Breaking Out of the Pink Ghetto
Projections Show High Job Growth in Many Industries
Pink-collar jobs are usually found in low-paying, high-stress fields – including teaching, nursing, and the secretarial arena. They’re labeled “pink” because they’re traditionally held by women. And although many women truly love their pink-collar jobs, (plus find ways to advance within their chosen fields), other women feel trapped.
If you’re stuck in a so-called “pink ghetto” career – a job that allows little room for recognition or advancement – you’re not alone. According to recent statistics, nearly 55% of working women hold jobs that define this employment category. They don’t like their jobs, but they’re reluctant to try anything new.
Luckily, the recent recession has opened new doors for would-be career changers – especially for women. The economy is changing, and U.S. employment prospects are shifting. Right now is the ideal time to rethink your career path. A college degree or a professional certificate can put you on the road towards greater pay and greater job satisfaction.
At the same time, career changers still need to be cautious. Not all job sectors will experience growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released new job projections for the years between 2008 and 2018. The full report is available at: http://www.bls.gov/emp/home.htm. Once you know which careers are due to experience growth, you can make smart choices about what to study and where to start job-hunting.
Highlights from the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2008-2018 Job Projections
| Strong Outlook (Growing Jobs) | % Growth Rate |
| Professional and related careers | 17% |
| Service | 14% |
| Construction and extraction | 13% |
| Management, business, financial | 11% |
| Office and administrative support | 8% |
| Installation, maintenance, repair | 8% |
| Sales and related | 6% |
| Transportation and materials moving | 4% |
| Weak Outlook (Shrinking Jobs): | % Decline Rate |
| Farming, fishing, and forestry | -1% |
| Production | -3% |
Some of these job categories are extremely broad. In order to understand where and how specific job growth will occur, it’s helpful to take a closer look at the subfields within each category. Service careers are a good example, because many jobs will be opening in that industry. At the same time, it’s important to have a specific service arena in mind before you choose your degree plans and begin to seek the necessary experience.
A Closer Look at 2008-2018 Job Projections
Professional, scientific, technical services | 4,017,000 new jobs
According to all projections, the healthcare industry will continue to boom. While this is a very positive development for individuals who are interested in healthcare, it’s important to remember that not all healthcare jobs are high-paying. Registered nurses do earn a competitive income, but aides and home healthcare providers tend to receive lower salaries. Likewise, employees of eldercare facilities may not receive high salaries. However, all of these jobs will experience major growth in the coming years. The lower-paying options can help career changers earn the experience they need, while they study towards a more lucrative role. Nurses, medical assistants, and health administrators earn sizable salaries. And in many cases you can gain an entry-level job with just a 2-year degree.
Professional, scientific, technical services | 2,657,000 new jobs
Within this broad category, there are high-paying jobs and low-paying jobs. The higher-paying jobs tend to be found in areas that require advanced technical knowledge – such as engineering or biochemistry. But information technology roles are also growing at a rapid pace. With a relevant degree and a willingness to learn, newly graduated IT professionals can land prime opportunities within growing companies. Additionally, some green jobs in technical services require minimal college training. Right now, for example, there’s a hiring boom in solar panel manufacturing and installation.
Educational services | 1,683,000 new jobs
Despite the overall expansion in education services, keep in mind that some areas are projected to shrink. Special education at the early childhood level may not be a growth area. However, jobs related to community colleges and professional/career training are expected to rise. If you’ve always wanted to be a teacher, now is a great time to study math, biology, chemistry, or physics. Research your state’s specific teacher shortage areas. You may uncover additional perks – like college loan forgiveness – that are attached to teacher shortage roles.
Administrative and support services | 1,431,000 new jobs
Administrative roles will continue to grow, but again, these roles usually represent the kind of “pink collar” work that leads to dead ends. That said, some support roles are very dynamic and exciting – not to mention well-paying. Corporate executive assistants can earn $70 or $80 thousand per year. And they don’t just answer phones; they may draft reports, edit presentations, or conduct industry research. More importantly, they can sometimes transition into freestanding roles within their companies. In order to land one of these high-profile admin roles, candidates usually need to hold a college degree and/or significant work experience. So if you’d like to build on your existing work history and grow your income, consider a BS in business administration.
Accommodation and food services | 838,000 new jobs
Again, statistics can be deceiving. Yes, there is job growth in accommodation and food services, but some of the jobs represented are minimum wage positions. The high caliber opportunities will be in management roles. In order to access these opportunities, candidates will need relevant education. Hotel management and culinary degrees are good examples. Niche areas worth exploring include green hotels, green restaurants, and green conferencing facilities. If you can market yourself as someone who has studied environmental regulations and compliance, you’ll boost yourself into a higher pay scale.
