Firefighters

Employment of firefighters is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all careers from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL says that "although improved building materials and building codes have resulted in a long-term decrease in fires and fire fatalities, firefighters will still be needed to respond to fires." There will also be increasing demand for firefighters to fight wildland fires. In 2023, 56,580 wildfires destroyed 2,693,910 acres in the United States, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Firefighting is forecasted to remain a very competitive field, and the number of people interested in becoming firefighters will outweigh the number of available positions in most areas. The National Fire Protection Association reports that nearly 75 percent of situations that firefighters respond to are medical emergencies and not fires. Applicants who are physically fit, have EMT training, have top scores on physical-conditioning and mechanical aptitude exams, and have at least some postsecondary training will have the best employment prospects.

Most new jobs will be created as small communities grow and augment their volunteer staffs with career firefighters. Growth in urban populations will also increase the need for full-time firefighters. There are also growing numbers of "call" firefighters, who are paid only when responding to fires. Some local governments are expected to contract for fire-fighting services with private companies. In some fire departments, the hours of each work shift have been shortened, and two people may be employed to cover a shift normally worked by one person. Most job growth will occur as volunteer fire-fighting departments are converted to paid positions. Layoffs of firefighters are uncommon, given the essential nature of fire protection to communities.