25 Jobs That Will Be In Demand in 2025

Older workers can expect strong hiring in this year for these careers

Kenneth Terrell,

Updated May 13, 2025

AARP

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Published December 23, 2024

/ Updated May 13, 2025

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Some of the big news events of 2024 are affecting the jobs that will be most in demand in 2025.

For example, in 2024, hurricanes Beryl, Helene and Milton slammed the Southeastern states, leaving billions of dollars of damages in their wake. As a result, insurance agencies are hiring more salespeople and actuaries to help those businesses keep up with customer needs. The Los Angeles wildfires at the start of this year further show how much the insurance industry has to reckon with.

Similarly, with businesses such as Amazon, Dell and Disney announcing plans to bring many of their corporate employees back to the office full-time in 2025, office clerks and receptionists are in high demand. And layoffs of federal workers this year have meant that many skilled workers are looking for new jobs.

The following 25 jobs are among those listed by the U.S. Department of Labor projections as “Bright Outlook Occupations,” meaning there are many open positions now, the number of jobs is expected to grow over the next nine years, or both. From that list, AARP focused on roles that have been popular with older workers or do not require extensive training to get hired. The list is presented in alphabetical order. All wage data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Click on the “Find” link to see current job postings in that profession on Indeed, which is teaming up with AARP to provide career resources to older workers.

1. Accountant

Median wage: $38.41 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 6 percent increase
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Despite continuous high demand for workers, accounting is not as popular a career as it used to be. According to a Wall Street Journal report, more than 300,000 accountants have left the profession in recent years. During roughly that same period, the number of people taking the exam to become certified public accountants has dropped. That means if you have experience or interest in this field, job opportunities — including contract and freelance work — are plentiful.

2. Actuary

Median wage: $57.69 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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A rapidly changing world also means unfamiliar risks that insurance agencies must translate into dollars and sense. Property damage due to extreme weather, improvements in medical treatments and prescription drugs, and cybersecurity threats are some of the reasons why insurance agencies are hiring actuaries to help them figure out financial risks.

3. Barista

Median wage: $14.20 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 6 to 8 percent increase
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According to National Coffee Association research, Americans drink roughly 517 million cups of coffee each day, making it the nation’s most popular beverage. While most of that coffee is made at home, there are still plenty of job opportunities for baristas. The bonus is that some larger coffee chains offer their part-time employees benefits like health coverage, retirement plans and paid time off.

4. Bicycle repairer

Median wage: $18.42 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 6 to 8 percent increase
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As cities and counties build more bike lanes and bicycle trails, the need for bicycle mechanics is growing, too. Some bicycle sales and repair shops offer on-the-job training for these positions.

5. Bookkeeper

Median wage: $22.81 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 5 percent decline
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The number of job openings in this field will be high in 2025, according to the BLS. Overall, however, it’s a profession in gradual decline as more businesses use software to help them keep track of their financial records. But with opportunities for freelance and contract work, bookkeeping can be an attractive retirement job.

6. Cashier

Median wage: $14.29 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 1 percent decline
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Self-checkout lines have become more common, but there will still be many openings for cashiers in 2025, the BLS says. If you’re looking to earn money for a short-term role with flexible hours, one of these positions could be right for you.

7. Customer service representative

Median wage: $19.08 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 1 percent decrease
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Many of these positions offer the chance to both work from home and have flexible hours. In most cases, the employer will provide the equipment you need to answer calls, along with a script and training on how to answer common queries. The patience to handle challenging customers is something you will have to provide yourself.

8. Data scientist

Median wage: $51.93 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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Nearly every modern company, from small online shops to nationwide car rental agencies, generates volumes of data about its daily operations. Data scientists are the people who funnel that information into formats that help businesses make better-informed decisions. While these roles don’t always require a college degree, previous experience in the field often is necessary to get hired.

9. Driver

Median wage: $17.03 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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Many of the jobs in this field involve gig work or flexible hours. Driving for Uber or Lyft is among the more accessible ways to start earning money behind the wheel. Car service agencies, which in some cases pay more or offer other benefits, are another route.

10. Flight attendant

Median wage: $32.87 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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The glamour of travel notwithstanding, being a flight attendant is a demanding job. Getting started can be difficult, with low pay and less control of your flight schedule. But some older workers have found that becoming a flight attendant after 50 was a perfect career switch for them.

11. Home health aide

Median wage: $16.12 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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A recent AARP survey found that 75 percent of older adults want to stay in their homes as they age. The availability of home health aides is one factor that will shape whether that goal is possible. The work can be demanding, sometimes requiring physical labor, but many home health aides find the relationships with their clients make the job fulfilling.

