If you’re looking to increase your salary, change or start a career, or just get a new job now that your old one has dried up and blown away, MarketWatch has a list of job growth areas and trouble spots for 2008.

Job growth areas

• Retailers Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, and CVS Caremark, all positions. (Hey, we didn’t say this would be a glamorous or inspiring list.)
• UPS, which “has needs for engineers, computer science and economics experts.”
• Executives? — MarketWatch says as current executives reach retirement age, they may be vacating their positions. We doubt that somewhat.
• Bankruptcy lawyers
• Health care professionals, especially nurses, physical therapists and pharmacists
• “Opportunities also will abound in energy, both among the traditional oil, gas and nuclear power sector and in development of ‘green’ technology and alternative energy sources.”
• “Professional business services—including compensation and benefits experts, accountants, lawyers and consultants.”
• “Security fields ranging from guards to information technology.”
• People who speak additional languages or have experience dealing with other cultures

Trouble spots

• “Anyone associated with the home-bankers, lenders, construction companies and manufacturers.”
• “Financial services, especially the big investment banks, have been especially hurt by the mortgage crisis because many held sub-prime mortgages as assets. The sub-prime woe trickles down to affect law firms, printers and other industries that rely on deal-making conducted at the major banks.”
• The manufacturing sector, which tends to be efficient enough to meet higher export demands without adding employees
• “Automakers and related auto-parts suppliers and dealers”

“Where the jobs aren’t” [MarketWatch]
“Where the jobs will be in 2008” [MarketWatch]
“Where to work in 2008” [Personal finance for the rising stars]
(Photo: Getty)

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