The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment in the United States to continue growing over the next decade, but at a significantly slower pace than the previous decade. New job growth will be concentrated in a few key industries, primarily driven by increased electricity demand from AI, an aging population, and businesses expanding their technology investments.
The overall growth rate has significantly slowed.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported at the end of last month that the total number of U.S. jobs is projected to increase by 5.9 million, reaching 176.2 million positions between 2025 and 2035, a growth rate of 3.5%. This level is significantly lower than the 10.9% increase seen over the previous decade.
Under the backdrop of slowing overall growth, future job additions will not be evenly distributed, but will instead be concentrated more in sectors such as electricity, healthcare, and technical services.
Data centers are driving up electricity hiring.
The report states that the utilities sector will be the fastest-growing industry for hiring over the next decade, with employment expected to increase by 9.8%. The primary reason is the ongoing construction of data centers by major tech companies, driving up electricity demand.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that nearly all new jobs will come from the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, with AI-driven electricity demand serving as a major driver. Within specific sectors, solar power employment is projected to grow by 153%, and wind power employment by 62%.
Healthcare contributed the most new jobs
By number of new jobs created, healthcare will be the primary source of employment over the next decade. The industry is projected to grow by 9.5% and account for 37% of all new jobs before 2035.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics attributes the growth in healthcare hiring primarily to an aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Among specific occupations, nurse practitioner positions are projected to grow by 41%, and medical and health services managers by 24%.
Technical positions continue to expand
Although the market has long worried that AI would reduce demand for programmers and software roles, reports show that the technical services industry will still experience strong growth. The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is projected to grow by 8.6%, adding approximately 926,700 new jobs—the second-highest increase among all industries.
As businesses increasingly adopt AI tools to enhance operational and decision-making efficiency, the demand for data scientists is projected to grow by 34.6%, and for computer and information research scientists by 21.8%.
Administrative support roles are expected to decline
However, AI's impact on employment is uneven. The report predicts a 4% reduction in office and administrative support roles, amounting to approximately 752,100 jobs lost—the largest decline among major occupational categories.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that AI will increase demand for some jobs while reducing demand for others due to improved productivity. Generative AI, in particular, is likely to decrease demand for roles with high volumes of repetitive tasks and limit hiring opportunities in certain arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations.