20 Jobs That Employers Are Filling Now

Unemployment has soared nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are signs that hiring demand is starting to rise in some fields, including sales, management and website development, according to LinkedIn.

On Thursday morning, the U..S. Department of Labor announced that just over 1 million people filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week, underscoring that the massive job losses that began in March still continue more than five months later. But in some job fields, there are signs that jobs could be coming back.

Researchers at LinkedIn — a social media website that specializes in professional networking — analyzed the jobs section of their website in June and July to see which occupations saw increases in postings. Their data suggests that employers are looking for workers to help them manage the rising needs created by the pandemic.

"Coronavirus is both a financial and health crisis, and the fact that demand continues to rise in both these areas may indicate that we're still only beginning to feel its full effects,” says Cesar Zulaica Pineyro, senior insights analyst for LinkedIn.

The following are the 20 most in-demand jobs according to LinkedIn's analysis. The list is split into two groups: an overall list and a list for job fields that may offer work-from-home opportunities. Clicking on the job title will take you to a page on AARP's Job Board that shows you current postings for that occupation.

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1. Tax specialist. The uptick in hiring for this occupation this summer likely was because the deadline for filing 2019 taxes was moved to July 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But some companies, such as Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, are hiring people to help with year-round compliance on federal, state and local taxes.
2. Financial adviser. The current recession already is causing many families and individuals to adjust how they spend, save and invest money. Financial advisers can assist them in making these decisions.
3. Customer assistant. These jobs — which typically involve working in stores and helping shoppers find exactly what they are looking for — frequently offer part-time or flexible schedules. Some of the companies hiring now include Macy's, Circle K and Rhino Sports.
4. Training supervisor. People in this field are responsible for helping their colleagues learn how to do their jobs successfully and safely.
5. Patient care assistant. These workers assist with the administrative and clerical tasks that help people get the care that they need when they go for medical treatment. Among the companies hiring now are Kroger's Little Clinic locations and several Tower Health hospitals in Pennsylvania.
6. Restaurant worker. While many restaurants remain closed for in-person dining, some have started to offer outdoor dining. They also need workers to help prepare food for delivery.
7. Patient service representative. The duties for this job are somewhat similar to those of the patient care assistant that's also mentioned on this list. A key difference is that service representatives help with more of the back-and-forth between insurance companies and patients.
8. Technical program manager. Jobs in this information technology field involve leading groups as they develop new software products for businesses or individuals.
9. Salesforce developer. Salesforce is one of the world's foremost customer relationship management (CRM) technologies. Companies use Salesforce to manage their online marketing, sales and service. As online business has become more important during the pandemic, so have workers who can manage the technology.
10. JavaScript developer. JavaScript is another technology that helps websites operate. These skills are almost always in high demand.
     

Jobs that may offer work-from-home opportunities

1. Sales development representative. Companies currently hiring for this position include Verizon and Sodexo. Workers in this role are responsible for finding new clients to purchase their company's services and products.
2. Sales director. This position has higher responsibilities than the development representative role. That means you'll be expected to have more sales experience and be able to negotiate bigger deals.
3. Back-end developer. These technology jobs work on the technology that undergirds what you see when you use a website or mobile app. This is another area in which Verizon is seeking applicants.
4. Product manager. These workers use their experience and vision to help companies decide which products to create and market to consumers. That role can take the shape of helping Macy's design its in-person shopping experience or guiding the development of Verizon's next-generation services.
5. Sales manager. With this third entry on the list, sales secures its place as one of the most in-demand fields to work in right now. This manager position requires more skill and experience as a supervisor.
6. Project manager. These positions involve coordinating different teams of workers to get big projects finished on time. You'll be expected to be highly organized and have excellent communication skills.
7. Account manager. These jobs require you work directly with clients to make sure all of their needs are being met. Current job postings for this role range from opportunities with information technology businesses to openings with private security services companies.
8. Marketing manager. If you have a knack for communications and public relations, these positions might be a good fit. Advance Auto Parts, and Checkers and Rally's drive-in restaurants are among the companies that have posted openings for these positions recently.
9. Clinical research associate. In order to be reliable, scientific research needs to be monitored while it is conducted so as to ensure that it's being done properly. Clinical research associates are the people who play this watchman role.
10. Software engineer. Most businesses — from the Texas Roadhouse restaurants to Dick's Sporting Goods — rely on a variety of software programs that they customize to fit their needs. Software engineers are part of the team that make sure those pieces work together.