Geophysicists

Employment of all geoscientists is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2033, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The total number of graduates with degrees in the geophysical sciences is expected to remain small and insufficient to meet the increase in industry job openings.

In recent years, the petroleum industry, the largest employer of geophysicists, has increased its exploration and extraction activities (including with the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques), and more geophysicists will be needed to locate less-accessible fuel and mineral deposits and to do research on such problems as radioactivity, cosmic and solar radiation, and the use of geothermal energy to generate electricity. The petroleum industry is also expected to expand operations overseas, which may create new jobs for those who are willing to travel. It's important to remember that the health of the petroleum industry is directly tied to the price of oil, with the industry expanding when demand and prices are high and contracting when demand decreases and prices are lower.

More geophysicists will be needed to study water conservation and flood control and to assist in space science projects. The growing need to find new sources of energy will undoubtedly make the work of geophysicists more important and more challenging during the next few decades. "Geoscientists study wind speeds and patterns to determine sites that are suitable for wind turbines," according to the Department of Labor. "The increased use of and demand for alternative energy should lead to more jobs for these workers.