The Labor Department reported an increase of 290,000 jobs in April—but not all industries are on the mend. We spoke to career experts to see what fields 2010 graduates should avoid.
Kathy Sims, director of the UCLA Career Center, said the investment banking area has been depressed for the past year and a half, and students trying to get their foot in the door face stiff competition for the next couple of years. With recruitment numbers down at university campuses, the future is grim for investment banking.
In order to maintain profit margins, many large companies downsized during the turmoil, making job openings few and far between.
The face of journalism has changed greatly in the past decade, and CareerCast.com included the positions of newspaper reporter and photojournalist on its worst jobs list for 2010. Thanks to advertising cutbacks and downsizing, breaking into the journalism world is hard to do. Sims recommends entering a postgraduate program, which will provide experience and impress future employers.
The construction sector took a massive hit over the last two years, and builders and architect now face fewer positions and more competition.
Thanks to budget cuts on university campuses, teaching positions may be open, but schools can’t afford to fill them. Sims said it doesn’t matter what your degree is in, universities simply cannot take on more staff.
Even in good economic times, it’s been difficult to pursue a career in performance and fine arts—and almost impossible in a downturn. Plagued with low salaries and high competition for a few open positions, this industry has seen better days. However, students graduating into these fields can get creative and transfer their skills to another industry.
A court officer walks outside of the Federal Courthouse where Faisal Shahzad is expected to be arraigned in connection with the failed Times Square car bombing in New York May 5, 2010. Shahzad, 30, who was born in Pakistan and became a U.S. citizen last year, is accused of trying to kill and maim people with a car bomb in the heart of Manhattan on Saturday night. Charged with five terrorism-related counts, he faces life in prison if convicted. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES - Tags: CRIME LAW)
Several manual labor positions made CareerCast.com’s list for worst jobs in 2010; including roustabout, ironworker, lumberjack and welder. With few positions available and low pay, it’s no place to put your degree to work.
It’s not a glorious field to break into, and there are few opportunities available. Waste management companies have downsized in both the office and field.