LinkedIn reported growth in job titles around engineering, travel, healthcare, and (you guessed it) artificial intelligence. Where do company vehicles fit in?
LinkedIn recently released research tracking the fastest-growing jobs in the U.S. over the past three years. To create its annual #jobsontherise list, LinkedIn researchers examined millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members from Jan. 1, 2022, to July 31, 2024, to calculate a growth rate for each job title.
I analyzed the list to see which jobs might involve work vehicles and thus correlate to sectors or industries that might see fleet growth — or at least the growth of commercial/company vehicles.
(I posted this as a blog, which allows me more freedom to comment on LinkedIn’s process and the jobs themselves.)
LinkedIn’s Job Study Methods & Metrics
LinkedIn is predominantly used by white-collar workers, entrepreneurs, and those in information, finance, and technology. To be sure, many fleet-related sectors like construction, manufacturing, and transportation don’t have a substantial presence on the platform.
Another caveat: The study’s methodology consists of data harvested solely within the LinkedIn universe, albeit a very large one. But it’s far afield from an analysis from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It’s also important to note that these are “fastest-growing jobs,” not “jobs in high demand.”
As such, one could question how titles such as research librarian, security guard, and director of employee relations could rank alongside artificial intelligence engineer and sustainability specialist. (Is security guard — not quite LinkedIn’s audience — a growth title?)
Nonetheless, understanding which jobs are on the rise is an enlightening exercise in understanding larger economic trends. These trends will have at least a tangential relationship to corporate and commercial vehicle use and are informative to fleet managers regarding adjacent job growth in their organizations.
LinkedIn also includes metrics for each title, such as gender distribution, metropolitan areas with the most job growth in those positions, and flex work availability (remote or hybrid compared to in-office).
Regarding job growth by geography, most titles are logically concentrated in the biggest cities, such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., or fast-growing cities like Houston, Dallas, and Charlotte. I added some thoughts on why some smaller cities made the list.
Here’s the list with my thoughts on the potential use of commercial/company vehicles:
1. Artificial Intelligence Engineer
It should come as no surprise that three job titles on the list involve artificial intelligence: 1. engineer, 2. consultant, 3. researcher. These fields don’t seem to lead directly to fleet use, but they scream out loud: If you aren’t into AI, get onboard right now!
2. Artificial Intelligence Consultant
While the fastest-growing job, AI engineer, builds the models and algorithms, the AI consultant liaises with organizations to adopt the technology. The “travel” required for each is in the digital realm, not with a vehicle.
3. Physical Therapist
The growth in the physical therapist position makes sense with the aging Baby Boomer population and the expansion of preventative care. There is only a small potential for fleet use here with the small percentage of therapists that work for home healthcare services.
4. Workforce Development Manager (or Learning and Development Manager)
This job title entails the design and implementation of training programs to upskill workers in new fields. This job could reflect the rapidly changing work environment (explosion of AI) and the need to better align the workforce with the needs of industry and business. There isn’t seemingly enough travel here to warrant a company vehicle.
5. Travel Advisor (Travel Agent)
With the prevalence of digital booking platforms, the growth of this job title seems contrary. However, a new area of travel requiring a human touch is personalized, tailored, and luxury experiences. Nonetheless, there’s not much vehicle movement in this job.
6. Event Coordinator
The rise in in-person social, corporate, and bespoke “destination” events has taken off post-pandemic, but like the travel agent, it’s not a heavy driving job.
7. Director of Development (or Director of Advancement or Director of Major Gifts)
With the expansion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and heightened competition for donor dollars in every sector, this job makes sense — but at a desk, not on the road.
8. Outside Sales Representative/Field Sales Representative
And here we land on the prototypical fleet application — the road warrior. But why is this job growing fast? Growth could be partly a result of the return to face-to-face selling after the pandemic. Yet it might be more instructive to look at growth industries requiring outside sales, and thus fleet vehicles.
They include software and technology (AI, IoT, SaaS, 5G), healthcare (medical devices, advanced therapies), fintech, and cybersecurity. Certainly, these positions are needed in fast-growing tech markets such as Raleigh, Austin, Atlanta, Miami, and Huntsville, Alabama.
