Nutritionists

Employment of nutritionists will grow much by 7 percent, faster than the average for all careers, through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Employment growth of nutritionists is expected to continue because of the public's increasing awareness of the importance of nutrition, from a prevention and wellness standpoint. Also of note is that the average age of the population is increasing rapidly, which will bring about a growing need for nutritional counseling and planning in hospitals, residential care facilities, schools, prisons, community health programs, and home health care agencies. A third factor is that obesity in America continues to rise, from 31 percent of U.S. adults in 2000, to almost 42 percent in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Nutritionists will continue to be needed to help provide guidance on healthy nutrition to reduce obesity.

Opportunities will be excellent for nutritionists who work for contract providers of food services, in outpatient care centers, for social assistance organizations that provide services to the elderly and people with disabilities, and in offices of physicians and other health care professionals. Nutritionists who have advanced degrees and certification in specialty areas of nutrition will have better job prospects.