So here’s the deal. The job market has been a bit weird lately. If you’ve been looking for work or thinking about a career change, you’ve probably noticed that employers have been acting like they’re about to hibernate for winter. Economic uncertainty, tariff talk, AI anxiety, and all this crap has made companies super hesitant to pull the trigger on new hires.
But hold up for a minute. There’s actually some good news coming down the pike for 2026. There are two massive events that may shake things up in a big way, and they’re creating job opportunities you might not have even thought about.
Why 2026 Could Be Your Year
First off, we’ve got the FIFA World Cup coming to the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June. And second? America is turning 250 years old on July 4th. That’s right, the big quarter-millennium celebration is happening, and cities across the country are planning events that’ll make the usual fireworks show look like a backyard barbecue.
These aren’t just cool events to watch from your couch. They’re legitimate job creation machines, especially for those of us who might be over 50 and looking for part-time work, seasonal gigs, or flexible opportunities to supplement our retirement income.
Look, the unemployment rate hit 4.6 percent in November 2025, and if you’re 55 or older and job hunting, the stats get even grimmer. About 25 percent of older job seekers have been looking for work for more than six months. That’s brutal. But these upcoming events could be exactly the break a lot of people need.
What Makes These Jobs Worth Looking At
Before I dive into some of the specific opportunities, let me tell you why I’m gonna be focusing on these particular roles. I’m not just throwing random job titles at you because they sound cool. Each of these positions has something that might appeal to folks in the second half of their careers. Maybe it’s flexible hours, part-time options, remote work possibilities, or jobs that don’t require you to go back to school for four years.
The data I’m pulling from comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks this stuff religiously. All the wage numbers are median annual salaries, meaning half the people make more and half make less. Your mileage may vary depending on where you live and how much experience you may have.
Oh, and one more thing before we jump in. If you need help with your job search, AARP and Indeed have teamed up to offer free and discounted services for older adults. We’re talking resume help, interview prep, career coaching, and job boards. It may be worth checking out if you’re serious about landing something new.
The Jobs That’ll Be Hiring in 2026
Alright, let’s get into it. Here are 20 careers that are projected to see hiring increases this year and beyond. I’ve mixed up the order because, honestly, the best job for you depends on your skills, interests, and what you’re looking for. These aren’t ranked by pay or coolness factor. They’re just solid opportunities worth considering.
Security Guard
What you’ll make: Around $38,390 per year
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be about 162,300 job openings annually for security guards. That’s a ton of opportunities. Most of these jobs don’t require more than a high school diploma, though you might need a license depending on your state.
The work usually isn’t super physically demanding because most guards are there to observe and report, not to turn into an action hero. But yeah, be prepared to spend time on your feet. If you’re looking for steady work that doesn’t require a bunch of new training, this could be a solid option.
Tutor
What you’ll make: Around $40,090 per year
Here’s something cool. Unlike full-time teaching, tutoring doesn’t require you to jump through a bunch of certification hoops. You’ll generally need a bachelor’s degree in whatever subject you’re teaching, but that’s about it. And most tutoring roles these days are remote, which means you can work from home in your pajamas if you want. Nobody’s judging.
The BLS says there will be about 37,100 openings annually, mostly because people move in and out of these roles pretty frequently.
Delivery Truck or Van Driver
What you’ll make: Around $42,470 per year
Online shopping isn’t going anywhere, and that means delivery drivers are in high demand. The BLS projects an additional 118,700 jobs for delivery drivers by 2034. And with Amazon potentially ditching the U.S. Postal Service to build its own nationwide delivery network, there might be even more opportunities than the statistics suggest.
Depending on what you’re driving, you might be able to start with just a regular driver’s license, though some jobs will want a Class C commercial license. Fair warning though, you’ll probably be doing some loading and unloading of packages, so if you’ve got back issues, this might not be your jam.
