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Finding work in the bustling city of Las Vegas usually isn’t difficult, especially in most service-related industries. With so many casinos situated in a relatively small geographical area and so many tourists visiting the city on a daily basis, there’s always a need for more employees to accommodate all of that tourism and the societal burdens that come with it.
Of course, any job related to food or gambling should be easy to find in Vegas. If you’ve been thinking about moving to Las Vegas, you might be wondering what other kinds of professionals are in high demand in the region. To help you with that, we’ve compiled the list below.
1. Police Officers
It’s no secret that Las Vegas is home to its fair share of crime, with a violent crime rate that’s more than 50% higher than the national average, and a property crime rate that’s 25% higher than the national average.
That doesn’t mean Vegas is an unsafe place to live, as there are also many nice neighborhoods where virtually no crime exists compared to the inner-city areas, which is where most of the crime statistics come from.
However, it does mean that the city, like the rest of the country, is in perpetual need of more police officers. Here are a few facts that explain why Vegas desperately needs more police officers:
- Matching the Nationwide Trend of Declining Application Rates – According to the Police Executive Research Forum, more than 65% of police departments around the country have seen a decline in new applicants.
- Shortage of Graduates from Police Colleges & Academies – Despite the fact that it’s possible for officers to advance their careers through online degree programs and continued education efforts, the number of students enrolled in police college is also declining.
- A Growing Urban Population – The city itself is growing in population every year, which means more officers will be needed to adequate patrol the streets.
With the above factors in mind, it’s easy to see why Vegas could be an appealing relocation destination for a police officer who is in search of an abundant work schedule.
2. Nurses
The city also needs more nurses, as the nursing shortage here is on par or worse than the national average, depending on which hospital or clinic you’re looking at. The city has seen a persistent shortage not only in the number of actively employed nurses, but also in the number of enrolled nursing students.
Some news stations even reported on the shortage in the first half of 2019, covering the dynamics of the city’s nursing shortage in detail.
“It impacts every patient… rehab facilities, hospitals, clinics, everything” said Patricia Strobehn, the program coordinator a Touro University’s Family Nurse Practitioner program.
The fact that there aren’t enough nurses in Las Vegas has created a burden on local hospitals and other healthcare facilities to the extent that some educators are concerned about whether it will be possible to correct the deficit any time soon.
3. Business Managers
Business managers are also in high demand in Vegas, as there are thousands of major corporations and many more small businesses based in the city.
Not surprisingly, entrepreneurs and investors have been flocking to the Entertainment Capital of the World for decades, so there are always new businesses popping up, and all of them will need new managers.
The city creates a highly competitive environment in all industries, so even though business managers are in high demand, you’ll still need to be prepared to perform well. In the words of Brian Tracy:
“The true measure of the value of any business leader and manager is performance.”
The quote above paints a very clear picture of what most Vegas-based companies are looking for in a business manager.
4. Software Developers
Every neon light that you see lit up on the strip, and every machine you see inside of a casino is controlled by software at some level. With all of that technology centralised into one area, it’s clear that there must be a lot of software development and troubleshooting going on behind the scenes.
You might think that there wouldn’t be a lot of ongoing work to be done once a software has already been built, but in fact most software projects wind up failing or needing significant revisions or maintenance as time passes. Famous programmer Bruce Eckel mentioned this fact when discussing the development of Java 8 by saying:
“Programming is about managing complexity: the complexity of the problem, laid upon the complexity of the machine. Because of this complexity, most of our programming projects fail.”
For that reason, new software developers are continually being added to teams to help solve increasingly complex and challenging problems.
5. Accountants & Auditors
With some people referring to Las Vegas as “Lost Wages” or “the City of Second Chances,” it’s not surprising that a lot of money is spent and earned here.
In fact, the Vegas economy is currently booming, as many new businesses continue to join the race. Inevitably, with all of that economic activity comes the need for an army of competent accountants and auditors.
6. Financial Managers
This one is straightforward because financial managers are needed for the same reasons that accountants, auditors, and business managers are in demand – to keep track of the billions of dollars that change hands in the city every year.
7. Computer Systems Administrators & Analysts
It goes without saying that Las Vegas couldn’t be what it is without computer technology, and a lot of it. From massive casinos to small businesses, they all need professionals who can administer and analyse the cutting-edge computer systems that are often employed in modern corporate management processes.
A High Unemployment Rate Means That Vegas Isn’t Friendly to Every Career
In closing, it’s important to note that Las Vegas has an unemployment rate of more than 7%, which means that finding a job in certain fields might be difficult. Fortunately, if you’re currently working in any of the professions above or you plan on doing so in the near future, there’s probably a job awaiting your arrival.
