Jobs requiring degrees expected to outpace the rest

The fastest-growing jobs in the United States through 2017 are expected to be those requiring an advanced education, a study released Thursday found. The report compiled by CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists International, says job creation will accelerate from 2013 to 2017 compared with 2009 to 2013, gaining 4.4 percent compared with 3.5 percent. Jobs requiring an associate degree or a master's degree are expected to grow 8 percent, the report says, while jobs requiring a bachelor's degree -- which generally takes four years and falls between associates and master's degrees -- are expected to grow 6 percent. Jobs that require "short-term, on-the-job training trail at 4 percent," the study projects. In a list of jobs expected to grow 8 percent or more through 2017, personal care and home health aides top the list with growth expected at 21 percent. Jobs for market research analyst and marketing specialists are expected to grow 14 percent, as are jobs for medical secretaries. Jobs for emergency medical technicians and paramedics are projected to grow 13 percent, while jobs for software developers are projected to rise 11 percent. The final job with double-digit growth expected is medical assistants, with growth of 10 percent predicted, CareerBuilder said. "Barring any major shocks to the economy, the short-term job outlook in the U.S. will likely continue developments seen during the recovery -- specifically, significant growth for jobs that require a college education and occupations in healthcare, energy and technology," CareerBuilder Chief Executive Officer Matt Ferguson said in a statement. In the 18 jobs categories expected to grow by 8 percent or more, seven are jobs related to healthcare. The top 18 include, in descending order, registered nurses, network and computer systems administrators, pharmacy technicians, landscapers, and social and human services assistants, all expected to grow 9 percent, and computer systems analysts, management analysts, cooks, insurance agents, nursing assistants, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses and food preparation workers and servers, including fast-food, the report said.