trade industry is expected to lose 84,800 jobs between 2022 (5,962,600) and 2032 (5,877,800) at an annually compounded rate of -0.1 percent per year. This is down from its 2021-2031 projection of 0.2 percent annualized growth.
Median Years of Tenure at Current Employer as of January 2022: 4.9 years.
Annual Average Job Openings Rate in 2022: 4.8 percent (4.7 percent in 2021).
Common Industry Job Titles*: Wholesale Manager, Trade Show Representative, Shipping and Receiving Clerk, Stock Clerk, Order Clerk, Sales Representative, Operations Manager, First-Line Supervisor.
Consider a Job in the Transportation Industry!
Each of these industries presents a unique value proposition to those who work in them. Some industries will pay more, others will pay less. Depending on your location, your opportunity to get into certain industries, like mining, might be lower.
At the end of the day, anyone could be happy in many of these industries. As such, we encourage you to pursue a role in whichever interests you.
During your search, the transportation industry is certainly worth considering as well.
Here are some statistics to ponder:
Between 2022 and 2032, this industry is expected to expand by 569,900 jobs. The median years of tenure (with the same employer) in the transportation industry is 3.4 years. The average annual job openings rate in 2022 among transportation companies was 6.7 percent (down from 7.3 percent in 2021).
In addition to this, stability isn’t hard to come by in our industry; plenty of companies have been in business for decades and job security is high.
Intrigued?
Find out which transportation job your skills and experience match best with by taking this 10-question quiz. And, If you’d like to learn more about the career opportunities at ATS, browse our corporate career openings page here.
