Systems Analyst Job Has a Future

If job security sounds like a good thing these days--and you don’t want to run a cash register--sign up for that computer class you’ve been avoiding.

The fastest-growing job in America is systems analyst, according to the latest projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The economy will need 577,000 new systems analysts between 1998 and 2008, followed closely by the expected increase in 563,000 retail sales jobs.

Because of the growth in computer-related occupations, demand for scientists and engineers is expected to outpace that of the general employment market, jumping 51%, or 1.9 million jobs, according to an analysis of the government figures by the AFL-CIO. By comparison, the economy as a whole is expected to generate 14.4% more jobs during the same period.