Nurses, dental assistants, and teachers are some of the fastest-growing professions in Iowa.

The Iowa Workforce Development released its “Hot Jobs” report this month naming some of the projected fastest-growing jobs in the state through 2022.

Many of these jobs are in the health-care and education sectors, said Ed Wallace, deputy director and state labor market information administrator for Iowa Workforce Development.

“In coming years many more Iowans will be living longer then ever before,” he said. “This means there is a need for more geriatric nurses and pharmacists in order to care for these people.”

Iowa Workforce Development constantly looks at 10-year growth rates for jobs in the state, Wallace said.

Educators would continue to be in demand in some rural areas that are experiencing growth, he said.

“One of these areas around Iowa City is Tiffin,” Wallace said. “That’s an area that is seeing rapid growth right now, and educators will be needed to cope with the rise in population.”

Some of the areas projected to experience little or no growth were in the office and administration area, such as secretaries and receptionists, and in the buildings and grounds maintenance areas.

Wallace said this is because automation or third-party vendor services are eplacing these types of jobs.

Many Iowan jobs in the future will be located in the area of Big Data, Wallace said.

“Many businesses now are turning to Big Data and utilize the newest tools in order to make decisions,” he said. “They’re going to need someone who knows what to do with all the data.”

Iowa in general, Wallace said, will continue to be a national leader in food and renewable energy in the years to come.

— by Bill Cooney