The overall number of jobs in the United States is projected to grow by 3.1 percent—or 5.2 million jobs—between 2024 and 2034, according to the latest projections the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). These projections also include a ranking of occupations expected to create the greatest number of jobs.
In the first of our fastest-growing jobs series, we focused on jobs in the cybersecurity and information technology sector. In this article, we highlight some of the high-demand jobs in other industries. We’ll examine these in terms of the factors that shape the demand, the roles and impacts of the professionals in these occupations, and the skills-based programs offered at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) that can help you move your career forward. Specifically, we’ll discuss
- Medical and health services managers
- Financial examiners
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorders and mental health counselors
How In-Demand Are Medical & Health Services Managers?
The BLS projects job growth in this occupation at 23 percent over the coming decade, making it the sixth fastest-growing profession in the BLS ranking. The annual median salary for medical and health services managers was $117,960 in May 2024.
Healthcare has long been one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy. Medical and health services managers, often called healthcare administrators, play a critical role in ensuring that healthcare organizations operate efficiently, deliver high-quality care, and remain financially sustainable.
These professionals plan, direct, and coordinate medical services across hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, and other healthcare settings. Their responsibilities range from budgeting and workforce management to regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and technology implementation.
Liliya Roberts, MD, MS, ACHE, portfolio director for global health management at UMGC, discusses the value healthcare managers bring to organizations.
"Medical and health services managers serve as the strategic and operational backbone of healthcare organizations," said Roberts. “They manage the complex systems, information technologies, and regulatory requirements used to ensure that physicians, nurses, and healthcare teams have the resources and organizational structures needed to deliver safe and effective care.
“For students seeking a career that combines leadership, impact, and long-term career growth, healthcare management offers an opportunity to shape the future of healthcare while improving the lives of patients and communities."
UMGC's programs can help prepare you for these roles by providing theoretical knowledge as well as applied leadership skills, data literacy, and an understanding of healthcare systems. Our online bachelor’s degree in health services management can help you build the foundation for a rewarding early and middle level career in the healthcare sector, health information management, and technology.
For graduates seeking advanced skills, the healthcare administration master's can prepare you for leadership roles in health systems analysis and sustainability, policy and compliance assurance and executive leadership in the healthcare sector. The CAHIIM-accredited MS in health information management and technology offers career-advancing skills in health informatics information management and digital health and can help you to prepare for RHIA, CAHIMS, and CPHIMS certification exams.
Another way to boost your skills and credentials quickly is with the CAHIIM-accredited undergraduate certificate in health information management and data analytics, or one of three graduate certificates in global health management, long-term care administration, or digital health leader.
How In-Demand Are Financial Examiners?
Jobs in this field are projected to grow 19 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with a median salary of $90,400 per year, according to BLS.
“Financial examiners provide independent expertise by assessing and documenting organizational compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards,” said Kathleen Sobieralski, UMGC’s portfolio director for accounting, “whether in internal support roles or as external reviewers.”
These roles typically require a bachelor’s degree with coursework in accounting and related business disciplines. A master’s degree can further enhance qualifications and support pursuit of professional certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
“UMGC prepares students for careers as financial examiners through undergraduate and graduate finance and accounting programs with a strong emphasis on accounting standards, risk management, ethics, and auditing,” said Sobieralski.
For those seeking a foundation in the principles of corporate finance and financial management, UMGC offer an online BS in finance. This program integrates a rigorous set of valuable learning experiences, including financial analysis, capital budgeting, investment management, corporate finance, and strategy. Our online master’s degree in management with a concentration in financial management is designed for professionals looking to expand their knowledge base and skills and advance in their careers. You’ll learn the newest industry standards with coursework that is constantly being updated and study under knowledgeable professors who are valued leaders in the field.
An online BS in accounting from UMGC can help you develop skills to enhance your analytical abilities and boost your organization’s financial health. We also offer our MS in accounting & financial management degree to help you enhance your qualifications further and prepare you for professional certifications exams. A specialization in finance is also available to those pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and our MS in CyberAccounting program is a great way to gain specialized skills for a career in this evolving field while preparing for the CISA and other certification exams.
You can also gain concentrated, career-relevant skills and a valuable credential with an online graduate certificate in accounting information security. All of these programs can be completed entirely online.
How In-Demand Are Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorders & Mental Health Counselors?
This is an umbrella category representing a group of related occupations that together are projected by BLS to grow at 17 percent through 2034, with about 48,300 openings per year on average. Median salary for professionals in this group is $59,190 per year. These professionals support individuals experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationship concerns, life transitions, and substance use issues.
Phyllis Medina, portfolio director for psychology at UMGC, describes how counselors support ethical, culturally responsive care across a variety of settings by improving continuity of care, strengthening engagement, and reducing preventable escalation.
"Counselors add value across diverse settings,” said Medina. “In healthcare and community agencies, they help clients navigate services, build coping skills, and reduce the likelihood of repeated crises. In schools, they support early identification of concerns and contribute to stronger referral pathways. In workplaces, they expand access to support, connect employees to appropriate resources, and provide steady guidance during high‑stress periods.”
Our undergraduate degree in psychology builds the foundation and can be an excellent starting point for entry roles close to clinical environments and the counseling pipeline. The master’s program in clinical professional counseling is designed to help you build the skills, knowledge, and expertise to become a professional counselor trained to offer compassionate, effective care.
Build Skills and Advance Your Career at UMGC
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and servicemembers. UMGC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. The university has repeatedly received awards and recognition for our innovative educational programs and commitment to excellence.
Most recently, UMGC has been recognized as a Best College in America by the Wall Street Journal for 2026 and ranked in the top 8 percent of public U.S. universities for 30-year ROI by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
UMGC is there to support you along your academic journey, and that starts by matching you with a success coach who will help keep your education on track and your goals within reach. You’ll learn from our faculty of successful and experienced scholar-practitioners, many of whom are leaders in their fields.
Apply, register, and get expert advising all from your electronic device, virtually anywhere in the world. As a UMGC student or alumnus, you'll always have access to lifetime career services to help you in your job search and career development, no matter where you are in your career.
To provide a truly online experience, we’ve replaced bulky, expensive textbooks with no-cost digital course materials in most courses. And with multiple start dates, a streamlined admissions process, and credit for prior learning and experience, you can get started sooner and finish faster, for less.
If you're considering a career making a positive impact on people and organizations in any of these high-demand fields, the undergraduate and graduate programs at UMGC can help you get started.
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
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