12. Host or hostess (restaurant, lounge or coffee shop)

Median wage: $14.05 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: No change
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Before you take your first bite or even order from the menu, a host or hostess is shaping your experience in a restaurant. In addition to greeting guests, the host decides which tables groups are seated at, which also affects waiters and their tips. It’s a job that requires good observation skills to keep track of where diners are in their meals and how the flow of the night is trending.

13. Hotel desk clerk

Median wage: $14.80 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 6 to 8 percent increase
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One key perk of this job is that most larger chains offer employees discount rates when they stay in the company’s hotels while traveling. It's a good job if you're a people person who likes a mix of responsibilities, from welcoming visitors and managing and upgrading room assignments to troubleshooting any issues that may arise during guests’ stays.

14. Information security analyst

Median wage: $57.87 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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With cybersecurity threats growing in both number and variety, businesses, government agencies and other employers are hiring information security analysts to help them lessen risks. Roughly half the workers in this profession have a bachelor’s degree, but it is a job you can pursue if you can demonstrate knowledge and experience with digital technology.

15. Insurance sales agent

Median wage: $28.40 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 6 to 8 percent increase
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Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 and the Los Angeles wildfires this year provide sobering proof of how important homeowners and other types of insurance can be. Rising premiums, driven in large part by climate-change impacts, are leading people to shop around for more affordable policies, fueling demand for insurance sales agents.

16. Light truck driver

Median wage: $20.42 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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You can get hired to drive vans and smaller trucks with a regular driver’s license and a good driving record, which makes these jobs more accessible than positions driving larger tractor-trailer trucks. Demand is soaring, particularly from package delivery services.

17. Medical assistant

Median wage: $20.19 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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When you arrive for a doctor’s appointment, especially if it’s the first time you’re seeing that physician, the medical assistant is the person who helps you fill out forms and asks questions about your health history. It’s a role that’s in high demand and often does not require a college degree.

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18. Nanny

Median wage: $14.60 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 1 percent decline
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While the number of jobs in this field isn’t expected to grow in the longer term, there currently are many openings. It's often part-time work, as many families use a combo of nannies, relatives and day care to make a “patchwork quilt” of child support, according to a Care.com survey.

19. Occupational therapy assistant

Median wage: $32.22 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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Occupational therapists work with people with disabilities to help them live more independently. That starts with developing a plan, and occupational therapy assistants help put that plan into action. Soft skills like active listening and good social awareness are essential for the role. In some states, you will need an associate's degree or other certification in some states.

20. Office clerk

Median wage: $19.46 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 1 percent decrease
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This role is expected to see growth as more businesses call their remote workers back into the workplace full time in 2025. It's a Swiss Army knife of office duties, from answering phones and managing paperwork to scheduling meetings and making sure office equipment is working. This can be a great job for workers without college degrees.

21. Personal care aide

Median wage: $16.12 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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Both home health aides and personal care aides perform caregiving responsibilities, but personal care aides focus more on clients' nonmedical needs. For example, personal care aides often help with preparing meals, running errands or light housecleaning.

22. Physical therapist assistant

Median wage: $30.81 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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Most of these workers have at least an associate’s degree, so you may need to enroll in a community college to get started in this field. But this job is projected to be in high demand for years to come, so that educational investment should pay off.

23. Physician assistant

Median wage: $62.51 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 9 percent increase
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This is the highest-paying position on this year’s list, perhaps because most workers in this profession have a master’s degree. That credential is a high bar to clear if you haven’t already completed college. But if you have and you’re looking to move into a health care career, physician assistant can be an accessible alternative to a nursing or medical degree.

24. Receptionist

Median wage: $17.23 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: No change
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As with office clerks, this role is expected to get a big boost as more major businesses say goodbye to remote work. As office spaces start bustling once more, receptionists will be the ones to welcome workers and clients back.

25. Security guard

Median wage: $17.82 per hour
2025-2033 job outlook: 1 to 2 percent increase
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If you’re an early bird or a night owl, this role gives you the chance to make the most of your biorhythms. Many companies hire security guards to monitor office buildings, warehouses and other spaces outside of normal business hours (sometimes during regular business hours, too). In most cases, the job involves watching security camera monitors and making regular patrols of the space.

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Kenneth Terrell covers employment, age discrimination, work and jobs, careers, and the federal government for AARP. He previously worked for the Education Writers Association and U.S. News & World Report, where he reported on government and politics, business, education, science and technology, and lifestyle news.