According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this industry will be the fastest growing industry in the coming decade.  With a projected employment increase of 83 percent, and some of the highest paying jobs in the labor market, students looking for a career should give the Consulting Services industry a close look.

Professionals working in the Consulting Services Industry essentially serve as specialized skill resources that help guide decision making.  As a result, Consulting Services professionals are needed in virtually every industry.  Consulting Services professionals may be found working in healthcare, manufacturing, travel, arts, finance, entertainment, sports, construction, government, education, marketing, public relations, and the list goes on and on.  The high pace of growth in this industry stems from the increasingly complex nature of today’s businesses and the ever increasing need to sustain company growth.  As a result of the above, businesses throughout the nation are looking for talented consultants to help guide their decision making processes.  Additionally, with any growth comes the need for consultants in other areas such as regulations, marketing, logistics, etc. 

Consulting Services professionals typically work behind the scenes and guide how businesses and governments make decisions.  These employees are typically relied upon for their knowledge, training, creativity, and outside perspective on client needs. As a result, individuals with background knowledge in a specific type of industry are best suited for this sector.  For example, someone who aims to work as a consultant in the Management sector should have knowledge, training, and experience in management.  Similarly, someone who aims to work as a consultant in the health care industry should have knowledge, training and experience in the health care industry. 

One area where demand is at an all time high and increasing is in the technology field.  As companies strive to implement the latest and most cost effective technology solutions they are increasingly reliant on consultants who are up-to-date with cutting edge advancements.  Maintaining a full time position for someone with this type of skill is not practical for many smaller businesses.  This has resulted in a demand for consultants to come in and assist with projects of this type on a temporary basis.  Many consultants are finding themselves booked for months in advance and are turning down work requests. 

About 73 percent of the Consulting Services workers have at least a bachelor’s degree.  Additionally, about 62 percent of the employees in this industry hold some type of professional or managerial position.  This is because knowledge, training and experience alone may not sufficiently prepare an individual to work in the Consulting Services industry.  Therefore individuals often look into formal management consulting or other educational programs to augment their on the job skills.  These programs provide the training to complement existing knowledge and prepare the individual to serve as a professional consultant. 

Adapted from information obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor