When it comes to predicting the future of work and the labor market, one thing the experts can agree on is that technological change will play a major factor. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), the massive popularity of online video content, the ubiquity of big data, and mushrooming cybersecurity threats are just a few of the trends that are influencing which occupations will see the biggest growth over the next decade.
That’s good news for professionals working (or looking for work) in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. With its wide range of technology companies and related industries (such as aerospace and health care), the region is well-positioned for economic growth.
To help you understand which roles will see the greatest demand* in the area over the next 10 years, we crunched the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the market analytics firm Lightcast. Read on to learn about 10 of Seattle’s most in-demand jobs and the UW Professional & Continuing Education (UWPCE) programs that can help you break into or advance in each field.
Below are 10 Most In-Demand Jobs.
1. Film and Video Editors
Film and video content has become the go-to storytelling medium around the globe. From YouTube and social media to corporate training videos to popular streaming services, chances are you come in contact with this form of communication almost every day—which means that people with these types of skills are a hot commodity, especially in a creative region like Seattle.
2. Data Scientists
Data is the lifeblood of our world today. Nearly every aspect of our lives—from our jobs to social media interactions to entertainment, sleep, and exercise habits—now generates vast amounts of data that can be tracked and measured. The same goes for nearly every segment of our economy, including business, medicine, education, technology, and more.
That has translated into burgeoning career opportunities for those skilled at wrangling and finding meaning in all that data. The demand for trained data scientists—professionals with the skill set to transform raw numbers into decision-making insights—is expected to soar in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area over the next decade.
Learn how to acquire valuable insights from data sets and leverage skills in statistical modeling, machine learning, software engineering, and more to improve business decisions by enrolling in one of UWPCE’s related offerings.
3. Cybersecurity Analysts
From compromised customer accounts to multinational ransomware attacks, data breaches are becoming a serious and costly threat to businesses and organizations of all sizes. A 2024 report released by IBM estimated the average cost of such a data breach at more than $4.8 million (up 10% over the previous year), and the massive IT security failure that occurred in July 2024 highlighted the need for top-notch cybersecurity talent across all industries.
4. HR Managers and Specialists
Responsible for connecting the people and culture of a company with the organization’s objectives and goals, human resources professionals are a vital part of a successful business. In a fiercely competitive market for skilled professionals, talented HR managers and HR specialists (an entry-level role) are more valuable and in demand than ever.
5. Software Developers
Computing technology has transformed society, and the pivotal figures at the center of the tech revolution are software developers (sometimes known as software engineers). These professionals design and develop the software that we depend upon in many aspects of our daily lives.
Despite the concerns that artificial intelligence will replace human coders, labor surveys show that the field continues to expand rapidly, particularly in the tech-heavy Seattle area.
6. Marketing Managers and Specialists
Offering a great product isn’t enough if consumers are unaware it exists. That’s where marketing comes in. An essential revenue driver for many organizations, marketing brings real value to the table.
As a result, openings for marketing managers—the professionals who spearhead marketing campaigns, create advertising plans, and manage budgets—are booming in the job market, as are listings for marketing specialists.
7. Database Administrators and Architects
Because every business and organization is awash in data, professionals with the skills to organize, store, retrieve, and maintain that data will always be in demand. Database administrators and database architects—roles that can sometimes overlap—are crucial parts of any good-sized IT department.
Database administrators use their talents to analyze, test, and implement computer databases and identify and resolve performance issues. Their efforts help ensure that anyone authorized to access the data can efficiently extract the information they need.
Database architects work at a higher level to design and develop new databases that underpin vital computer systems and applications. These skilled professionals code new data architecture that integrates existing databases and infrastructure and make sure all the different databases work together seamlessly. They’re also often responsible for data integrity and security issues.
8. Web Developers and Designers
After more than three decades of existence, the web is still the “front door” of the internet. Individuals, businesses, and organizations of all sizes rely on websites to communicate, carry out essential functions, buy and sell products and services, and myriad other objectives.
The people responsible for creating and maintaining this complex system? That would be web designers and developers—the talented professionals who create the look and feel of each website, define how it should function, and write the code that makes it come to life and work as intended. These specialized skills remain in high demand.
To pursue a career as a web developer, you’ll need a strong mix of coding skills, with proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to start with.
9. Fundraisers and Fundraising Managers
Nonprofit and mission-driven organizations of all stripes must rely on fundraising to generate a significant portion of their annual budgets. Cultivating donors (both large and small), writing effective grant proposals, and putting on successful events are just some of the ways these institutions keep the dollars coming in to fund their program efforts and staff salaries.
This means that talented fundraisers (sometimes called development officers) are an essential part of any successful nonprofit, and the demand for these professionals is growing for both entry-level roles and managers.
10. Nursing
As a result of know-how driving a lot of our employment development—particularly within the Puget Sound area—it follows that nursing is one other area projected to develop dramatically over the following decade.
As soon as I thought of a task primarily involved with software program documentation, I thought of nursing in the present day, working in disparate fields comparable to well-being care, prescribed drugs, aerospace, engineering, and plenty of different industries.
