The field of finance is expected to produce extraordinary job growth across various positions between 2021 and 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). There are increasing needs for a range of finance positions, many of which have faster-than-average growth prospects — by a large margin.
For instance, the following are four common jobs in the field with projected employment growth figures, as reported by BLS. For reference, the average projected employment growth for all occupations is 5%.
| Position | Projected Employment Change 2021-2031 | Job Growth Percentage |
| Financial Analyst | 31,900 | 9% |
| Personal Financial Advisor | 50,900 | 15% |
| Financial Examiners | 13,200 | 21% |
| Financial Manager | 123,100 | 17% |
Supported by Specialized Training
An online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from the University of South Carolina Aiken provides the preparation needed to pursue these positions and others in finance, for which an MBA is often the expected level of academic achievement. According to a Monster article on the Best-Paying MBA Majors, “Finance is known as an MBA-heavy field, even at the junior level.” The fundamental business management education MBA students receive, coupled with the advanced concentration coursework in a finance MBA, can make this specialized degree more valuable to employers.
A general MBA provides the post-graduate educational foundation required for success in various business roles. But the finance concentration offers a tighter focus on financial services. MBA students specializing in finance focus on financial management, planning, risk management, analysis, security sales and other related disciplines.
If you have concerns about limiting your potential opportunities, the finance industry offers excellent diversity in career paths, with positions suited to a wide range of natural aptitudes and interests.
Whether you are inclined toward mathematics and statistics, working with clients or managing skilled professionals, there are rewarding, high-demand positions available. Each offers paths to greater challenges, authority and compensation as you advance in your career. The key to maximizing your potential career fulfillment is to match your skills with these common career paths before you explore the many niches available within each.
Valued by Employers
Earning an MBA, especially with a specialization, is a proven way to advance your career. According to the GMAC 2022 Corporate Recruiters Survey, 97% of U.S. corporate recruiters hired MBA grads in 2021, a year when competition for hiring top talent skyrocketed due to factors like the Great Resignation and the slowly subsiding COVID-19 pandemic. Even following this hiring blitz, 92% of the same recruiters planned to hire new MBA graduates in 2022. Specifically, the finance industry saw the second-highest hiring projections for 2022, second only to the healthcare industry, due to the increased need for healthcare workers during the pandemic.
While many MBA finance graduates eventually pursue highly specialized careers, new graduates can find opportunities in nearly every industry with almost any company. Focusing your MBA provides targeted training as well as myriad rewarding career paths.
Learn more about USC Aiken’s online MBA in Finance program.
