In today’s capitalist world, the value of any job often comes down to one thing: supply and demand. But sometimes, we have no clue just how much demand there is in certain fields.
Curious to uncover them, one Redditor asked users which industries are booming far more than most people realize. The answers were full of surprises, and we’ve rounded up some of the most interesting ones below. Feel free to weigh in or maybe even see this as market research for your next big career pivot.
#1
HVAC. More areas where you used to get by just fine with an open window and a box fan are getting unbearably hot in the summers.
Image credits: lazermaniac
#2
Storage units. We’re basically paying rent for our junk to live a better life than we do.
Image credits: JahanzaibRj
#3
Grid-scale battery storage, used to store excess electricity from wind and solar farms for use during peak demand. This industry is huge and is growing exponentially, especially as the cost of batteries continue to drop and demand increases.
Image credits: Routine_Biscotti_852
#4
International conflict. Arms producers don’t make money when ordnance is mothballed.
Image credits: danman_69
#5
You can really see the “authoritarian-adjacent” industries booming under Trump right now. Private prison giants are making record profits off the mass deportation campaign, with the government paying them to lock up more people than ever. Surveillance and defense-tech companies like Palantir are swimming in multi-billion-dollar contracts. Border security tech, AI infrastructure – it’s all getting huge funding. Whatever you call it – authoritarian, security-state, strongman-friendly – these sectors are cashing in big right now.
Image credits: MackPointed
#6
Remote scams and blackmail.
Investment scams (not counting crypto rugpulls and memecoins, I feel like that’s a different area), service cancellation scams, romance scams (pig butchering) / blackmail, pretty much anything that convinces your parents/grandparents to buy a ton of gift cards or go to a crypto exchange terminal.
There are entire buildings full with scam call centers, human trafficking where people are forced into scamming, it’s a huge industry now.
Image credits: Netcob
#7
In the UK the VPN business is red hot.
Image credits: driftwooddreams
#8
The used car market. I work on the back end in the commercial lending side for car dealerships.
The tariffs (or threat of) on new cars has pushed used car prices towards ridiculous numbers.
I occasionally show up at auctions to gauge market trends and a 2017 VW Jetta with 133k miles hammered at $11k. Plus auction fees and transport it’ll be $12k and that’s before the dealer has done any repairs or made a dollar of profit.
Pre Covid a 8 year old Jetta would be $2k tops. But people keep paying it. My market share has risen about 40% since January.
Image credits: EnricoPalazz0
#9
Pet cremation.
tiankai:
Pet anything actually. If you know how to source it you’ll make bank selling in western markets.
Image credits: Long-Tip-5374
#10
Mental health and wellness technology e.g. digital therapy apps, telepsychiatry, and wellness platforms.
Image credits: Former-Loan-4250
#11
Sports betting.
FreezersAndWeezers:
As a big sports fan, I can’t believe how out of control it’s become. 10 years ago it felt like it was a niche thing that your weird uncle did, now you cannot go anywhere that has sports and not have it be a massive point of discussion. A large group of people, mostly men, are completely incapable of watching a sport now without having money on something or yammering about their parlay
I wish it was similar to cigarettes where they can’t advertise it, or even regulated like alcohol where you can’t show anyone actually partaking/“having fun” in ads. It’s chipping the integrity of sports
Image credits: IdaSuzuki
#12
The second-hand clothing resale industry.
Everyone talks about fast fashion, but Vinted and thrift stores are quietly driving a huge economy.
Image credits: Much-Guide-8684
#13
Pest control, quietly a 5-11% growth year over year. PE firms are buying the mom and pop shops like crazy, anything over 1m in revenue that shows a healthy business plan.
Image credits: shownoughjones
#14
Mobile games. $92.5 billion made in 2024, half of the entire video game industry.
Image credits: petes117
#15
Utilities. Data centers are so desperate for energy they want thier own nuclear reactors. .
Image credits: MakesYourMise
#16
Energy – particularly electricity due to AI demand. Electricity demand has been pretty slow and steady the past couple decades due to better efficiency, but now AI has caused a huge spike.
Image credits: CrystalCrusader407
#17
Pharmaceutical industry. People are getting sick every day and doctors are writing many prescriptions whenever they can, even though some prescriptions are not always medically necessary for patients to take.
Image credits: SageandStrong33
#18
Vertical farming is booming! It’s a sustainable way to grow food in cities, and big tech is starting to invest in it. It’s going to be huge in the coming years!
Image credits: Pipper_Guy
#19
Private tutoring, SAT/ACT prep. One of the highest profit margin businesses to operate. .
Image credits: Appropriate_Fly_1383
#20
Plastic minis and war games
Seriously, Games Workshop brings in more for the British economy than the entire fishing industry. It’s actually mad how much people will pay for that stuff when it’s so very cheap to make.
Please ignore me and my Skaven army over here. It’s entirely justified when I do it.
Image credits: NeonGran
#21
Electricians are in super high demand.
Image credits: badgersbadger
#22
Anything that can be scalped – trading card games, driving lessons, concert tickets etc.
Image credits: IamlostlikeZoroIs
#23
Apparently the matcha industry.
Image credits: Odd_Dot3896
#24
Education. Institutions keep adding educations but not removing the old ones.
At least here in Denmark the country. Theres the university which adds “molecular and medical microbiology”. Granted they combined two eductations which results in double the students spread out in classes.
And on the masters level only 15 students a year get to study Neuroscience in Beijing. So they add
Then theres the academy for commerce which offers 3.5 years proffesional bachelors. And like someone pointed out in here: they recently added cyber security as its own 3.5 years degree. .
Image credits: Good_Beautiful_6727
#25
The Simp/Loner Economy and Virtual Influencers serving it.
Male Loneliness is at its all-time high and ppl have no idea how much money lonely men are willing to pay for their fav influencer to call out their name and say “thank you” on a live stream.
There’s even a YT documentary about this in China.
#26
In Britain anything associated with caravanning is currently raking it in, and it’s not the stereotype of retired Boomers propping it up, it’s gen X and the older millennials.
Image credits: Grotbagsthewonderful
#27
Non-Destructive Testing. As an Ultrasonic Testing Level 3, I am constantly being recruited. I was able to turn that into a 15k increase at my current company last year. The demand for NDT techs is only growing. No college degree required.
#28
Insolvency lawyers and debt collectors.
#29
Scamming children out of money in Roblox.
#30
Data industry. Hoooooly sht. I conceived a data company (API Automations) 4yrs ago because I had 7yrs in digital ads and I saw the writing on the wall. So I started selling consented data to whoever would buy it.
Now since DJT removed all restrictions related to copyright, AI and essentially Data, Elon and black rock stole+are selling the GOV data, the marketplace from ALL angles is exploding. Looking at raising 8-figures because the company is in such an amazing position due to criminals making it so.
#31
Oil and gas, the fact people actually believe we can transfer to anywhere close to 100% electric vehicles is hilarious.
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