Are you ready to take care of someone, or teach someone? It’s not easy, but if you are, the time is right.

Service-producing, as opposed to good-producing jobs are on the rise.

Nearly three of 10 jobs created between 2004 and 2014 will be either in the health care and social assistance, or private educational services sectors, according to “Top 300 Careers”, 10th Edition, based on the latest edition of the “Occupational Outlook Handbook” by the US Department of Labor. Basically, the need has grown due to baby boomers and longer life expectancies.

Employment in private hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, and individual and family services are expected to grow by 30.3 percent and add 4.3 million new jobs.

Private educational services are expected to grow by 32.5 percent and add 898,000 new jobs through 2014.

In May 2006, the education and health care industries added 41,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the 19,000 jobs created in the health care industry during that time, nearly half were gained in hospitals.

However, these fields are not for everyone.

About one-quarter of current health care providers are not happy and plan to find new employment, according to CareerBuilder.com.

Education doesn’t fare much better, as 20 percent of teachers blame unsatisfactory working conditions for making them want to pack up their books for more fertile grounds, according to the National Education Association.

So, with turnover rates as high as this, health care and education offer the most potential for those looking to enter the work force … if you are up to it.

COMPUTERS LEADING THE WAY

Topping the list of the best career fields is computer systems design and related services. Custom computer programming, computer facilities management, and data processing facilities are among the services provided in this field. The average annual salary is $63,320.

“We began by gathering information about the 45 fields included in the US Department of Labor’s publication ‘Career Guide to Industries.’ We matched the 45 fields to Labor Department data on their earnings, expected job growth, and increase in work force size,” Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin write in their new book, “40 Best Fields for Your Career”.

Here’s the list of the top 10 best fields overall:

1) Computer systems design and related services

2) Software publishers

3) Management, scientific and technical consulting services

4) Educational services

5) Internet service providers, Web search portals and data processing services

6) Health care

7) Securities, commodities and other investments

8) Employment services

9) Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing

10) Scientific research and development services.

“Focusing on fields can be helpful by making you aware of where future earnings and job opportunities will be greatest,” Farr and Shatkin write.

LAW ENFORCEMENT JOBS ON THE RISE

If protecting the public is more your speed, there are more than 105,000 federal law enforcement personnel in the U.S. … and more are needed.

“Growing concern over crime and increased vigilance in protecting America’s borders, coupled with the need to replace federal retirees, will create thousands of federal law enforcement job opportunities in years to come,” said Thomas H. Ackerman, author of “Federal Law Enforcement Careers”.

And there are fast tracks to getting these jobs, including student programmes and scholarships.

“The road to a career in federal law enforcement can be a fast track for candidates who either qualify for certain hiring programs or position themselves in the right place at the right time,” Ackerman said.

&Copy; Copley News Service