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Homeland Security: Top Ten In-Demand Occupations

It’s no surprise that Homeland Security is recruiting heavily. Fortunately, this is good news for Firefighters and EMTs/Paramedics who both rank in the top ten.

Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness & Response focuses on the premise that a disaster can strike anytime, anywhere. A disaster may be in the form of a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill – it can be act of nature or an act of man, including terrorism. At the local level, all Americans are familiar with the first-line of emergency preparedness and response: the local police, fire departments, and medical emergency responders. As Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, recently said at the International Association of Fire Chiefs, “[it is] often said, but not too often said, firefighters rush in when everybody’s running out.”

What Does This Mean For You?

The supply of jobs is generally not increasing proportionately with demand meaning that only the best of the best will be taking advantage of the call for firefighters. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “the more education you have, the higher your wage.” While this seems logical in most occupations, firefighting isn’t out of the ordinary. With the general population of firefighters having only “some college,” the first step you can take towards better jobs and better pay is to earn your degree.

Here’s a list of the top ten “most wanted,” and the projected need for workers over the next ten years. Click on any of the titles to search for job listings in your area.

1) Security Guards

Projected Need: 349,000

2) Computer Software Engineers, Applications

Projected Need: 268,000

3) Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers

Projected Need: 265,000

4) Computer Systems Analysts

Projected Need: 208,000

5) Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts

Projected Need: 153,000

6) Firefighters

Projected Need: 150,000

7) Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Projected Need: 138,000

8) Computer Programmers

Projected Need: 117,000

9) Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

Projected Need: 74,000

10) Database Administrators

Projected Need: 51,000

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).

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