Writers

The employment of writers is expected to grow by 5 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This is about as fast as the average (4 percent) for all careers. Competition for writing jobs has been and will continue to be competitive, but certain fields will offer better opportunities than other areas. The growth of online publishing on company Web sites and other online services will create a demand for many talented writers. The DOL says that "writers and authors who have adapted to online media and are comfortable writing for and working with a variety of electronic and digital tools should have an advantage in finding work." Employment in the fields of advertising and public relations should increase by 8.1 percent through 2033, according to the DOL. This is faster than the average.

Employment opportunities for technical writers are expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2033, according to the DOL. In addition to software publishers and computer systems design and related services firms, management, scientific, and technical consulting services firm are showing an increased need for technical writers. "However, employment growth may be slowed by artificial intelligence tools that allow these workers to be more productive," according to the DOL.

The major book and magazine publishers, broadcasting companies, advertising agencies, public relations firms, and the federal government account for the concentration of writers in large cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Opportunities with small newspapers, corporations, and professional, religious, business, technical, and trade publications can be found throughout the country.

People entering this field should realize that the competition for jobs is extremely keen. Beginners may have difficulty finding employment. Of the thousands who graduate each year with degrees in English, journalism, communications, and the liberal arts, intending to establish a career as a writer, many turn to other occupations when they find that applicants far outnumber the job openings available. College students would do well to keep this in mind and prepare for an unrelated alternate career in the event they are unable to obtain a position as writer; another benefit of this approach is that they can become qualified as writers in a specialized field. The practicality of preparing for alternate careers is borne out by the fact that opportunities are best in firms that prepare business and trade publications and in technical writing. Job candidates with good writing skills and knowledge of a specialized area such as economics, finance, software development, or science will have the best chances of finding jobs.

Potential writers who end up working in a different field may be able to earn some income as freelancers, selling articles, stories, books, and possibly TV and movie scripts, but it is usually difficult for writers to support themselves entirely as independent writers.