Medical Assistant
What you’ll make: Around $44,200 per year
Medical assistants work in outpatient clinics doing all kinds of stuff to support doctors and nurses. We’re talking taking blood pressure, collecting samples, updating medical records, scheduling appointments. It’s varied work, which keeps things interesting.
You’ll need an associate’s degree or completion of a medical assistant program, plus you have to pass a certification exam. But once you’re in, the demand is solid because healthcare just keeps growing.
Grounds Maintenance Worker
What you’ll make: Around $38,470 per year
The BLS estimates there could be as many as 176,000 ground maintenance worker jobs open each year in this field, mainly because there’s a labor shortage. The work can be physically demanding since you’re helping landscapers install and maintain greenery. But if you love being outdoors and only need seasonal work to pad your savings, this might be perfect.
Plus, there’s something satisfying about working with your hands and seeing immediate results from your labor. It’s honest work that gets you away from a computer screen.
Customer Service Representative
What you’ll make: Around $42,830 per year
Yeah, AI is eventually going to eat into this field. We all know that. But in the short term, there are boatloads of customer service representative opportunities. Over 380,000 vacancies each year because people are constantly churning in and out of these roles. And they often come with flexible or part-time hours and the chance to work from home.
If you’ve ever called a customer service line and asked for a “representative,” you know how valuable these folks can be when you actually need human help.
Translator
What you’ll make: Around $59,440 per year
Here’s the thing about AI translation. It’s getting better, but it’s not replacing human translators anytime soon. Even when companies use AI for initial translations, they need actual multilingual people to verify accuracy, especially in technical fields like medicine, science, and law.
According to Indeed, the languages most in demand as of December 2025 are German, Mandarin, Arabic, French, and Japanese. If you speak any of these, you’ve got a marketable skill.
Hearing Aid Specialist
What you’ll make: Around $61,560 per year
More than 44 million Americans age 20 and older have some level of hearing loss. That number is expected to jump to 63 million by 2040. As more people need hearing aids, more specialists are needed to administer hearing tests, help people choose devices, and make sure everything fits properly.
The BLS estimates an 18 percent increase in employment opportunities between 2024 and 2034. If you have personal experience with hearing aids, that knowledge could actually translate into a job opportunity.
Accountant and Auditor
What you’ll make: Around $81,680 per year
The BLS projects over 72,000 new jobs in this field over the next seven years. What makes this especially appealing is that many accountants and auditors work contract or part-time, which means flexible hours. Remote work is also super common in this profession.
If you’re looking for these flexible positions, check out Work at Home Vintage Experts, a placement agency that specializes in helping older adults find contract work. FlexJobs and Upwork are other solid options.
Home Health Aide
What you’ll make: Around $34,900 per year
Demand for home health aides is absolutely bonkers right now. There are already 4.3 million people working in this role, and the BLS projects more than 730,000 additional jobs over the next eight years.
Why? There are so many baby boomers aging, needing assistance, and prefer to stay in their own homes. There’s also a relative high turnover in this job, which creates constant demand for new workers.
Personal Care Aide
What you’ll make: Around $34,900 per year
If the physical demands and light medical duties of home health aide work feel like too much, personal care aide might be a better fit. This role focuses more on clients’ non-medical needs. Think preparing meals, running errands, light housecleaning. It’s still helping people, just with different tasks.
Information Security Analyst
What you’ll make: Around $124,910 per year
Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that cybercrime caused $10.5 trillion in damage worldwide in 2025. Let that sink in for a second. That’s why information security analysts are in massive demand. The profession is projected to see 29 percent growth in jobs by 2034.
Most of these jobs sometimes require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, plus several years of professional experience. But if you’ve got the chops, this is one of the highest-paying options on this list.
Operations Research Analyst
What you’ll make: Around $91,290 per year
These analysts use data to help businesses make smart decisions that improve performance. Healthcare, logistics, defense, and finance are big employers for these roles.
According to Glassdoor, major employers include the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, and Delta Air Lines. If you’re a data nerd who loves solving puzzles, this could be your calling.
