Just like a good partner, good jobs are hard to find--and the process of picking the right one isn't getting any easier. We've all had (or will have) opportunities to choose or tweak our career paths: trade or academic classes in high school, hundreds of major/minor choices in college, and, of course, the infamous quarter-life crisis. Knowing which career fields may shrink or grow will help you find a job in a pool that won't dry up next week, month or year. Finding pleasure in it is up to you.

If there's a job out there that can be replaced by a computer or robot, it has probably already happened. Many industries that once relied on human hands are now run by remote or computer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) and The Boston Globe (boston.com), jobs such as bookbinding, utility meter reading, and radio communication are becoming more and more reliant on automated systems. Mail and parcels are sorted less often by human hands, and the flight from film toward digital cameras has made non-digital photography processing and development a niche market.

Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that goods-generating industries will be seeing a steady decline over the next few years. This includes metalwork, paper manufacturing, millwork, textile industries and furniture crafting.

Other jobs that don't fall into the above categories, but have experienced stunted growth, include filing clerks, loggers, telemarketers and pharmacy aides.

Now for the good news: there are plenty of industries that remain healthy and growing. Granted, many of them require professional training, advanced certification and degrees or extended schooling, but they're out there.

Education, training, and library services (books aren't going out of style any time soon) will continue to employ steadily as student enrollment increases, as will computer engineering, multimedia industries, and database and information system services. Being called a nerd won't hurt quite as much when you're a nerd with a stable job.

Health fields are also thriving: apparently we're alive, but not doing too well. There's a never-ending need for physicians, surgeons and physical therapists, while professionals such as dental hygienists, pharmacy technicians (as op posed to aides), and home health aides are currently in demand. Additionally, all fields of counseling (family, marriage, substance abuse, etc.) are growing.

Fortunately, longevity isn't limited to professional and computer related industries. Aircraft construction, security system installers, and locomotive engineers are just a few other vocations accepting applications.

Finally, the financial sector is always looking for someone to handle money. This includes financial analysts, specialists and personal advisors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is an excellent place to begin a search for career trends and vocational prognostication. Their Occupational Outlook Handbook and the National Employment Matrix provide hard numbers and projections for a variety of fields. Additionally, media outlets such as forbes.com, msnbc.com, and boston.com regularly provide articles on current occupational trends.

Sources: boston.com, bls.gov