9. Sustainability Specialist/Environmental Analyst
These specialists may be in demand because of large corporations’ ESG growth. They’re also an offshoot of a more complicated regulatory environment and the growth of renewable energy. A company car may be needed for frequent and far site visits, but no one would call this “fleet growth.”
10. Security Guard
How did the humble, traditional security guard make this list? For one, because of the sharp rise of contract security services, as much as 50% in the last eight years. These firms feed the need for residential neighborhood watch patrols and the need for better protection of infrastructure, event crowds, and supply chains. And they drive fleet vehicles!
11. Community Planner/Community Development Planner
I have seen growth here in relation to my work around new mobility initiatives, which are growing in cities along with the steady rise in urban populations. Think Smart City initiatives, mixed-use developments, and large-scale transportation projects.
These jobs exist in both the public and private sectors. Owing to the sustainable initiatives inherent in the job, these planners may use shared fleet vehicles for site visits, especially if they work for municipalities.
12. Artificial Intelligence Researcher
Keep an eye on this job, but not in relation to a fleet application.
13. Treasury Manager
Treasury managers oversee an organization’s financial assets and long-term financial strategies — but from behind a desk, not from a car.
14. Land Agent/Land Acquisition Manager
I had never heard of this position. Land agents are responsible for evaluating and negotiating land purchases for a company on a specialized basis. Internet research reveals that growth in this area may come from pending new infrastructure projects (under IIJA, which makes sense), using land for solar and wind farms, and figuring out the transmission of power related to vehicle electrification (which makes sense, too).
As I’m learning, land agents work for private companies and public entities. Company car use would be tilted toward those employed by renewable energy firms, telecoms, utilities, or government agencies. Obviously, miles driven per year would dictate reimbursement or a company-owned vehicle.
LinkedIn lists Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Macon, Georgia, as growth areas for land agents. These areas are experiencing real estate booms, need to manage zoning complexities, and are developing renewable energy projects.
15. Grants Consultant
Are more grants available these days, and have application processes gotten more involved? Maybe, but the position wouldn’t involve vehicle use.
16. Director of Employee Relations
HR-type positions don’t lend themselves to vehicle use.
17. Chief Growth Officer
I suppose you need to show healthy CAGR to succeed in this position, which doesn’t strike me as sustainable, only they move to CEO or COO for their efforts. Regardless, it’s a desk job.
18. Bridge Engineer
With the massive ramp-up in infrastructure investment under IIJA, the growth of this job is understandable. Bridge engineers work in both the public and private sectors, with employment based on the type of projects they undertake.
Like similar jobs, they’d use fleet vehicles mostly in government positions.
19. Private Equity Analyst
I know a couple, and they work from their desks.
20. Research Librarian
It’s hard to understand why this position made the list, but clearly, it’s not a driving job.
21. Nuclear Engineer
Nuclear energy is back, with new plants coming online in Wyoming, Texas, and Georgia. Surprisingly, there are 54 nuclear power plants in 28 U.S. states.
Fleet vehicles could be needed on naval bases or research facilities for fieldwork related to radiation monitoring and safety inspections and for plant engineers to drive around multi-acre complexes.
22. Advanced Practice Provider/Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant
Home healthcare has been one of the hottest fleet growth areas in the past 15 years, and apparently, the growth continues. Employees in this category working for home healthcare services often travel heavy miles with fleet vehicles. Some providers delivering specialized treatment would drive company-owned vehicles equipped for those needs.
LinkedIn says the top markets are Tampa, New York City, and San Antonio.
23. Chief Revenue Officer
I’d rather be a chief operating officer over a chief growth officer or chief revenue officer. Wouldn’t you?
24. Instrumentation and Control Engineer
As LinkedIn tells us, instrumentation and control (I&C) engineers “design, maintain, and test equipment that monitors industrial machinery and processes, typically in manufacturing facilities.” According to non-LinkedIn sources, this field is experiencing modest job growth.
25. Commissioning Manager
Another new job for me. Commissioning managers coordinate large-scale construction and engineering projects. They’d likely have similar vehicle needs as positions in civil engineering and straddle the public and private sectors.
