Detectives

Employment for police officers and detectives is expected to grow by 4 percent (about as fast as the average for all careers) from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Many openings will likely result from police detectives retiring or leaving their departments for other reasons. Applicants with law enforcement or military experience, especially investigative experience, as well as those who speak more than one language, should have the strongest opportunities.

The DOL reports that job opportunities for private investigators are expected to increase by 5 percent (about as fast as the average) from 2023 to 2033, although it is important to keep in mind that law enforcement or comparable experience is often required for employment. The use of private investigators by insurance firms, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, law firms, and other businesses is on the rise. Areas of growth include the investigation of the various forms of identity theft, conducting of employee background checks, solving or preventing cybercrime, and preventing industrial spying and other types of espionage in the financial industry.