Karl Kandt is a Kansas-based veterans’ employment representative who has assisted veterans and their families in securing meaningful employment since 2013. In his role, Karl Kandt supports service members transitioning into civilian careers through career planning, resume reviews, interview coaching, and employment referrals. He regularly attends job fairs and employer-sponsored events while collaborating with state agencies to strengthen outreach initiatives.
Previously, Mr. Kandt served as a US Department of Veterans Affairs vocational rehabilitation counselor, helping veterans access training benefits and subsistence allowances. With degrees in communication and counselor education from Emporia State University, he brings extensive knowledge of labor market trends and high-demand occupations. His experience advising job seekers provides relevant context when examining growth professions projected for 2026 and beyond.
Growth Professions in 2026 and Beyond
While sluggish to start 2026, the jobs market offers opportunities for those who target the right sectors, industries, and regions. According to CBS News, one industry continuing to dominate job growth is health care, with opportunities in this sector making up 40 percent of the jobs on Indeed Hiring Lab’s Top 50 list. Indeed reports a 34 percent increase in its website job listings across the past three years, and a similar increase in salaries.
The number one growth profession is cardiac medical technician. The median salary of $134,000 for cardiac med techs is only $9,000 less than that of nurse practitioners, who are third on the list. The increased demand reflects more and more chronic health conditions affecting an aging population, with heart disease the number one cause of mortality nationwide.
Becoming a cardiovascular technician requires an associate’s degree and certification, which takes around two years to attain. There are various specialized positions within the discipline, including cardiac sonographers (who apply ultrasound) and cardiovascular invasive specialists (who assess the heart rates and blood pressure of patients during procedures such as pacemaker insertion and cardiac catheterization). Meanwhile, a cardiographic technician focuses on stress tests that assess electrical activity within the heart.
The second ranked growth position is owner-operator truck driver, which pays an average of $160,000 per year. Unfortunately, this well-compensated role requires owning and operating one’s own truck, often a big rig.
Indeed’s research director notes that health care positions, while making up only 11 percent of total US employment, are driving some 72 percent of job growth. Other jobs in the Indeed top 10 include speech language pathologist (4), licensed professional counselor (5), licensed clinical social worker (6), and physical therapist (7).
The only tech job listed among the top 10 growth professions is data scientist, which offers a mean salary of $115,079. Interestingly, the salary trend here is down 3 percent since 2022, though the number of Indeed job listings has increased by 15 percent in that period.
In a report focused on the 50-year-old+ demographic, AARP notes that high-profile summer events throughout 2026, from the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration to the FIFA World Cup, provide a boon for those seeking seasonal and temporary work. For example, the men’s World Cup will have a major presence in 11 metropolitan areas, with arenas set to host matches and nearby hotels already seeking additional workers. The semi-quincentennial festivities in Washington DC and Philadelphia likewise will have a significant positive impact on those regional summer economies.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also projects significant growth in accountant and auditor positions, as well as chief human resources officer roles, as businesses work to navigate a high-interest-rate environment and face potential labor mismatch issues. It’s worth noting that knowledge work jobs such as these increasingly require knowledge of generative AI and how it is redefining employee roles and expectations within the evolving workplace.
Another tech-driven growth position is information security analyst, which offers a $125,000 median salary. BLS predicts 29 percent growth in this sector over the next eight years, with positions in this sphere typically requiring a bachelor’s degree in computer science, paired with multiple years of relevant experience.
About Karl Kandt
Karl Kandt is a veterans’ employment representative in Kansas who helps transitioning service members and disabled veterans secure meaningful careers. His services include career planning, resume development, interview coaching, and employer outreach. A former Department of Veterans Affairs vocational rehabilitation counselor, he holds degrees in communication and counselor education from Emporia State University. He is active in the Manhattan Solar Kiwanis Club and has been recognized as the Kansas Department of Commerce Employee of the Quarter.
Angela Spearman is a journalist at EzineMark who enjoys writing about the latest trending technology and business news.
