A word to the wise for job seekers in Virginia: Your best opportunities will be in the professional, science, technical and health care fields.
That's according to information compiled by the state employment commission.
The state expects overall job growth of about 597,900 jobs between 2008 and 2018, an increase of almost 15 precent.
Right now the state's unemployment rate is about 7 percent, well below the national average.
The Virginia Employment Commission estimates that professional, scientific and technical services industry jobs will go up nearly 41 percent. That includes jobs in accounting, engineering and computer services.
The health care and social assistance industry are poised to see a 31 percent growth in jobs, specifically for nurses and personal health care aides, by 2018.
Industries that are losing jobs include farming, manufacturing and mining.
The projections can help people see what jobs and skills will be in demand in the coming years, said Ann Lang, a senior economist with the commission.
The information can also help job seekers determine what education requirements are needed for certain jobs, Lang said.
A report from Georgetown University released this summer predicted that most of the state's jobs, about 64 percent, will require more than a high school education by 2018. That figure is higher than the national average.
Fan, Follow and Text: Get the latest from NBCWashington.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our e-mail newsletters and get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text DCBREAKING to 622339 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
