CAUTIONS about JOBS

Keep in mind that simple national statistics are not the whole picture. Geography, and job security and longevity, are important variables that can radically affect the value of a particular career. Here are some examples:

There are many jobs which cluster in specific geographic areas.

For instance, "actuary" (life statistics researcher) is among the highest-potential jobs in the U.S. -- but most actuaries work in the headquarters of major insurance and investment firms, mostly in the nation's largest cities. By comparison, "farmer" is a high-potential job, as well, but only in rural areas.

Salaries and the cost-of-living, can show significant differences between regions, and between communities.

Compared to a tractor mechanic in Tulsa, a mechanical engineer in Seattle may have a much higher salary, but Seattle also has a much higher local cost-of-living. (Furthermore, the mechanical engineer's education cost much, much more.)

There are some plumbers who live more luxuriously than some rocket scientists.

Job security matters.

Aeronautical engineers have higher hourly wages than mechanical engineers, but aeronautical engineers are more likely to be laid off and unemployed for long periods -- and find little work outside the few cities where aircraft are made.

Job longevity matters, too.

Some careers can be fairly consistent over many years, such as accountant or nurse aide. Demand remains strong in those jobs, throughout a lifetime. Skill updates, while constant in these professions, are not as radical as in other occupations.

However, some jobs -- particularly "high-tech" jobs -- are careers in industries that are in constant radical flux, requiring constant re-learning of the basics of the job. For instance, many computer programmers spend a couple of years mastering a complex computer-programming language -- and within a few years it can become completely obsolete and useless, and the programmer must start his career over by learning a new programming language.

Years of these radical changes can lead to early career burnout, and -- coupled with a persons' naturally declining adaptability with age -- can sharply diminish a programmer's job-market value in later life.

The same is true of jobs demanding quick reflexes, physical agility or heavy physical labor -- or involving extraordinary danger, misery or emotional stress.

~ RH, business & technical consultant
former vocational instructor