The State of the Business and Arts Job Market in 2019
The State of the Business and Arts Job Market in 2019
Throughout 2019, Career College Central has focused on one fast-growing industry per edition. In this series, we analyzed new data in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook to provide an overview of the employment market in that industry and take a closer look at some common career paths in the field.
Picture a businessperson. Suit and tie, late-night networking events, frequent travel, a tendency toward overworking. Now picture an artist. Paint-covered clothes, at the mercy of creative muse, struggling to make ends meet. Right? Well . . . wrong.
Thanks to technology, careers in business and the arts have more in common than ever before, and people who choose to work in either industry may even be swapping traits. After all, the ubiquity of remote work, video conferencing, and artificial intelligence means that many business deals and sales are made over the internet rather than in person. And the gig economy means artists have had to hone their hustling and business skills alongside their creative talent in order to attract and retain clients.
People who choose a career in business or the arts will often find themselves ahead of the competition with a bachelor’s degree or other non-degree training, but it’s also more important than ever before for them to hone soft skills that can translate across occupations.
In fact, the team at Omnia has identified seven common soft skills necessary for success—and we think they are crucial for those pursuing careers in business and the arts.
- Leadership. Even when business and arts workers are working for someone else, they must have the confidence to provide recommendations based on their knowledge and experience, as well as the ability to lead a team toward a final outcome.
- Teamwork. Even art doesn’t happen in a vacuum, especially when it’s being created to appeal to consumers or serve as a call to action. Sales in business, especially, are usually the result of many individuals and teams working together to close a deal.
- Communication skills. Whether working for an organization or independently, businesspeople and artists must be able to effectively communicate verbally, nonverbally, in written form, and visually.
- Problem solving. Whether a full-time employee or a short-term contractor, organizations hire businesspeople and artists to solve problems of varying degrees. Industry knowledge, the ability to apply it in different situations, and the courage to try new things often translates to success across industries.
- Work ethic. It will be difficult to make it very far in a career in business or the arts without drive. That doesn’t need to mean blinding ambition or a tendency toward overworking, but rather a commitment to seeing a job through and getting it done well, even when circumstances are difficult.
- Flexibility. It’s not uncommon for business deals to fall through or creative concepts to be scrapped entirely. Employees in the business and arts industries need to be able to adapt with grace.
- People skills. A successful, fulfilling career in business or the arts is usually a product of building and maintaining a network of strong relationships with clients, coworkers, and peers.
Take a Closer Look at: Business and Arts Career Options
Career colleges and technical schools around the country offer a variety of degree- and non-degree-granting programs that help meet the surging demand for skilled, innovative workers in the fields of business and the arts, and help students begin the path to fulfilling careers. Here is just a sampling of the fast-growing career options available:
Accounting
Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Median pay (2018): $70,500 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Growing as fast as average (6% projected growth) with a projected employment change of 90,700 jobs
On-the-job training: No
What they do: Most accountants and auditors work full-time preparing and examining financial records for businesses and individuals. While they generally work around 40 hours a week, they can usually expect to work overtime during certain periods of each year, like at the end of a company’s fiscal year or during tax season in the spring.
According to the BLS, accountants and auditors “ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants and auditors assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.”
Accountants and auditors:
- Examine financial statements to ensure accuracy and compliance with applicable rules and regulations
- Figure out taxes owed, prepare tax returns, and ensure that taxes are paid properly and on time
- Keep account books and accounting systems running efficiently
- Organize and maintain financial records
- Make best-practice financial management recommendations to organizations and individuals
- May be asked to suggest ways to reduce costs, enhance revenues, and improve profits
Bookkeeping
Entry-level education: Some college, but no degree
Median pay (2018): $40,240 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Declining (‑4% projected growth) with a projected employment change of ‑65,800 jobs
On-the-job training: No
What they do: Most bookkeepers work full-time in offices, but many work part-time and some might be expected to travel and do site visits for other businesses. They are primarily tasked with producing financial records and checking existing financial records for accuracy.
