HighDemandCareers.jpg
Unrecognizable businessman using laptop with digital business interface. Technology and innovation concept. 3D Rendering

The 10 toughest jobs to fill in 2018

A new report from online jobs site CareerCast finds that hiring managers have trouble finding applicants with the necessary skills to fill jobs in some of today’s most in-demand professions. That’s despite the fact that many of these careers — including truck drivers, financial advisers and app developers — have the highest growth outlook and will have a number of openings in 2018 and beyond.

To determine the most in-demand professions, CareerCast evaluated Bureau of Labor Statistics data on growth outlook, as well as industry and profession hiring trends over the last decade. Also part of the equation were trade statistics; university graduate employment data; and the CareerCast.com database of listings. The following positions top this year’s list of toughest jobs to fill.
7. Web developer.jpg
Young computer programmer working at his desk at a startup company

Application software developer

Annual median salary: $100,080
Growth outlook: 31%
Employment change through 2026: +255,400
p18vl0upgp1j441trpdajm011h8i8.jpg

Construction laborer

Annual median salary: $33,430
Growth outlook: 12%
Employment change through 2026: +150,400
business meeting financial adviser

Financial adviser

Annual median salary: $90,530
Growth outlook: 15%
Employment change through 2026: +40,400
Bloomberg-Nurse.jpg

Home health aide

Annual median salary: $22,600
Growth outlook: 47%
Employment change through 2026: +421,200
8. Project analyst.jpg
A photo of mature businesswoman examining documents at desk. Concentrated professional is analysing papers in office. Executive is in formals.

Information security analyst

Annual median salary: $92,600
Growth outlook: 28%
Employment change through 2026: +28,500
Doctor.Office.Bloomberg.jpg

Medical service manager

Annual median salary: $96,540
Growth outlook: 20%
Employment change through 2026: +72,100
p1aoqu94e8kbblm2a8m12d013d7j.jpg

Nurse practitioner

Annual median salary: $107,460
Growth outlook: 31%
Employment change through 2026: +64,200
nurse or helper in residential home giving food to old senior man

Personal care aide

Annual median salary: $21,920
Growth outlook: 39%
Employment change through 2026: +777,600
8. Physical therapost.jpg
A female physical therapist evaluating the range of motion of a male patient's shoulder. The patient is sitting in a wheelchair. The therapist is in her early 30's and the patient is in his mid 50's. Photographed in a clinical setting with several pieces of exercise equipment in the background.

Physical therapist

Annual median salary: $85,400
Growth outlook: 28%
Employment change through 2026: +67,100
TruckDriver.Getty.jpg
An image from the transportation industry of a truck driver giving the thumbs up from inside his cab.

Truck driver

Annual median salary: $41,340
Growth outlook: 6%
Employment change through 2026: +108,400
MORE FROM EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS