New Report Highlights Hot Careers

The cost of going to college has risen and the economy is still recovering from the Great Recession. For these two reasons and others, many students want to make sure the knowledge and skills they acquire in a bachelor's degree program will prepare them for what could be a challenging job search.

Recently, the University of California, San Diego Extension released the report, "Hot Careers for College Grads and Returning Students 2013." The information contained in this report may prove helpful to individuals who are not quite sure which college major to choose. Here are a few of the jobs featured in the report:

Software Developers

Tying for the title of the hottest career are two types of software developers - those who design applications and those who work on systems software. In a society obsessed with technology, skilled software developers have become more important than ever.

Professionals who focus on the development of applications work on more than the latest smartphone and tablet computer programs. According to the report, these software developers also have a hand in designing applications for use in the aerospace, automobile, finance and health care sectors, among several others.

As for software developers focused on systems software, these professionals play an active role in creating the operating systems computers need to function. As everything from desktop computers to smartphones would be useless without their operating systems, there is a definite need for software developers.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth of 32% for systems developers by 2020, while employment opportunities are expected to increase by 28% for applications developers over the same time frame.

Accountants and Auditors

Despite the economic ups and downs of the past few years, the roles of accountant and auditor have remained good career options for many individuals. Those who compiled the report agree, as these professions landed in 4th place. The BLS expects the number of accountant and auditor jobs to increase by 16% through 2020.

Elementary School Teachers

The American education sector is currently undergoing drastic changes as select states implement the Common Core State Standards and many schools try to manage their budgets so the quality of instruction they provide does not suffer. Despite all this activity, elementary school teachers, excluding those who focus on special education, are in demand.

This profession, which ranked 6th on the report's list, earned its spot based on the job stability that comes with being a teacher. The report also highlights the fact that 1,360,380 elementary school instructors are currently employed.

According to the BLS, employment opportunities for kindergarten and elementary school teachers are expected to rise by 17% through 2020.