“The records that bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work with include expenditures (money spent), receipts (money that comes in), accounts payable (bills to be paid), accounts receivable (invoices, or what other people owe the organization), and profit and loss (a report that shows the organization’s financial health),” says the BLS.
Bookkeepers:
- Enter financial transactions into computer software for posterity and analysis
- Receive and record cash, checks, and vouchers
- Put costs (debits) and income (credits) into bookkeeping software, assigning each to an appropriate account or designation
- Produce reports like balance sheets (costs compared with income), income statements, and totals by account
- Check for accuracy in financial figures, postings, and reports
- Reconcile or note and report any differences they find in financial records
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bookkeepers
Human Resource Specialists
Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Median pay (2018): $60,880 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Growing as fast as average (5% projected growth) with a projected employment change of 33,000 jobs
On-the-job training: None
What they do: Human resource (HR) specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers with organizations, as well as handle employee relations, compensation, benefits, and training. They usually work full-time in offices and may be expected to work off-site or travel to job fairs and college campuses for recruitment.
HR specialists must be able to work well with people, while also being able to follow and comply with all federal, state, and local employment regulations.
HR specialists:
- Work with employers to identify employment needs and help create, post, and disseminate job descriptions
- Review applications and interview applicants about their experience, education, and skills
- Contact references and perform background checks on applicants
- Inform applicants about job details, such as duties, benefits, and working conditions
- Hire or refer qualified candidates for employers
- Conduct new employee orientation
- Keep employment records and process paperwork
- Help ensure employers are complying with all labor laws and regulations
Sales Managers
Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Median pay (2018): $124,220 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Growing as fast as average (5% projected growth) with a projected employment change of 20,600 jobs
On-the-job training: No
What they do: Sales managers direct and lead organizations’ sales teams. They almost always have experience as sales associates before becoming sales managers, either within the same organization or outside it.
Sales managers almost always work full-time and may end up working overtime due to expected travel and after-hours business development obligations. According to the BLS, sales managers “set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.”
Sales managers:
- Analyze sales statistics
- Project sales and determine the profitability of products and services
- Develop plans to acquire new customers or clients through direct sales techniques, cold calling, and business-to-business marketing visits
- Address customer complaints regarding sales and service
- Prepare budgets and approve expenditures
- Monitor customer preferences to focus on sales efforts
- Determine discount rates or special pricing plans
- Assign sales territories and set sales quotas
- Plan and coordinate training programs for sales staff
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Sales Managers
Cosmetologists
Entry-level education: Postsecondary non-degree award
Median pay (2018): $24,380 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Growing faster than average (8% projected growth) with a projected employment change of 63,900 jobs
On-the-job training: Maybe
What they do: Cosmetologists provide scalp and facial treatments and makeup analysis. Some also clean and style wigs and hairpieces. In addition, most cosmetologists actively recommend professional hair care products or salon hair care products. Hairstylists, who usually attend cosmetology school as well, cut, color, and style hair, advise clients on how to care for their hair at home, and keep current with fashion and styling trends.
Cosmetologists:
- Inspect and analyze hair, skin, and scalp to recommend treatment or styling
- Discuss hairstyle options
- Wash, color, lighten, condition, or chemically change the texture of hair
- Cut, dry, and style hair
Illustrators
Entry-level education: No degree necessary, though a bachelor’s degree is common
Median pay (2018): $48,960 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Little or no change to the occupation (1% projected growth) with a projected employment change of 500 jobs
On-the-job training: Yes, long-term on-the-job training
What they do: Illustrators create original artwork and designs to sell independently, for books, for movies and television, for corporations, and for other individuals. They may learn foundational skills through education but improve their craft through practice and repetition. Illustrators may be self-employed or employed by an organization.
