4 Southern Metros Lead U.S. in Data Scientist Job Growth

The job market in the United States is remarkably diverse, spanning careers that range from retail and technology to highly specialized academic and legal roles. Over time, occupations have shifted in popularity as technology, geography and the evolution of society introduced new roles. Also necessary to mention, the global COVID-19 pandemic which stirred the job market all over the globe. And while all industries were affected to some extent by this event, office jobs are still in the process of adjusting to a new, standardized normal, as their dependence on offices is now more or less necessary for most occupations.

It is for this reason that we decided to look at the most popular office occupations across the U.S. in the present. However, to best understand which jobs have evolved the most into most and least popular, we also looked at the increase and decrease in the workforce for office occupations from before the pandemic up to the present, more specifically, years 2019 and 2024. This way we can better see how the pandemic has shifted the interest of workers when it comes to office jobs. This snapshot not only highlights the most common career paths but also underscores the unique value of specialized occupations that, while smaller in number, are critical to the fabric of society.

Majority of Office Employees are Retail Salesperson

According to the latest employment data, retail salespersons hold the top spot as the most common office-related occupation, with nearly 3.3 million workers. This reflects the continuing importance of retail in the American economy, where face-to-face interactions and customer service remain central. Following closely behind are general and operations managers, with about 3 million employees. Their role in overseeing company activities, managing teams and ensuring organizational efficiency makes them indispensable across industries.

In third place are project management specialists and business operations professionals, numbering around 1.8 million. This growing field reflects the increasing demand for structured project execution and organizational improvement. The technology sector is also prominently represented: software developers and quality assurance analysts account for more than 1.5 million jobs, underscoring the digital transformation of nearly every industry.

Other significant occupations include accountants and auditors (1.2 million), sales representatives in services (990,520), management analysts (772,160), human resources specialists (770,760), market research analysts and marketing specialists (719,060) and financial managers (712,940). Together, these roles highlight the blend of technical expertise, analytical skills and leadership required in today’s economy.

Mathematicians Represent the Smallest Office-Related Occupation

On the opposite end of the spectrum, certain occupations employ only a fraction of workers. For example, just 630 mathematicians are recorded, making it the smallest office-related occupation. While small in number, mathematicians often serve highly specialized functions in academia, research and industry. Similarly rare are historians (1,030) and sociologists (1,480), professions that focus on interpreting human society and its evolution. Arbitrators, mediators and conciliators (2,260) also represent a niche but important role in resolving disputes outside the courtroom. Finally, auto damage insurance appraisers fall in fifth with only 2,600 workers.

Data Reveals Data Scientists Hold the Most Popular Occupation

The most popular occupations, measured by growth in worker numbers between 2019 and 2024, reflect the accelerating demand for technology, management and analytical skills across industries, showing just how central technology and management have become in today’s workforce. At the top of the list are data scientists and mathematical science occupations, which grew at an impressive rate of 551%, underscoring the central role of data-driven decision-making in business, healthcare and government. Closely following are project management specialists and sales managers, occupations that highlight the need for both strategic leadership and revenue growth expertise, with a significant growth of 91% and 71%, respectively. Similarly, transportation, storage and distribution managers grew by 67%, highlighting the importance of logistics in an era of global supply chain disruption. Growth also extended to specialized fields like natural sciences managers (57%), information security analysts (55%) and training and development specialists (54%).

Automation, Outsourcing and Technological Occupations are Facing a Decline in Workforce Compared to Pre-Pandemic Levels

In contrast, the occupations that have seen the steepest declines paint a picture of shifting economic priorities and technological disruption. Insurance appraisers for auto damage faced the largest contraction, 66%, making their occupation the smallest in terms of the number of employees, likely due to automation in claims processing and advances in vehicle safety. Similarly, computer programmers saw a steep decline, 40%, as coding tasks have been increasingly outsourced or automated and low-code platforms have increased in popularity, along with roles like survey researchers (-31%) and mathematicians (-25%). Traditional positions such as advertising sales agents and legislators also experienced reductions, reflecting both changes in media consumption and evolving political structures, along with technical roles including electronics engineers, chemical engineers and statisticians, which also made the list. Collectively, these figures highlight a workforce transition where specialized but narrow roles are giving way to more adaptable, tech-enabled careers, suggesting that occupations rooted in repetitive, narrowly defined or easily automated tasks are the most vulnerable in today’s evolving labor market.

Labor Relations Specialists See Financial Growth, While Education Administrators Make Roughly the Same

The occupation that experienced the greatest increase in income between 2019 and 2024 is labor relations specialists. Their earnings rose by nearly 45% over the five-year period, marking them as the standout winners in income growth. Several factors may have contributed to this sharp rise, including the growing demand for professionals skilled in mediating disputes, navigating labor laws and managing employer-employee relations in a workforce that has become increasingly dynamic and complex post-pandemic. With unionization efforts on the rise and companies placing greater emphasis on compliance and equitable workplace practices, labor relations specialists have become more valuable, driving up compensation levels significantly compared to other professions.