It's great to be a realist during pandemic times, but there are also reasons to be optimistic when it comes to considering the jobs front this year. Last year dealt many of us a wicked blow to our pockets and our careers, but experts are reporting that though there's been a "short-term jump" in unemployment, the outlook is set to improve by the end of the year. Though some positions are not set to come back after cuts, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are still some jobs in high demand this year and into the future.
If you're looking to change careers, upgrade your chance for job success, or take the next step to advance in your industry, check out these options:
1. Industrial Engineers
At least 30,000 new positions are set to open by 2029, and the median annual income is more than $88,000. Typically, a bachelor's degree is required and you'll have to be into ensuring efficiency in systems that affect mechanics, materials, information and energy.
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2. Human Resource Specialists
This job has a median salary of more than $61,000 per year, and it involves talent acquisition, management and training. If you have a passion for putting the right people in the right roles, cultivating (and enforcing) workplace practices that create cultures that retain the best of the best, and ensuring professionals are able to thrive, this is for you. A bachelor's degree is required.
3. Marketing Managers
You can earn more than $135,000 per year with this job, and the growth is faster than average. A four-year degree in advertising, marketing, or other related media studies is required, and you'll need to be passionate about how audiences consume media, buy into concepts, or get into products and services in order to tap in and be successful working for a brand.
4. Computer Support Professionals
With an annual salary of more than $54,700, this job is one where you are responsible for providing aid to individual computer users and companies to troubleshoot issues, train, or implement new protocols or policies. Some jobs require a bachelor's degree, while others will let you in the door with an associates or other professional certificates.
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5. Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses (LPNs and LVNs)
The Bureau reports that healthcare industry occupations make up 13 of the 30 fastest growing jobs from 2019 to 2029, and the demand for healthcare services by aging baby boomers as well as people with chronic illnesses will drive the projected employment growth. With that said, LPNs and LVNs are in demand and can earn at least $47,000 per year. You can complete a one-year, state-approved program and then go for your licensure credentials to be qualified for this job. (Registered nurses are required to have at least a two-year degree, and those with bachelor's degrees command salaries of more than $73,000 per year. If you want to get your foot in the door and are not interested in the increased RN responsibilities or education requirements to become an RN, this is a great route for you.)
6. Speech Pathologists
You can earn at least $79,000 a year as a speech pathologist, and you'd be assessing, diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. A master's degree is typically required for this job, and the prospects for openings are expected to grow a whopping 25% (well above average) due to the growth of the baby boomer generation that are susceptible to issues such as strokes that cause communication and eating challenges.
7. Industrial Machine Mechanics
You can make about $52,000 per year as an industrial machine mechanic, and ladies, don't sleep on this. If you like working with your hands, fixing issues with machinery or equipment, or even have a knack with mechanics and systems, this might be a good fit for you. A high school diploma is the minimum requirement and the outlook for openings is at a 13% growth rate (which is above average.)
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8. Information Security Analysts
Cybersecurity is huge in terms of highly emerging industries, especially with many elements of business and everyday life going 100% digital or virtual. This job involves implementing, managing, and monitoring security measures to protect a company or organization's computer systems and sensitive information, and the outlook for growth is at 31%. You can make more than $99,000 per year in median salary with a bachelor's degree.
9. Specialized Health Industry Instructors
Depending on the level of education in which you teach, you can make from $43,000 to more than $160,000 in median yearly salary as a specialized health industry instructor. Specifically, those who specialize in areas such as dentistry, lab technology, medicine, or pharmacy are in high demand, and you'll need at least a Ph.D. for the post-secondary positions with higher salaries that are set to see growth this year.
10. Financial Managers
These professionals work in a variety of industries, from banking to tech to healthcare, and they can earn a median annual salary of more than $129,000 per year. The job requires a bachelor's degree along with at least 5 years of experience and professionals who enjoy this are into creating financial reports, managing funds, building lucrative portfolios, or helping individuals or groups reach their personal finance goals.
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Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
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Meanwhile, frankincense and myrrh originate from the Middle East and Africa (you know, like the Bible does — some folks need to be reminded of that—eh hem — Trumpers) and ginger? It too helps with indigestion (which can definitely creep up at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables); plus, it’s a key ingredient for ginger snaps and gingerbread houses. So, as you can see, holiday-themed scents have a rhyme and reason to them.