Insurance Sales Agent
What you’ll make: Around $60,370 per year
No hurricanes hit the continental U.S. in 2025 for the first time since 2015. But floods, wildfires, and other disasters are keeping insurance agents busy. Rising premiums driven by climate change are making people shop around for better deals, which means agents are in demand.
You don’t need a college degree for most of these roles, but relevant business experience is usually preferred.
Hotel, Motel and Resort Clerks
What you’ll make: Around $30,790 per year
This is where the 250th birthday celebration really kicks in. Fourth of July 2026 is going to be absolutely massive in cities like Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Philadelphia alone is estimating $1.3 billion to $2.5 billion in economic impact from tourism.
D.C. has already seen an 8 percent increase in advance hotel bookings for Independence Day 2026 compared to 2025. All those tourists need knowledgeable clerks to help them out. Many of these jobs offer part-time work and flexible hours.
Amusement and Recreation Attendant
What you’ll make: Around $29,390 per year
Ready for some football? The international kind, I mean. From June 11 through July 19, 2026, the FIFA World Cup is happening across 104 matches in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
In the U.S., matches are going down in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. Each venue is hiring ushers and other attendants to help fans enjoy the show. If you want a paid or volunteer role, don’t wait around. These positions will fill up fast.
Driver
What you’ll make: Around $35,420 per year
If the physical demands of delivery truck driving aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other ways to work behind the wheel. And no, I’m not just talking about Uber and Lyft.
Car service agencies like limos or airport shuttles can be higher-pay, lower-pressure alternatives. Whether you work for an agency or an app, you’ll have access to part-time work with the option to work only when you want or need to.
Medical and Health Services Manager
What you’ll make: Around $117,960 per year
These administrators help hospitals, nursing homes, group medical practices, and other healthcare providers handle their business operations. With healthcare growing like crazy, the BLS estimates 62,100 openings annually for health service managers.
These jobs usually require a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or five years of experience in business administration. But if you’ve got the credentials, this is solid work with good pay.
Financial Examiner
What you’ll make: Around $90,400 per year
Demand for financial examiners is spiking because of increased regulations and compliance requirements in banking. The BLS projects 19 percent growth over the next seven years, adding thousands of new jobs.
Your main duties involve reviewing bank records and assessing loan risks, so you need an eye for detail. A college degree in business or relevant experience in the field is required.
Chief Human Resources Officer
What you’ll make: Around $140,030 per year
If there’s one executive-level role sitting at the intersection of all the chaos businesses are dealing with in 2026, it’s the head of HR. Economic uncertainty, talent shortages, and the rise of AI in the workplace are making these positions critical and creating high turnover.
According to an August 2025 report from the Talent Strategy Group, 30 new chief human resources officers were appointed at Fortune 200 companies in 2024. That’s a 15 percent turnover rate, up from 11 percent the previous year.
Landing Work in 2026
Look, I’m not going to tell you the job market is super easy right now. It’s not. But opportunities do exist, especially if you’re willing to think creatively about what you want to do and need from work at this stage of your life.
Maybe you’re not looking to climb the corporate ladder anymore. Maybe you just want something flexible that gets you out of the house and brings in a little extra cash. Or maybe you’re ready to dive into something completely new because, why not?
The World Cup and America’s 250th birthday are creating real opportunities in several cities across the country. Seasonal work, part-time gigs, and flexible schedules. It’s all out there if you know where to look.
And here’s another thing. Age and experience can totally be advantages in many of these roles. Employers value reliability, professionalism, and the kind of work ethic that comes from decades in the workforce. Please don’t sell yourself short.
So if you’re thinking about making a move in 2026, do a little homework and research what’s available in your area. Update that resume. And remember, every job you apply for is one step closer to finding the right fit.
The market might be weird right now, but it’s not dead. There are people hiring, and you might be exactly what they’re looking for. Horns up, and good luck out there.
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