When it comes to predicting the future of work and the labor market, one thing the experts can agree on is that technological change will play a major factor. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), the massive popularity of online video content, the ubiquity of big data and mushrooming cybersecurity threats are just a few of the trends that are influencing which occupations will see the biggest growth over the next decade.

That’s good news for professionals working (or looking for work) in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. With its wide range of technology companies and related industries (such as aerospace and health care), the region is well-positioned for economic growth.

To help you understand which roles will see the greatest demand* in the area over the next 10 years, we crunched the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the market analytics firm Lightcast. Read on to learn about 10 of Seattle’s most in-demand jobs and the UW Professional & Continuing Education (UWPCE) programs that can help you break into or advance in each field.

10 Hottest Jobs

1. Film and Video Editors

Film and video content has become the go-to storytelling medium around the globe. From YouTube and social media to corporate training videos to popular streaming services, chances are you come in contact with this form of communication almost every day — which means that people with these types of skills are a hot commodity, especially in a creative region like Seattle.

If you want to learn the ins and outs of film and video — including scripting, storytelling, camera and lighting, sound, directing and editing — we offer the UW Certificate in Film & Video Production. 

Looking for more? Explore all our communication and media programs.

2. Data Scientists

Data is the lifeblood of our world today. Nearly every aspect of our lives — from our jobs to social media interactions to entertainment, sleep and exercise habits — now generate vast amounts of data that can be tracked and measured. The same goes for nearly every segment of our economy, including business, medicine, education, technology and more.

That has translated into burgeoning career opportunities for those skilled at wrangling and finding meaning in all that data. The demand for trained data scientists — professionals with the skill set to transform raw numbers into decision-making insights — is expected to soar in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area over the next decade. 

Learn how to acquire valuable insights from data sets and leverage skills in statistical modeling, machine learning, software engineering and more to improve business decisions by enrolling in one of UWPCE’s related offerings.

• UW Certificate in Data Science 
• UW Certificate in Machine Learning
• UW Certificate in Statistical Analysis With R Programming

Looking for more? Explore all our data and analytics programs.

3. Cybersecurity Analysts

From compromised customer accounts to multinational ransomware attacks, data breaches are becoming a serious and costly threat to businesses and organizations of all sizes. A 2024 report released by IBM estimated the average cost of such a data breach at more than $4.8 million (up 10% over the previous year), and the massive IT security failure that occurred in July 2024 highlighted the need for top-notch cybersecurity talent across all industries.

These trends translate into a booming market for trained cybersecurity professionals. Looking to launch or further your career in cybersecurity? UWPCE has several certificates and courses that can help.

• UW Certificate in Cybersecurity
• UW Certificate in Cybersecurity Risk Management
• Cyber Resilience (course)

Looking for more? Explore all our security and information management programs.

4. HR Managers and Specialists

Responsible for connecting the people and culture of a company with the organization’s objectives and goals, human resources professionals are a vital part of a successful business. In a fiercely competitive market for skilled professionals, talented HR managers and HR specialists (an entry-level role) are more valuable and in demand than ever.

Whether you’re breaking into the field or looking to ascend to a more senior role, UWPCE offers programs to help you succeed as an HR professional.

• UW Certificate in Human Resources Essentials
• UW Certificate in Human Resources Management

Looking for more? Explore all our human resources and development programs.

5. Software Developers

Computing technology has transformed society, and the pivotal figures at the center of the tech revolution are software developers (sometimes known as software engineers). These professionals design and develop the software that we depend upon in many aspects of our daily lives.

Despite the concerns that artificial intelligence will replace human coders, labor surveys show that the field continues to expand rapidly, particularly in the tech-heavy Seattle area. UWPCE offers many programs that prepare you to find work in this well-paying, growing profession.

• UW Certificate in C++ Programming
• UW Certificate in Python Programming
• UW Certificate in Front-End Development With HTML, CSS & JavaScript
• UW Certificate in Full-Stack Development With JavaScript
• UW Specialization in Advanced Java Programming
• Foundations of C Programming (course)
• Foundations of Programming (Python) (course)

Looking for more? Explore all our programming and software development programs.

6. Marketing Managers and Specialists

Offering a great product isn’t enough if consumers are unaware it exists. That’s where marketing comes in. An essential revenue driver for many organizations, marketing brings real value to the table.

