How do you find out which careers are growing?
The best source is the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Each occupation page includes a projected change in employment over a ten-year period, along with the number of expected openings. The BLS publishes new projections regularly, so the numbers you see will be more reliable than anything repeated in an article, including this one. Always note the years the projection covers.
O*NET OnLine adds another view. It flags occupations described as having a bright outlook and lets you explore skills and tasks. CareerOneStop also offers state-level outlook tools, which matter because growth in one region can look very different from growth in another.
What does fast growth actually mean?
A high percentage can come from a small starting number. An occupation with few workers can grow quickly in percentage terms while adding few jobs. A very large occupation can grow slowly in percentage terms and still add many openings. Look at both the percentage and the number of projected openings.
Also remember that openings come from two places: new jobs and replacement of workers who retire or change careers. A field with slow growth may still hire often if many workers are leaving. Read the full occupation page, not just the headline.
Check your own state too. A field that grows nationally may be flat where you live, while a smaller field may be expanding in your region. State labor market pages and local employers can show the difference.
Which parts of agriculture are changing fastest?
Rather than guess at specific job titles, watch the trends that shape hiring. Use the official data to check whether the occupations tied to them are expected to grow in your state.
Technology is one driver. Farms and food companies use sensors, drones, field mapping and software, which raises demand for people who can work with data and equipment. Food safety and quality work continues to matter as supply chains get more complex. Conservation, water management and soil health planning also draw attention. Animal health, processing and logistics are other areas to follow.
- Precision agriculture and ag data work.
- Food safety, quality assurance and processing.
- Conservation, water and soil health planning.
- Agricultural engineering and equipment technology.
- Animal health and veterinary support.
- Supply chain, transportation and marketing.
How should you prepare for a growing field?
Build skills that apply in more than one place. Math, statistics, mechanical reasoning, communication and basic computer skills are useful across the industry. Those skills let you move if one area slows down.
Pick a degree or program that keeps doors open. Many land-grant universities and community colleges offer agricultural programs with strong technical content. Compare options on College Navigator and ask about internships and placement support. Check licensing and credential rules with your state agency where a job requires them.
Finally, stay open to learning on the job. Many people in fast-changing roles did not train for them directly. They built a base, stayed curious and picked up new tools as employers adopted them.
What can you do in high school?
Take the math and science classes your school offers, and add computer or shop classes if you can. Join a club or activity that asks you to use technology on a real problem. FFA, 4-H and robotics clubs all provide chances to practice. Try job shadowing in an area that interests you and ask what skills their newest hires needed.
- Learn spreadsheets and basic data charts.
- Try a mapping, drone or sensor project if your school or extension office offers one.
- Earn a school-based certificate if one exists in your area.
- Ask local employers which roles they find hard to fill.
- Read industry news to spot patterns.
What are the risks of chasing growth?
Projections are estimates, not promises. Economic changes, weather, trade and technology can shift demand in ways nobody expected. A field that looks hot today may cool before you finish school. Chasing a trend you do not enjoy can also leave you unhappy even if jobs exist.
The best plan combines solid outlook data with your own interests and strengths. Choose a path where you can stay motivated through the hard parts, and keep your skills flexible so you can adjust.
What should you ask people in the industry?
Ask hiring managers what skills they see most often in successful new employees and which ones are missing. Ask how their job has changed in the past five years and what they expect in the next five. Their answers add real detail that national data cannot show.
Ask your county extension office which new tools or practices local farms are adopting. Those answers point to the skills that employers will want soon.
Your next steps
- Use BLS and O*NET for current outlook data, and note the years covered.
- Look at both percentage growth and the number of projected openings.
- Build skills that apply across many roles so you can adapt.
- Projections are estimates, so match growth data with your interests.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Ag Jobs & Careers Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.