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| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,434 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,372 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,437 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,454 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,456 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,290 | $17.45 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $35,280 | $16.96 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $34,433 | $16.55 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $33,577 | $16.14 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $32,850 | $15.79 | +3.1% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 961,939 | 310 | 32% |
| 2 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 844 | 27% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 192 | 26% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,880 | 25% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,391 | 25% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 910 | 25% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,668 | 24% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,369 | 24% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,331 | 24% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 137 | 24% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 142 | 23% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,828 | 22% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 897 | 22% |
| 14 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 166 | 22% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 400 | 21% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 183 | 21% |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,261 | 19% |
| 18 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,144 | 19% |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,124 | 19% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 255 | 19% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 1 | 0% | $32,990 |

University of Texas at El Paso

Bucknell University

David Folsom Ph.D.: I believe the CPA certification is still the "gold standard" for the accounting profession. Being a licensed CPA will give new accountants the most current and future career opportunities. I recommend new graduates have a clear plan on how they will achieve this certification post-graduation. Many large accounting firms will not seriously consider candidates without a clear path to becoming a CPA. Completing at least a section of the CPA test very quickly after graduation is evidence of this commitment.
The CMA certification is also very helpful in the job market, particularly for non-public accounting job prospects. Any accounting-based certifications (e.g., internal audit, forensic accounting, etc.) will help candidates distinguish themselves from their peers. However, a CPA license will provide the most opportunities as a standalone license. Having additional certifications beyond a CPA will only enhance a candidate's job prospects.

Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.: In my opinion, we are likely to see a major shift to flexible work arrangements that are actually flexible. In the past, many firms have advertised flexible work arrangements that were only flexible to a point, with historic rigidity lurking under the surface. I think the pandemic has provided evidence that employee arrangements can be more flexible (e.g. remote, alternative schedules, etc.) with employees able to maintain a high level of productivity.
From the employee's perspective, this is welcome news. However, the shift to remote work and other pandemic trends have made the line between work/life blurrier. I've discussed with several former students the challenge remote work has created as flexible schedules often mean late-night meetings or critical emails at odd hours. The advent of technology, beginning with email and accelerating through Blackberrys to iPhones, already blurred those lines, but remote work has provided additional accelerant.
Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.: The obvious trends are going to become more pronounced: coding and technology-related skills. I think we are going to see an elevation in the coding expectations. In the future, I expect employers to begin providing coding assessments to potential candidates. This is a common feature of engineering and finance jobs, and I think we will see it with respect to claims about coding prowess.
Data skills will also continue to become more prevalent across all business disciplines. Employers are looking for experience with large data sets, data visualization software (e.g. Tableau, PowerBI, Alteryx, etc.) and statistical analysis. Data has become a major currency, and employees' ability to utilize data for decision making will be critical to success in the employment marketplace.
Beyond the obvious, I think the pandemic has also shifted focus to skills surrounding resilience and motivation. I've heard employers during the pandemic express surprise at the disparity of responses to the pandemic: some employees made the pivot to remote work seamlessly, others required significantly more support. Skills that demonstrate resilience, such as group work, honors programs, etc. will become more important.
I would encourage job seekers to highlight skills learned during the pandemic. I would anticipate a regular interview question inquiring about how the job seeker used their extra time during the pandemic. The most common answers will likely include lots of Queen's Gambit and Tiger King, but employers will look for answers surrounding the development of new skills or acquired certifications. Imagine the employer's thoughts when you suggest that you used the extra time to pursue a lifelong dream such as learning to play the piano or guitar. If you missed the early pandemic window of opportunity, take advantage now!
This line of questions may precede a dangerous trend for employers to look for indications of mental strength. I find this possibility disheartening as we could see employers screening employees with mental health challenges at a time when the solidarity of a job could provide much needed structure.
Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.: This is a tough question to predict. The pandemic has created more flexibility than ever, and we see workers exiting high price areas such as San Francisco and New York City. However, I'm uncertain how this will shake out in the post-pandemic world. There could be a demand for a return to occasional in person meetings, so employees may need to remain within reasonable proximity. However, employees could employ shared economy models such as Airbnb to meet the demand for temporary visits to the office.