As a result, openings for marketing managers— the professionals who spearhead marketing campaigns, create advertising plans and manage budgets — are booming in the job market, as are listings for marketing specialists. Gain the skills you need to be the linchpin of your marketing team by enrolling in one of UWPCE’s relevant programs.

• UW Certificate in Digital Marketing
• UW Certificate in Software Product Management
• UW Specialization in Brand Management
• UW Specialization in Product Marketing
• UW Specialization in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Marketing Foundations (course)

Looking for more? Explore all our marketing programs.

7. Database Administrators and Architects

Because every business and organization is awash in data, professionals with the skills to organize, store, retrieve and maintain that data will always be in demand. Database administrators and database architects — roles which can sometimes overlap — are crucial parts of any good-sized IT department.

Database administrators use their talents to analyze, test and implement computer databases and identify and resolve performance issues. Their efforts help ensure that anyone authorized to access the data can efficiently extract the information they need.

Database architects work at a higher level to design and develop new databases that underpin vital computer systems and applications. These skilled professionals code new data architecture that integrates existing databases and infrastructure and make sure all the different databases work together seamlessly. They’re also often responsible for data integrity and security issues.

Acquire the skills needed to break into this burgeoning field with one of these UWPCE offerings:

• UW Certificate in SQL Server & Database Development
• Foundations of Databases & SQL Programming (course)

Looking for more? Explore all our data, analytics and applied math programs.

8. Web Developers and Designers

After more than three decades of existence, the web is still the “front door” of the internet. Individuals, businesses and organizations of all sizes rely on websites to communicate, carry out essential functions, buy and sell products and services, and myriad other objectives.

The people responsible for creating and maintaining this complex system? That would be web designers and developers — the talented professionals who create the look and feel of each website, define how it should function, and write the code that makes it come to life and work as intended. These specialized skills remain in high demand.

▸ To pursue a career as a web developer, you’ll need a strong mix of coding skills, with proficiency in HTML, CSS and JavaScript (to start). UWPCE offers a variety of programs to help add to your toolkit.

• UW Certificate in Front-End Development With HTML, CSS & JavaScript
• UW Certificate in Full-Stack Development With JavaScript
• UW Certificate in Python Programming
• UW Foundations of Programming (Python) (course)

Looking for more? Explore all our programming and tech programs.

▸ If you want to work on websites but your talents tend more toward design than code, you’ll need training in user experience design. UWPCE has you covered with these offerings:

• UW Certificate in UX & Visual Interface Design
• Visual Design for Digital Media (course)

Looking for more? Explore all our design and user experience programs.

9. Fundraisers and Fundraising Managers

Nonprofit and mission-driven organizations of all stripes must rely on fundraising to generate a significant portion of their annual budgets. Cultivating donors (both large and small), writing effective grant proposals and putting on successful events are just some of the ways these institutions keep the dollars coming in to fund their program efforts and staff salaries.

This means that talented fundraisers (sometimes called development officers) are an essential part of any successful nonprofit, and the demand for these professionals is growing for both entry-level roles and managers. UWPCE features several programs that enable fundraising professionals to add skills and grow their careers.    

• UW Certificate in Fundraising Management
• UW Certificate in Nonprofit Management
• UW Specialization in Grant Writing & Management Strategies

Looking for more? Explore all our nonprofit and public administration programs.

10. Technical Writers

Because technology drives so much of our employment growth — especially in the Puget Sound region — it follows that technical writing is another field projected to grow dramatically over the next decade.

Once considered a role primarily concerned with software documentation, technical writers today work in disparate fields, such as health care, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, engineering and many other industries. That’s why UWPCE offers a range of certificates, courses and specializations that cover different aspects of this growing profession.

• UW Certificate in Professional Technical Writing
• UW Specialization in API Documentation
• UW Specialization in Regulatory Medical Writing
• Business Writing: Reports, Proposals & Documents (course)
• Foundations of UX Writing (course)

Looking for more? Explore all our writing and editing programs.

*According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percent change in the number of jobs added or lost in a U.S. occupation or industry is defined by the following percent changes: Much faster than the average: an increase of 9% or more; faster than the average: an increase of 5% to 8%.

 Source: Lightcast

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