Who Makes What: Pick 5

Believe it or not, some St. Louis job fields are still hiring

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Like most St. Louisans, we've had our fill of the L-word ("layoffs"). Instead, we wanted to know who's actually hiring- or planning to in the near future. So we posed the question to Jack Strauss, director of the Simon Center for Regional Economic Forecasting and professor of economics at Saint Louis University, and then followed up with local firms. Those of you fine-tuning that resume, take note.     

1) Registered Nurses

Here’s a figure for you: 544,000. That’s the number of jobs, as of last September, created in healthcare since the recession began. Just where are many of those jobs? In nursing—and the number’s only expected to grow. Vanderbilt School of Nursing’s Peter Buerhaus estimates a nursing shortage of 260,000 RNs nationwide by 2025, as many nurses retire. Here in St. Louis, that means jobs at area healthcare providers. “That’s an area where we have a comparative advantage,” says Strauss. There are multiple paths to becoming an RN, but more schooling typically allows nurses to advance further in the long run.

Salary: $40,000–$62,000^

2) Financial Advisors

While much of the financial world is struggling to survive, Edward Jones is investing in its future. Last October, the company opened a nine-story building in Maryland Heights and announced plans to create 250 more support-staff jobs. “Under our business model, we’re committed to growing the number of financial advisors the market has,” says Ken Dude, principal in charge of human resources. He anticipates Edward Jones will create 800 to 1,000 new jobs in North America in 2010. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance is nearly a must, but the company is also seeking support staff in a wide range of capacities.

Salary: $40,000–$100,000+

3) SCIENTIFIC Researchers

The biotech industry should sprout even more jobs in the future. At Monsanto, there’s already a long list of openings (around 150 at press time). Michele Holton, employment branding and university relations lead, says the company also has about 300 internship positions available worldwide. Monsanto isn’t the only one dialing into scientific research, though. Wash. U. scientists are also studying life at the molecular level, with a far different goal: curing cancer. Millions in grants have created 150-plus jobs for research specialists, data processors, and others who are expanding genetic-sequencing project efforts. That figure should grow as research does.

Salary: $42,000–$69,000^

4) Math and Science Teachers

Last year, the Federal Reserve Bank noted education was the only sector in St. Louis to add jobs since October 2007. Strauss says there’s always a need for math and science teachers. And while postsecondary positions don’t turn over as often, they provide a stable source of employment—and an area where there’s investment. Washington University’s new Brauer Hall, for instance, will house the Department of Energy,

Environmental, and Chemical Engineering, among several science-related fields. Naturally, a college degree is a must for anyone looking to teach full time—whether in elementary school or beyond.

Salary: $35,000–$87,000^

5) IT Specialists

Unlike many cities, ours has seen a rebound in its IT industry since the tech bubble burst almost a decade ago. By now, its various incarnations are a staple at nearly any business. “Try to think of an industry that doesn’t use information technology,” says John Buerck, chair of computer-science technology at Saint Louis University. According to tech trade association AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the high-tech industry here has grown consistently, adding hundreds of jobs since 2003. That should continue, says Buerck, especially in areas such as health informatics, where important medical documents are being stored electronically.

Salary: $50,000–$80,000^

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