Although we are always hearing about the high unemployment rate, certain industries are actually facing a shortage of eligible employees. This is very useful information for young people exploring their career options or for anyone considering a career change. The following are five growing industries where the demand of workers exceeds the supply.

1. Skilled Trade Workers

While the conventional wisdom has it that manufacturing and skilled trades have all been outsourced to places like Asia, the fact is that there has been a resurgence of manufacturing in the U.S. Because so many people have assumed that these types of jobs are on the verge of becoming obsolete, fewer and fewer young people have been enrolling in vocational schools. Thus, there is now a shortage of welders, electricians and other workers who have mechanical skills. This shortage is expected to increase in the coming years.

2. Software Development

Software development is a field that continues to grow and produce jobs. Software developers are responsible for creating, researching and testing all types of software. This is a vast field that has applications in many industries, so it’s unlikely to decline anytime soon. Jobs such as computer programmer and software engineer are closely related, so these can also be considered valuable when it comes to choosing degree programs.

3. Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering is currently one of the highest paying fields, and there is an increasing demand for these skilled professionals. The median pay for electrical engineers is currently more than $87,000 per year. They are involved in developing, designing and testing all types of electrical equipment, including communications devices, navigation and radar systems and motors. Getting a bachelors or even a master’s degree in this field can be very valuable and you can find some good online masters degree electrical engineering programs.

4. Nursing

While the demand for nurses varies from place to place, this is an occupation where shortages are common. Nurses also have many choices when it comes to choosing the type of jobs and schedules they want. People who enjoy travel should consider travel nursing, which takes them wherever the demand is greatest. Nursing is a challenging profession, but there is sure to be a strong demand for nurses in the coming years.

5. Truck Drivers

This is a traditional job that has not attracted as many new trainees and workers as the industry needs. No matter how high tech the world gets, we still need people to transport goods by truck. Although this isn’t as high paying a job as some others on the list, a truck driver can earn between $35,000 and $50,000 per year. It’s also a profession that’s relatively easy to get started in, as CDL training only takes a few weeks. Some companies even provide free training for recruits.