Top jobs in demand right now

Employers are having a harder time than ever hiring qualified applicants.

By Monster Staff

You might be struggling to find a job, but employers are having an even more difficult time finding people to hire. According to Manpower Group’s annual report, Closing the Skills Gap: What Workers Want, about seven in 10 companies (69%) reported a talent shortage in 2019—the worst level ever—more than three times higher than a decade ago. This year’s top jobs in demand saw five new entries: IT, engineering, accounting and finance, construction, and customer support professionals.

"As U.S. employers face the highest skills shortages in over a decade, the relationship between employer and employee is shifting," said Becky Frankiewicz, president of ManpowerGroup North America. "Skilled workers are in control and companies need to understand people's priorities to compete.”

That means employers need to listen to what candidates are looking for in job offers if they have any hope of competing for your talent. In Monster's 2020 State of the Candidate survey of 1,000 full-time and part-time employees in the United States, 73% of respondents said salary is the most important factor when considering a job offer, with 58% of candidates saying they have turned down an offer because the salary was too low. The other aspects that candidates consider in a job offer:

  • 39%: time off/vacation days
  • 34%: flexible work hours
  • 33% retirement benefits
  • 33%: perks/employee benefits

Meanwhile, the Labor Department reports that there are still about 670,000 more job vacancies than there are unemployed potential workers, creating huge talent shortages in high-demand jobs for companies in many different fields.

Check out the top 10 industries recruiters have struggled to fill for full-time, regular positions, and click through to see the many opportunities available for these jobs in demand.

1. Skilled trades

See all skilled trades jobs in demand on Monster.

2. IT

See all IT jobs on Monster.

3. Sales and marketing

See all sales jobs and marketing jobs on Monster.

4. Engineering

See all engineering jobs on Monster.

5. Accounting and finance

See all accounting jobs and finance jobs on Monster.

6. Driving and logistics

See all driving jobs on Monster.

7. Construction

See all construction jobs on Monster.

8. Customer contact

See all customer service jobs on Monster.

9. Professionals

10. Health care

See all health care jobs on Monster.

Fast-track your job search

Take advantage of the talent shortage for these jobs in demand by stepping up your game. The more employers you get in front of, the better your chances of getting a job offer that meets your needs. Could you use some help with that? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill the top jobs in demand with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on time spent looking through ads.