Top 10 Hot Jobs in Orange County - 29,000 Jobs in 2012

Orange County is considered to be a part of the Los Angeles Media Market, since it is just one county southeast of LA. This market is the largest media market in the USA.

The result of the size, reach, and effects of this media market and its advertising and information distribution is a high level of business growth other than in retail sales, along with increasing numbers of jobs in current and emerging occupational fields.

These occupations include Healthcare and Information Technology. In the 21st century, some workers left retail sales in the first decade to make the transition to other Services, IT, Healthcare, and additional fast-growth jobs, but some turned to fine and casual dining as servers in a rise in jobs since 2003 in the Dining Industry. Wages in the fastest-growing jobs are high overall (see tables below for the Top Jobs).

According to Orange County government records, the median price of a family home in the county as of February 2008 was $520,000.00. With a population well over 3 MILLION people, nearly 2 BILLION Orange County building permits were issued in 2006.

Over 1,000,000 workers live and work in Orange County, while another 200,000 commute out to Los Angeles County. However, 250,000 individuals commute into Orange from three other counties: Los Angeles and San Bernardino/Riverside Counties, the last two making up the Inland Empire. Orange County supports over 1,250,000 jobs with numerous openings.

The following list is of fast-growing jobs through 2014, available through puiblic records. Employment opportunties in Orange County exist for many high school and college graduates, Young Professionals and Mid-Career Professionals will find the most opoprtunitites for employment, although Seniors are working longer into the lif span and seekikng additional work in retirement years. These types of jobs are also available, both part-time and full-time.

Three of the Top 10 jobs, including Number One, are in Information Technology (IT) and provide high salaries and abundant benefits.

Healthcare and Biomedical Engineering figure high on this list, completed by Education, Social Serivces, Gaming, and Fashion Design.

The Number Two and Three jobs require some OJT (on the job training) and Home Health Aides can earn a short-term classroom and practical training certificate that will increase their job propspects and wages. The predicted job-listing leaders are:

1. Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
2. Home Health Aides - (Agency owners are high-paid and private duty and live-in aides earn higher than average wages.)
3. Gaming Service Workers
4. Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten
5. Special Education Teachers, Middle School
6. Biomedical Engineers
7. Computer Software Engineers, Applications
8. Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other
9. Fashion Designers
10. Database Administrators

In January 2010, BusinessWeek found that Anaheim in Orange County was the fastest growing city in the entire state.

In April 2012, 29,000 job listings included these in highest demand:

1. Warehouse Jobs
2. Salespeople
3. Interns - Interns in a wide range of industries.
4. Front Desk Staff
5. Engineers
6. Sales Representatives
7. Store Managers
8. Physical Therapists
9. Manufacturing Jobs
10. Occupational Therapists
11. Registered Nurses (RNs) - includes Travel Nursing.
12. Merchandisers

This list contains many of the major institutions of higher learning throughout Orange County. In addition, county residents commute short distances into surrounding counties to attend other schools. Higher education is prolific in the region and offers some unique opportunities.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Fullerton College- 90 majors fopr the AA and AS degress and 68 vocational certificate programs.

Saddleback College - Aviation, Marine Science, Computer Science, Fashion Design, additional majors and Community College Programs of study.

Coast Community College District - Multiple community colleges: Coastline, Golden West, and Orange Coast.

Rancho Santiago Community College District - Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon Colleges.

UNIVERSITIES

Alliant International University - Professional schools of psychology and forensics/criminology as well as a range of undergraduate programs.

Biola University - Bible College of Los Angeles. Innovative BOLD adult degree program offered, along with undergraduate and masters degrees. Music conservatory and sports teams.

California State University Fullerton - 100 degree programs, nearly half being Graduate Programs.

Chapman University- Ranked consistent in the Top Universities in the US, Chapman specializes in liberal arts and professions.

Hope International University- Christian university set in the aerospace-age designed buildings from the 1960s-70s: Pacific Christian College, School of Professional Studies (working adults, on-line/distance learning), and Graduate School.

Soka University of America - Attracts international students and seeks to make global citizens. Its Pacific Basin Research Institute pursues peace and other social enhancement.

Law School, Trinity International University- Non-profit Law School in Santa Ana.

Vanguard University - Next to the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Christian University owned by the Assemblies of God. Undergraduate and graduate programs and sports teams.

University of California, Irvine- A prestigious member of the 63 Universities elected to the American Association of Universities.

Whittier College and Law School- Diverse programs and diverse students from all parts of society. Sports teams are called the Whittier College Poets. Names after Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier. Its Orthogonian Society is a fraternity that was started by Richard M. Nixon as a student.

ARTS AND DESIGN

Laguna College of Art & Design (LCAD) - State-of-the-art computer technology labs for all types of arts and design projects and study programs. Fine arts, animation, sculpture, technical illustration, graphic design. Located in an artists hub dating back over 100 years.

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Well known, with a high percentage of graduate employment.

There are several sports teams in The OC and some are becoming very popular, including Roller Derby and Rugby. Job opportunities exist in some of these organizations regularly, as listed on their web sites, including Pro, League, High School, and College sports as well as in the various stadiums and arena that host them. Some arenas also host music concerts and other events.

• Major League Baseball - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• National Hockey League - Anaheim Ducks - Winners of the Stanley Cup in 2007.
• USL Premier Development League Soccer -Orange County Blue Star - at Orange Coast College
• NBA D-League -Anaheim Arsenal - Anaheim Convention Center
• American Basketball Association -Orange County Gladiators, since 2007 - at Fieldhouse Gym, San Juan Capistrano
  
• All Female Flat Track Roller Derby League, since 2006 -Orange County Rollergirls
• Amateur - Australian Rules Football -Southern California Australian Football League (Men's) - Orange County Bombers
• Women's Australian Football Association - Orange County Bombshells. - "Chicks play footy too!"
• OCVarsity.com - High School Sports thoroughout Orange County.
• Newport Sports Museum/Newport Sports Collection Foundation, Newport Beach near Irvine