The Job Market
Careers in engineering, science, technology, health care, medicine, nursing, and education are experiencing growth in many areas of the West. Here are some hot spots in the region:
Las Vegas, Nevada, the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” is home to more than 1.5 million people in the metropolitan area. The state of Nevada is experiencing a growing workforce in the computer software engineering, network and computer systems administration, and network systems and data communications analysis fields. Occupations in veterinary medicine, pharmacy, remedial education and GED instruction, and physician assistance also top the list.
Los Angeles, California, is the second most populous city in the United States, preceded by New York City. Los Angeles has a wide variety of employment opportunities that range from shipping, manufacturing, communications, finance, and fashion to high-technology and information-related fields. Los Angeles is a top producer of aircraft, aerospace, and military equipment. With Hollywood as one of its exclusive neighborhoods, it's no wonder Los Angeles is the world capital of the motion picture, television, radio, and recording industries.
Phoenix, Arizona, is home to more than three million residents and is a manufacturing, financial, and tourism center. Among the city's largest employers are Good Samaritan Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Honeywell Aerospace, and John C. Lincoln Health Network. Phoenix is also a retirement capital and features fast-growing occupations such as physicians assistants, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists. Jobs in education aren't in short supply either: secondary school teachers, school counselors, elementary school teachers, and kindergarten teachers are in high demand.
Seattle, Washington, is a commercial, technological, and cultural hub of the Pacific Northwest. According to the Washington Employment Security Department, professional and technical services—architectural, engineering, advertising, accounting services—lead the way in influencing other economic activities in the Seattle area. Other areas that rank high on the list include educational services, administrative and support services, transportation equipment manufacturing, publishing industries, and hospitals. Businesses that employ the greatest number of people in Seattle include University of Washington, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, Virginia Mason Hospital, and Harborview Medical Center.
