4/2/2024 - Jackson, Miss.

Twelve of the top 20 projected fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs in Mississippi are in the health care sector, according to a new report from the University Research Center (URC). The report is based on projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and covers the 2022-2032 time period and provides data on the top 20 jobs with the highest projected growth.

"There are tremendous opportunities in Mississippi for students with an interest in a broad range of fields, from health care to engineering to finance," said Corey Miller, state economist and director of the URC. "The median annual salary for ten of the top 20 occupations we noted is more than double the median annual salary in the state."

The highest-ranking jobs in the health care field include nurse practitioner, physical therapy assistant, and medical and health service manager. Of those three jobs, nurse practitioner is the only occupation that typically requires a graduate degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mississippi has "the second highest concentration of nurse practitioners among all states in 2022," trailing only Tennessee.

Dr. Al Rankins Jr., commissioner of Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, noted the critical role played by the state’s universities in providing the educational foundation for success for students.

"This report demonstrates the opportunities for Mississippians to stay in the state and enjoy an exciting and meaningful career," Rankins said, "but it also notes the critical role that our public universities play in making that career possible."

Throughout the report, the URC outlines degrees and majors related to each job and the universities that offer programs in those areas.

"While it is clear in the report that there are a wide range of academic fields related to these fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs, it is equally clear that Mississippi’s universities have the programs already in place to support students in achieving success in those jobs," said Rankins. "Degrees from our universities are the starting point for great opportunities in our state."

A full copy of the URC report is available at mississippi.edu.

###

The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

The University Research Center (URC) is a division of IHL and conducts applied unbiased research on a variety of state and local issues including revenue estimation, economic impact analysis, socio-economic policy analysis, tax analysis, and economic forecasting for the State of Mississippi. Clients include both public and private entities. URC routinely works closely with both the legislative and executive branches of state government.

News Archive