Ecologists

Employment for environmental scientists is expected to grow faster than the average for all careers from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. It reports that "heightened public interest in hazards facing the environment is projected to create demand for environmental scientists and specialists. These workers will continue to be needed to analyze environmental problems and develop solutions that ensure communities’ health." Job opportunities will be particularly strong in private-sector consulting firms. The DOL predicts that employment for environmental scientists who work for management, scientific, and technical consulting services firms will increase by 14.4 percent from 2023 through 2033. This is much faster than the average for all careers. The expanding population and continuing environmental degradation should lead to robust growth in jobs for ecologists who can determine the long- and short-term effects of infrastructure development and pollution on various ecosystems.

The Ecological Society of America also predicts a strong employment outlook for ecologists: "As environmental problems and the resolve to address them increase over time, more ecologists will be needed to better understand how ecosystems work, determine environmental impacts, develop management plans to avoid environmental problems and restore ecosystems, educate the general public, and develop and manage sustainable communities."