Jobs with the lowest unemployment rates

The overall unemployment rate has remained relatively stable since the end of 2021, hovering around 4%. However, some industries are doing better than others. Here are a few countries that are doing well and boast the lowest unemployment rates.

Key Findings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regularly surveys the employment situation to calculate the number of people employed and unemployed each month.
To exclude jobs with the lowest unemployment rates, the study begins at a broad scale with the unemployment rates of 16 industry groups. It is then narrowed down to specific jobs within industries.
In the October 2024 BLS report, unemployment rates ranged from 2.2% for installation, maintenance and repair occupations to 5.5% for transportation and material handling occupations.

How unemployment data is calculated

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regularly surveys the employment situation to calculate the number of people employed and unemployed each month. Unemployment statistics are widely reported and considered a component of the health of the overall U.S. economy. However, there is some confusion regarding the origin of these numbers.

To obtain employment data, the government conducts a monthly survey called the Current Population Survey (CPS). Survey participants come from approximately 60,000 households, which includes people from representative parts of the entire country. Following strict guidelines, U.S. Census Bureau staff contact these households in person or by telephone to determine the residents’ employment status.

Determining who is unemployed and who is employed is not difficult. According to the BLS, people who have jobs are employed. Persons who do not have a job, but are looking for work or are ready to work, are unemployed. People who are neither employed nor unemployed are not considered to be working.

Industries with the lowest unemployment rates

The table below contains information from the BLS October 2024 Employment Situation Report. The report shows unemployment rates for various occupations and industries as of October 2024. Unemployment rates ranged from 2.2% for installation, maintenance, and repair occupations to 5.5% for material handling occupations (a subset of manufacturing, transportation, and material movement occupations). profession).

Industry occupations and unemployment rates
Class	Unemployment rate
Installation, maintenance and repair work	2.2%
Management, professional and related professions	2.3%
Sales and office occupations	3.7%
Occupations related to natural resources, construction and maintenance	4.2%
Production, transportation and movement of materials	5.2%
Service professions	5.3%

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) October 2024 Employment Situation Report.

Occupations with the highest projected growth rates

Jobs with low unemployment rates are consistent with positive future employment opportunities. Below is a list of promising jobs with the lowest unemployment rates and strong growth rates in the future.

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts plan and implement various security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems from threats. They install software and maintain firewalls.

Employment of information security analysts is expected to grow 33% from 2023 to 2033, according to the BLS. In the future, the need to prevent cyber attacks, hacks and protect sensitive data is likely to increase.

The employment crisis for cybersecurity experts is expected to continue, with an estimated 3.5 million unfilled job openings worldwide in 2025.

Medical and Health Services Manager

Employment among health and medical services managers is expected to grow by 29% between 2023 and 2033, according to the BLS. Health and medical services managers direct and plan the business activities of health care providers. The area is expected to create nearly 161,000 jobs between 2023 and 2033.

Occupational and Physical Therapy Assistant and Assistant

Occupational and physical therapist assistants and assistants are responsible for assisting physical therapists in rehabilitating patients after injury or illness. Physical therapist assistants’ responsibilities may include assisting patients with exercise, movement and balance, and pain management. Physical therapist assistants’ responsibilities may include operating therapy equipment and treating patient wounds.

Employment growth for physical therapist assistants and assistants is projected to increase 19% from 2023 to 2033 due to increased health care needs as a result of the aging population.

Financial manager

Financial managers perform financial analysis and create financial reports for companies and organizations. Financial managers are also involved in developing long-term financial plans for investment activities, financial goals, and maintaining the financial health of the company. Employment of financial managers is expected to grow 17% from 2023 to 2033.

Software Developer (applications and systems)

This high-tech information technology job will see employment growth of 17% between 2023 and 2033, according to the BLS. Nearly 328,000 jobs are expected to be added, and the rate of employment growth is likely to be much better than most jobs.

Industrial engineer

Industrial engineers help design an efficient process and eliminate waste that can be costly or time-consuming. Industrial engineering jobs are projected to grow 12% from 2023 to 2033 as companies continue to look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Computer Systems Analyst

Computer systems analysts help companies operate more efficiently by developing computer systems and their processes. Employment among computer systems analysts is projected to grow 11% between 2023 and 2033. Information technology services are expected to be in high demand in the future as companies adopt cloud computing and healthcare providers become more technologically advanced.

Web Developer

Web developers create websites. They design the look and feel of a website and manage its technical aspects. Web developers are also responsible for improving the performance, speed, and capacity of a website. Web development jobs are expected to grow 8% from 2023 to 2033 due to increased demand for e-commerce and mobile devices.

Are accountants in demand?

Yes. Employment of accountants is expected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033, which is higher than average compared to other professions.

Is nursing a sustainable profession?

Yes. Even though there are nearly 3.1 million nurses in the country, the projected employment growth rate is 6% from 2023 to 2033, according to the BLS. Employment growth is expected to be faster than average compared to other occupations due to the growing need for preventative care and demand for health care from the baby boomer population.

Is Home Health Aide a Good Job?

This is definitely in demand. Home health aides and personal care aides help people with everyday personal tasks, which may include bathing, dressing, laundry and cleaning. The primary responsibilities of home health and personal care aides are to assist patients with activities of daily living. Employment of home and personal care aides is expected to grow 21% from 2023 to 2033.

Bottom line

Nationally, unemployment forecasts vary by region. However, high labor demand and low unemployment rates exist in the technology, business and healthcare sectors. Whether you have a four-year college degree or not, there are many jobs available today (and expected to be available in the future) with low unemployment rates and high projected growth rates.