The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive layoffs and job losses across America last year. Here in New Jersey, unemployment rates rose to 17% during the worst of the crisis. In fact, a total of 2,056,379 unemployment benefit claims have been filed, according to the state Labor Department. This is all despite New Jersey’s efforts to support small businesses and create more jobs in recent years.
5 In-Demand Jobs in New Jersey You Should Consider
While things may sound bleak at the moment, there are still some jobs out there that remain viable and have even grown in demand amidst the pandemic. If you require a job, here are some you may want to check out.
Nurses
Nurses are needed now more than ever because of the pandemic. Last year, Governor Phil Murphy even put out a call for retired and inactive nurses and doctors to assist with the health crisis. To respond to this shortage, one strategy that universities are taking is offering more online degrees to aspiring nurses. Meanwhile, those who want to take their career to the next level also have the option to shift from RN to BSN — whether they want to branch out to nursing informatics or geriatrics. By doing so, nurses can prepare themselves for more specialized nursing positions, without the hassle or safety risks of attending physical classes. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting the job growth for BSN-holding nurses to increase by 7% through 2029, this proves that you won’t run out of opportunities in nursing.
Software and application developers
As companies and schools shift to remote work, there’s a higher demand for software and application developers today. Typically holding a bachelor’s degree in computer science, these developers create the programs and systems that run on today’s devices. These programs can include mobile learning apps to help facilitate classes or online onboarding tools to ease a fresh hire into a new company. All of these apps help in navigating the digital space, making developers a much sought-after career this year. The projected growth for software and app developers up to 2026 is at 10,250, according to the NJ Demand Occupations List.
Home care aides
While demand for home care aides has decreased slightly due to fears of coronavirus transmission, plenty of New Jersey citizens still require their services. Home care professionals offer a variety of services — from helping with daily tasks like bathing and eating to more elaborate procedures like monitoring vital signs or administering medication. They provide much-needed care for seniors or outpatients who can’t risk going outside because of the pandemic. As such, they are at the top of the New Jersey Demand Occupations List in terms of projected growth, with around 20,950 available jobs up to 2026.
Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers deliver cargo to and from storage and production facilities. Though they require no formal educational requirements, they do valuable work during this pandemic — transporting essential goods like food, medicine, and equipment to groceries and healthcare facilities across the state. According to the New Jersey Demand Occupations List, there is a projected increase of 17,900 in job openings in this field up until 2026.
Foodservice workers
The demand for food workers fell sharply last year, as restaurants and fast-food chains were forced to limit operations. Still, some food service employees have managed to continue working, as food businesses have pivoted to deliveries and take-outs to stay afloat. And with indoor capacity being raised from 35% to 50% this month, restaurants in New Jersey will be needing more assistance from food service workers. With that said, the NJ Demand Occupations List notes that the projected growth for food service workers up to 2026 is 10,600.
The economy and job market are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic. As COVID-19 restrictions slowly ease, job demands will continue to shift to cater to the needs of the new normal.
Article written by Jamie Ricks exclusively for mybergen.com
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