Government | 788,000 new jobs
The government will have to expand exponentially when federal healthcare comes to pass. Whole new divisions will be created on state and federal levels. In addition, the government will employ more auditors, inspectors, homeland security professionals, and local civil servants. In most of these cases, specific degrees are required. But some fields, like police work or postal service, can be accessed via testing and training. Previous military service is also a good foundation for many government careers.
Retail trade | 654,000 new jobs
Retail jobs are growing. But that’s not to say you should apply for work at your local shopping center. Retail careers are broader than in-store opportunities. Many retail professionals handle the e-commerce aspect of the business – or the online sales. Their work might involve website development, email promotions and campaigns, customer service, or social networking. If you’re passionate about a particular brand or product, you might be a great candidate for a retail career. But be careful. You could find yourself in the “pink ghetto” of customer service or call center employment. A degree in business, PR, or marketing will help to ensure that you’re on the management side of the business.
Transportation and warehousing | 466,000 new jobs
Transportation employers are using technology to improve efficiency. If you’re looking for a technical job that has long-term potential, get training in geographical information systems (GIS), and learn how to improve efficiency in transportation and warehousing. Green technology and computer modeling are also worthwhile subjects of study for transportation logisticians and inventory managers.
Finance and insurance | 322,000 new jobs
Even though Wall Street has struggled in recent months, finance professionals are still netting job offers. That’s because companies and consumers are looking to safeguard their investments and avoid future fallout. According to government projections, “financial examiner” will be the 5th fastest growing job title in coming years. And other areas of accounting have never been so important. All told, degrees in accounting, business management, or finance are all smart investments. Insurance career training is another good option, with less educational prep required.
Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 304,000 new jobs
Arts and entertainment careers can range from very low-paying to very high-paying. But within this creative category, there are a few goldmines to be found. More importantly, if you succeed in this category, you’ll probably enjoy the “entertaining” aspects of your work. For example, skilled writers are always in demand. Today’s companies need web content, bloggers, even Twitter experts. If you’re good at crafting messages, you can build a list of clients and work as a freelancer.
Real estate and rental and leasing | 238,000 new jobs
“Green” equals growth – and money. Right now there’s a major push to develop high-efficiency structures (residential, commercial, industrial) that incorporate green electricity, plumbing, indoor climate control, and more. You may be surprised to learn that people who specialize in updating real estate (to make it “green”) and those who provide inspection, auditing, and repair services, often earn twice the salary of those who do the same jobs in a traditional fashion. If you are interested in this area, make sure you become “green certified.” Investigate LEED-certification and/or take environmental courses.
Occupations, Growth Rates, and Median Wages
As you consider your career options, reference this table from the U.S. Department of Labor. The table lists popular occupations, along with their job growth rates, median wages, and education requirements. This data represents material published in December 2009.
As you can see, the fastest growing jobs aren’t always the highest paying options. That’s why it’s important to look at all the information. Too often, women find themselves in the pink ghetto because they choose the shortest route to employment. Other women work hard to earn a degree, but without being mindful of the job climate in their chosen field. Bottom line: choose a career route with growth potential, then dedicate yourself to the necessary training.
Involved in the development and administration of online courses and programs since the early 1990s, Dr. Susan Smith Nash's current interests have to do with using innovative approaches to help students succeed, and helping organizations develop thriving, dynamic programs. Her latest book, Excellence in College Teaching and Learning was co-authored by George Henderson and deals with online teaching and learning.
Elizabeth O'Neill holds an MFA in Creative Writing. She is a contributing writer at eLearners.com, EarnMyDegree.com, and GradSchools.com.
Comments for Breaking Out of the Pink Ghetto:
2 comment(s)
Mary Hudson On Monday, March 08 2010
This is an eye opening article. I hope women everywhere get the confidence that they can succeed in any job field including engineering and technology. I am a teacher and love it, but I'm happy to support women in any career choices.
Tammara Bealer On Tuesday, October 19 2010
I am not sure I like the term "ghetto", but I understand the authors intent with her definition and information. In cases like these, it is to the advantage of the individual to re-invent their career "wheel" and find opportunities to help them break free of a job they are over qualified for or not happy with. Networking is a great resources and building a personal goal portfolio, like returning to school or seeking opportunities to upgrade their skills and potential is a plus. Everything negative does not exist in the "ghetto", but finding yourself in a career standstill could mean time for self-initiated action.