U.S. News & World Report Announces the Inaugural Best Jobs of 2012 Rankings

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News released today the first-ever edition of Best Jobs of 2012 rankings. Occupations are ranked according to one of five industries: business, creative services, healthcare, science & technology, and social services. There's also a general rankings list that highlights the 25 Best Jobs across all five categories. The Best Jobs rankings and career profiles will be available exclusively at usnews.com/careers.

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These rankings bolster the annual U.S. News Best Careers package, which previously spotlighted 50 high-opportunity professions based on job-growth projections from the Labor Department. By including rankings for the top professions, the Best Jobs of 2012 allows job seekers to better evaluate occupations that most appeal to their abilities and needs. New to the list are jobs like public relations specialist, paramedic, and executive assistant. The list includes several repeats from last year, including registered nurse, accountant, and civil engineer.

"Finding a job or planning a career is a job in itself," said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer for U.S. News. "We're trying to make it easier. We've pulled together the best available information to help our readers wade through an increasingly complicated job market and find the best path for them."

Jobs were selected for our list based on the hiring demand expected for that profession from now until the year 2020, as determined by the Labor Department. Employment growth also factors into the overall score, as does average salary, job satisfaction, and the current unemployment rate within each industry. The profiles contextualize this information, and also include pointers from industry insiders on how to get hired, how to advance in the field, and what type of work environment to expect.

For more information on the Best Jobs of 2012 rankings, as well as a wealth of job search and career advice, please visit http://www.usnews.com/careers or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Best Jobs 2012

*To see the full rankings for each of our industries, visit the following pages:

Best Business Jobs
Best Creative Services Jobs
Best Healthcare Jobs
Best Science & Technology Jobs
Best Social Services Jobs

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is a multi-platform, digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, Travel, Cars, and Public Service/Opinion, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. U.S. News & World Report's signature franchise includes its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans, and more.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report