Ergonomists

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of occupational health and safety specialists, including ergonomists, is projected to grow by 14 percent through 2033, which is much faster than the average for all careers. Employment will be good for ergonomists who have advanced degrees and certification.

As the public has gained an increased understanding of and appreciation for ergonomy and as numerous work environments have become more complex because of technology advances, ergonomists have found a steady demand for their services. Businesses will continue to use ergonomy to reduce worker injury, raise levels of production, and increase profits.

Nationwide ergonomic legislation has been held up by disagreements over what standards should be set and to whom they should apply. Although OSHA issued an ergonomics standard to address this issue (effective January 16, 2001), the standard was repealed on March 21, 2001, as businesses regarded the standard as too costly and exerted pressure on the government for this repeal. Despite this lack of a nationwide ergonomics standard, however, the need for ergonomists remains strong. The numerous areas of specialization provide opportunities to combine the practice of ergonomy with other fields, such as industrial engineering or psychology, and the relatively low number of ergonomists in the field. As technology becomes an increasingly unavoidable part of our lives, there will be a demand for people who can make that technology easy, safe, and effective to use.