Introduction & List of Occupations
This project aims to create a list of good jobs in high-demand industries within the state. These jobs should be:
- Well-paying: Offering a good income relative to other jobs.
- Growing: With a strong future and plenty of job openings expected.
- Accessible: Available to people who have gained specialized skills through an industry-recognized certificate but do not hold a traditional college degree.
This list will help guide schools in developing programs that prepare students for successful careers in these in-demand fields. This list fulfills the requirements of Chapter 23, Section 26 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which requires that the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development provide a list of in-demand occupations that require an industry-recognized credential to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and make the list publicly available.
The jobs for the list were identified by looking at real job postings and using a system that rates jobs based on how much they pay and how many openings are expected. These ratings were calculated for each region of the state separately, as well as for the state as a whole. DER produced top occupations by region and state-wide for Massachusetts. The career cluster each job belongs to was also identified to help schools to connect these jobs to their existing programs and identify opportunities to develop new programs aligned with these in-demand occupations.
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Open XLSX file, 32.72 KB, High Demand Occupations Requiring an Industry Recognized Credential (English, XLSX 32.72 KB)
How these Occupations were Identified (Methodology)
A three-step process was used to create the list:
Step 1: Identifying Jobs with Certification Opportunities
A large database of Massachusetts job postings was analyzed. The database comes from Lightcast—a leading provider of labor market data and analytics—and includes postings from over 65,000 websites, including company career sites, national and local job boards, and job posting aggregators.
For each type of job (occupation), the percentage of job postings was calculated that:
- Specifically mentioned needing an industry-recognized certification.
- Listed a high school diploma or associate's degree as the required education or didn't mention any specific education requirement.
Only the jobs where at least 25% of the postings met these criteria were retained. This helped focus on jobs where certifications are important and a college degree isn't always necessary.
Step 2: Focusing on High-Demand, Well-Paying Jobs
The "Demand Star" rating system was used. This system looks at:
- How many annual job openings are expected for an occupation from 2022 to 2032.
- How fast the number of jobs in that occupation is expected to grow 2022 to 2032.
- How much the job pays compared to other jobs.
The Demand Star system gives each job a rating on a 0 to 3 scale, with 3 being the highest. Jobs that received a Demand Star are projected to provide strong long-term opportunities, and typically pay more than 70% of the statewide average.
Importantly, the Demand Star rating is calculated separately for each region of the state, as well as for the state as a whole. This is because job demand and pay can vary significantly from one area to another.
Only the jobs that had a Demand Star rating of 1, 2, or 3 were retained. This ensures the jobs on the list are well-paying and have a bright future.
Step 3: Connecting Jobs to Career Clusters
The career cluster or clusters associated with each job were identified. Career clusters are groups of related jobs that share similar skills and knowledge. Identifying the career cluster associated with a specific occupation, educators can more easily see which existing school programs align with these high-demand jobs and identify potential areas for new program development.
Rationale for Focusing on Jobs Where a Certification is the Primary Credential
This project focuses on occupations where an industry-recognized certification has a significant impact on employment opportunities and career advancement. While many jobs may also accept or require a certification along with a bachelor's degree, this list concentrates on roles where a certification can serve as the primary pathway to a successful career, offering an alternative to traditional four-year college pathways. By focusing on jobs where a certification is the key credential, this project aims to:
- Highlight Diverse Career Pathways: This initiative seeks to showcase various career opportunities that are not solely dependent on obtaining a four-year college degree. These pathways, often accessible through technical training and focused certifications, can lead to well-paying and high-demand careers.
- Prioritize the Impact of Certifications: The legislation this project is based upon emphasizes jobs where certifications significantly enhance an individual's job prospects and earnings. We interpret this to mean that the certificate is often the most important credential for entering or progressing in the selected occupations, rather than an additional qualification on top of a bachelor's degree.
- Support Career and Technical Education: This list is designed to be a valuable resource for secondary and post-secondary schools offering career and technical education programs. By focusing on jobs where certifications are paramount, this effort aims to provide educators with relevant information to prepare their students for careers in growing and in-demand fields.