The U.S. job market is experiencing changes driven by automation, AI, and an aging population. Pearson's Skills Map of the United States offers a comprehensive analysis of how these factors are reshaping employment, including a projected 1.9 million new jobs through 2028.
Using our proprietary Skills Outlook data, we examined trends in job growth, sector shifts, and skill demands through 2028 at a national level and for the states of California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and Texas. Skills Map insights are intended to support employers, educators, policymakers, and workers preparing for the future of work in America.
Key findings reveal a dynamic landscape where technology is simultaneously changing existing roles and creating new opportunities across all sectors, shaking up our definition of a tech job.
A New Understanding of Tech Jobs
The Skills Map U.S. points to a future where advanced technologies will continue to change how we work: nurses using on-site data analytics for patient care, educators skilled in AI for personalizing learning, and manufacturing experts employing 3-D printing and robotics. In one way or another, all jobs will become "tech jobs," and it is happening fast.
At the same time, the demand for expertise to support technology implementation and maintenance across all industries will see a surge of 1.87 million additional jobs in 2028. Similarly, Systems Software Engineers, Computer and Information Systems Managers, and Computer Programmers will find opportunities in all sectors and are among the top rising roles (319,970 new jobs through 2028, up 15.4%).
The impact of technology is disruptive. By 2028, automation and tech augmentation are projected to impact 11.2 million jobs, transforming these roles and, in some cases, reducing their demand. It will also be a time of exciting new opportunities, especially for younger generations. Their digital fluency and adaptability will not only position them well as skilled workers, but also as catalysts for change in how we incorporate technology into our working lives.
As we look ahead, workers with tech and field-specific expertise will be highly sought after. The call for upskilling and reskilling is loud and urgent.
U.S. Job Market Trends
A Time for Action
Success in the future requires collaborative efforts today across all stakeholders to ensure the workforce can meet the demands of technology's impact.
- Employers must identify future skill needs and invest in upskilling their workforce. This includes examining tasks that can be automated or augmented by technology to improve employee productivity and free up time for learning.
- Educators can develop curriculum and training programs that blend technical skills with human skills, preparing students for a world where they are intertwined.
- Policymakers can promote policies that encourage continuous learning and skill development to help address job shifts across all sectors--especially roles impacted by tech automation and augmentation.
- Workers who embrace lifelong learning and gain new technical proficiencies will remain competitive, particularly in industries facing automation.
Working together and equipped with insights and information, we can adapt to the opportunities and changes ahead. We can build a resilient, future-ready workforce that will propel our society and economy forward.
Leveraging Pearson's advanced predictive analytics capabilities, the Skills Map of the United States features two analyses:
- U.S. Labor Market Analysis - Our dataset was collated from U.S. census information and other economic/industry projections, then mapped to our proprietary occupation ontology of 5,600 roles and 76,600 tasks, providing industry trends.
- U.S. Job Ad Analysis: A review of 85 million job postings, providing skills trends
This report examines the nation and five states: California, Florida, Michigan, New York and Texas. Subsequent reports will add new states.
The Skills Map of the United States provides a multi-dimensional view of the 2028 employment landscape, revealing shifts in job demand and the resulting impact on job sectors, underscored by popular and trending skills.
Data Categories
- Sector - Defined by the North American Industry Classification System which "groups establishments into industries according to similarity in the processes used to produce goods or services."
- Job - Defined by Pearson's proprietary occupation ontology of 5,600 roles.
- Skill - Extracted from an analysis of 85 million U.S. job ads as of March 2024.
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