Opportunities in chemistry will be good during the next decade. "The many applications of chemistry in our lives have created a broad range of opportunities for employment," according to the University of California at Berkeley's College of Chemistry. "Chemistry is an integral part of the nation's economy, and the central discipline in several major industries."
There is strong demand for chemical researchers because chemical research and development is conducted in a wide and varied range of industries. Like many fields, this one offers better opportunities for highly skilled workers. "The nation's concern about energy, the environment, and the detection of hazardous substances has added to the government's need for informed technical opinions on these subjects," according to the University of California at Berkeley's College of Chemistry. "The large national laboratories and many smaller ones provide constant opportunities for Ph.D. chemists to help shape the country's future in these crucial areas."
Some of the hottest fields are applied sciences, such as nanoscience, biomaterials, biotechnology, computational, biological chemistry, and materials chemistry. Threats to homeland security have sparked interest in the development of noninvasive technologies that can detect explosives at airports, border crossings, and events that attract crowds. Concern for sustainability has encouraged research and development directed at carbon dioxide sequestration, more efficient batteries, biofuels production, and nuclear waste storage.
The number of new graduates with degrees in chemistry and applied science technology has been declining slowly since it peaked in the late 1990s. Employers have been able to fill some jobs by importing foreign workers, but this supply is expected to decline as other countries expand their chemical industries. These trends mean less competition for available jobs here but also encourage U.S. companies to invest in research facilities on foreign shores, where the workers are not only less expensive but more available.
One nice trend in chemical research and development is an increasing emphasis on workplace safety. The materials and processes used in this field present many hazards, but employers are trying to find ways to design, maintain, and operate their facilities in ways that minimize accidents and other threats to health.
Here is the employment outlook from 2022 through 2032 for various careers in chemistry, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Chemists
The DOL projects 6.2 percent growth for chemists, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The biopharmaceutical industry will need chemists to develop new treatments involving nanotechnology and biomaterials. Manufacturers will need chemists for research projects to develop ways to monitor and control pollution in response to tighter environmental regulations, as well as develop methods for ensuring food safety. Chemists also will be involved in finding ways to use energy more efficiently in the manufacture of chemicals. The best opportunities are expected for those with advanced degrees.
Materials Scientists
Job opportunities for materials scientists are expected to grow by 5.1 percent. This is faster than the average for all occupations. "Materials scientists will be needed to research and develop affordable, safe, high-quality materials for electronics, energy, transportation, and other uses," according to the DOL. Offshoring of jobs by chemical manufacturers may affect employment opportunities. However, America still has a large competitive advantage in our expertise in materials science, so there will be many research projects here for researchers to develop better and cheaper high-tech materials to serve the communications, energy, and transportation industries.
Chemical Engineers
Employment for chemical engineers is projected to increase 8.1 percent—which is faster than the average. Manufacturers will need skilled chemical engineers to develop products using emerging technologies. Projects related to nanotechnology, biotechnology, and to greener and more efficient energy production will create many jobs. The medical and pharmaceutical fields will also need chemical engineers. The agricultural industry will need chemical engineers to conduct research to develop alternative fertilizers that are less harmful to the environment, as well as create other innovative products. Some opportunities for new graduates will be created as incumbents retire.
Chemical Technicians
The DOL projects 3.2 percent job growth for chemical technicians, which is about as fast as the average. Employment in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing and chemical manufacturing will grow faster than the average for all careers. Jobs will also be available in testing laboratories, where technicians will be needed to test new products and materials. As more research focuses on protecting the environment and using energy and resources more sustainably, technicians will benefit from related opportunities. Job opportunities will be best for chemical technicians who have graduated from applied science technology programs and are well trained in the latest technology and lab equipment.
Graduates of applied science technology will have an advantage because they will be more capable of working with the increasingly complex instrumentation and research techniques that are being developed. For example, research and development in the field of nanotechnology involves the use of scanning tunneling electron microscopes to create images at the atomic level. Every one of these machines, and similar instruments in this fast-growing field, needs technicians to maintain and help operate it.
- Agricultural Scientists
- Air Quality Engineers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- CRISPR Scientists
- Drug Developers
- Epigenetics Researchers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Food Technologists
- Forensic Experts
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Scientists
- Groundwater Professionals
- Hazardous Waste Management Specialists
- Hazardous Waste Management Technicians
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Soil Scientists
- Toxicologists