Illustrators:
- Produce drawings and graphics for use in books, advertisements, packaging, and more
- Work with editors, authors, or designers to achieve the desired result
- Negotiate contracts and timescales
- Undertake relevant research and generate ideas based on that research
Film and/or Video Editors
Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Median pay (2018): $58,990 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Growing much faster than average (11% projected growth) with a projected employment change of 7,900 jobs
On-the-job training: None
What they do: As video continues to engage consumers more than any other type of media, companies will keep investing in it. This means continued growth for film and video editors and camera operators. Video editors and camera operators usually work in studios or offices, but often get out of the office to shoot raw footage on location.
Film and video editors and camera operators have different job descriptions, but they work together to:
- Shoot and record television programs, motion pictures, music videos, documentaries, or news and sporting events
- Organize digital footage with video-editing software
- Collaborate with a director to determine the overall vision of the production
- Discuss filming and editing techniques with a director to improve a scene
- Select the appropriate equipment, such as the type of lens or lighting
- Shoot or edit a scene based on the director’s vision
Fashion Designers
Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Median pay (2018): $72,720 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Little or no change to the occupation (1% projected growth) with a projected employment change of 400 jobs
On-the-job training: None
What they do: Fashion designers work for apparel companies, retailers, wholesalers, theater or dance companies, and design firms creating original, on-trend, or period clothing, accessories, and footwear. Most fashion designers in the US work in New York and California, since that’s where the majority of the companies they work for are located.
Fashion designers:
- Study fashion trends and anticipate designs that will appeal to consumers
- Decide on a theme for a collection
- Use computer-aided design (CAD) programs to create designs
- Visit manufacturers or trade shows to get samples of fabric
- Select fabrics, embellishments, and colors for each garment or accessory
- Work with other designers or team members to create prototype designs
- Present design ideas to creative directors or showcase their ideas in fashion or trade shows
- Market designs to clothing retailers or to consumers
- Oversee the final production of their designs
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Fashion Designers
Graphic Designers
Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Median pay (2018): $50,370 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Growing slower than average (3% projected growth) with a projected employment change of 8,800 jobs
On-the-job training: None
What they do: While the field of graphic design is growing more slowly than average, there have been so many graphic designers employed over the past decade that even this slow growth means almost 10,000 new jobs for qualified applicants over the next ten years.
Graphic designers “create visual concepts using computer software or by hand to communicate ideas that inspire, inform and captivate consumers,” says the BLS. They often work full-time for publishing companies, specialized design services, or advertising or PR (public relations) firms. Many graphic designers are also independently employed, providing their creative skills to organizations and individuals on a freelance basis.
Graphic designers:
- Meet with clients or art directors to determine project scope and vision
- Use digital illustration, photo editing software, and layout software to create designs
- Create visual elements like logos, original images, and illustrations to help deliver a message
- Design layouts, including selection of colors, images, and typefaces
- Present design concepts to clients or art directors
- Incorporate changes recommended by clients or art directors into final designs
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Graphic Designers
Multimedia Artists and/or Animators
Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Median pay (2018): $72,520 annually
Job outlook, 2018 to 2028: Growing as fast as average (4% projected growth), with a projected employment change of 3,000 jobs
On-the-job training: None
Working environment: Multimedia artists and animators create images and visual effects that appear to move, for varying types of media and entertainment. They can work full-time or part-time, in an office or from home. They usually begin their careers with a bachelor’s degree in computer graphics, art, or a related field. Multimedia artists and animators need to have not only creative talent, but the technical skills to put their creativity into practice for a client or employer.
“Multimedia artists and animators often work in a specific medium,” says the BLS. “Some focus on creating animated movies or video games. Others create visual effects for movies and television shows. Creating computer-generated images (CGI) may include taking images of an actor’s movements and then animating them into three-dimensional characters. Other animators design scenery or backgrounds for locations.”
Multimedia artists and animators:
- Use computer programs and illustrations to create graphics and animation
- Work with a team of animators and artists to create a movie, game, or visual effect
- Research upcoming projects to help create realistic designs or animation
- Edit animation and effects on the basis of feedback from directors, other animators, game designers, or clients
- Meet with clients, other animators, games designers, directors, and other staff (which may include actors) to review deadlines and development timelines