Tying this all in together — several years ago, I penned an article for the platform entitled, “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry ‘Christmas Sex’?” Well, in the spirit of revisiting some of that content, with a bit of a twist, I decided to broach some traditional holiday scents from the perspective of which ones will do your libido a ton of good from now through New Year’s Eve (check out “Make This Your Best NYE. For Sex. EVER.”).
Are you ready to check some of them out, so that, whether it’s via a candle, a diffuser, some essential oil, or some DIY body cream (check out “How To Incorporate All Five Senses To Have The Best Sex Ever”), you can bring some extra festive ambiance into your own boudoir? Excellent.
1. Vanilla
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When it comes to holiday desserts, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find recipes that don’t include vanilla — and that alone explains why it is considered to be a traditional holiday scent. As far as your libido goes, vanilla is absolutely considered to be an aphrodisiac — partly because its sweet scent is considered to be very sensual. Some studies even reveal that vanillin (the active ingredient in vanilla) is able to increase sexual arousal and improve erectile dysfunction in men. So, if you adore the smell, here is more incentive to use it.
2. Frankincense
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Although, typically, when people think about frankincense (and myrrh), it’s in the context of the gifts that the wise men brought Christ after he was born; it’s a part of the biblical Christmas story. However, frankincense goes much deeper than that. Sexually, since it has an earthy and spicy scent, some people like to use it to meditate (check out “What Exactly Is 'Orgasmic Meditation'?”). Also, since it has the ability to put you in a better mood, soothe and soften your skin and maintain your oral health — with the help of frankincense, every touch and kiss can be that much…sexier.
3. Cinnamon
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I already gave cinnamon a shout-out in the intro. Personally, I’ve been a fan of it, in the sex department, for a long time now (check out “12 ‘Sex Condiments’ That Can Make Coitus Even More...Delicious”). When it’s in oil form, it can be very sweet to the taste while sending a warm sensation throughout the body — which is why the giver and receiver of oral sex can benefit from its usage. Beyond that, cinnamon helps to increase blood flow to your genital region, elevate sexual desire and, some studies say that it can even help improve fertility. Beautiful.
4. Peppermint
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If there’s a signature candy for the holiday season, it’s probably a candy cane — which automatically puts peppermint in the running for being an official holiday scent. Pretty much, in any form, it’s got your sex life’s back because it’s hailed as being a sexual stimulant; in part, because its smell is so invigorating. Plus, it helps to (eh hem) ease headaches, it gives you more energy and it can definitely help to freshen your breath. Also, that minty sensation? The same thing that I said about cinnamon can apply to peppermint too (if you catch my drift).
5. Ginger
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Whether it’s in a meal or in your bedroom, ginger is going to produce results that are hella spicy. On the sex tip, science has praised ginger for being able to increase sexual arousal, improve blood circulation (which intensifies orgasms) and strengthen fertility for many years. Scent-wise, I find it to be one that both men and women enjoy because it is both woodsy and sweet. So, if you’ve got some massage oil in mind, adding some ginger is a way to please you both.
6. Pomegranate
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September through December is the time of year when pomegranates are considered to be in season. And, as someone who is a Rosh Hashanah observer, I have a personal adoration for them because I am aware of the various things that they symbolize in Hebrew culture including the fact that they are a fruit that represents love and fertility. So yeah, they would absolutely be an aphrodisiac — one that is perfect for this time of the year. While consuming it helps to boost testosterone levels in both men and women, the floral bittersweet smell that it produces can help to reduce stress while promoting relaxation (like most floral scents do) — and the more relaxed you are, the easier it is to climax.
7. Nutmeg
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Another signature seasoning during the holiday season is nutmeg. It’s perfect in Thanksgiving sweet potato (or pumpkin) pie and Christmas morning French toast. And yes, it can also make your sex life better. If you consume it, it can intensify your libido and, overall, its warm-meets-spicy-meets-sweet smell is so inviting that it is considered to be a pretty seductive scent.
8. Cloves
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I ain’t got not one lie to tell you — if you’ve got a toothache, put some clove oil on that bad boy and send me a Christmas present for putting you on game. Aside from that, as I round all of this out, cloves are another holiday scent that can do wonders for your sex life. For men, it has the ability to significantly increase sexual arousal and improve stamina and endurance. For men and women alike, it also has a reputation for strengthening sexual desire. And for women solely? Well, if you want an all-natural way to increase natural lubrication down below — the scent and and feel (in DILUTED oil form) can make that happen. It can make the holidays especially special…if you know what I mean.
Ah yes — the atmosphere of the holidays and what it can do.
Take it all in! Scent ‘n whatever stimulating that comes with it! #wink
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