Oct 11, 2013 03:54 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

As college graduation approaches, here's a look at seven jobs with strong potential for growth, according to Yahoo! Though the main idea of Yahoo's article is to help laid off employees find work, the list could also be useful in advising college students and graduates looking for careers in tradition fields.

Based on Department of Labor statistics, the field of market research analysts is projected to grow over 40 percent (or 100,000 new jobs) by 2020 -- the highest percentage of growth for all seven careers on Yahoo's list. Market research analysts study data to predict trends in sales and assess the market for certain types of products. Analysts can also make their mark by devising their own methods of collecting data. It's a pretty flexible field, meaning applicants need not have a specific major or background.

According to Yahoo, the job with the next highest growth potential is software developer (30 percent). This field is the most specialized of the group, requiring a strong background in computers.

The same goes for accounting and nursing, projected to grow 16 and 26 percent, respectively. Steve Langerud, a "veteran workplace consultant, career coach, and co-author of an award-winning guide to career planning", had this to say about the future of accounting:

"Every organization needs an accountant, and after 2008, many businesses realized the importance of having a good one," he said. 

About nursing, he points to the implications of Obama Care: "Every American will be required to have health insurance, which will directly impact the health care industry."

That quote may also be true for a career expected to grow 21 percent: organizing medical records and health information. A bonus of this field is that applicants can start right away; it requires little schooling, according to Yahoo!

Yahoo's final recommendation is elementary school teaching, expected to grow by 17 percent (around 250,000 new jobs).

"By taking time to look at the available options across different industries, you can start to make smarter career decisions across the board," said Karen Galli, president of One Leadership Group, a company dedicated to helping individuals develop professionally and personally. "Finding out which careers are growing in the upcoming years puts you in a good position to secure a job and hold onto it."

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