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.
18points
#2

Storage units. We’re basically paying rent for our junk to live a better life than we do.
16points
#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.
15points
#4

International conflict. Arms producers don't make money when ordnance is mothballed.
15points
#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.
13points
#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.
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.
13points
#7

In the UK the VPN business is red hot.
12points
#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.
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.
12points
#9

Pet cremation.
tiankai:
Pet anything actually. If you know how to source it you’ll make bank selling in western markets.
tiankai:
Pet anything actually. If you know how to source it you’ll make bank selling in western markets.
11points
#10

Mental health and wellness technology e.g. digital therapy apps, telepsychiatry, and wellness platforms.
11points
#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
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
11points
#12

The second-hand clothing resale industry.
Everyone talks about fast fashion, but Vinted and thrift stores are quietly driving a huge economy.
Everyone talks about fast fashion, but Vinted and thrift stores are quietly driving a huge economy.
11points
#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.
10points
#14

Mobile games. $92.5 billion made in 2024, half of the entire video game industry.
10points
#15

Dead people. There are more dead people than ever.
A family member is a Mortician by education, and though he has since retired out, he made great money doing it.
A family member is a Mortician by education, and though he has since retired out, he made great money doing it.
10points
#16

Travel.
Reddit loves to talk like everybody is living in destitute poverty. But I’ve worked in the travel industry for 15 years and every sector is up right now. Hotel, air, cruise, tour, luxury, Disney, ski, etc. All of it is up.
Reddit loves to talk like everybody is living in destitute poverty. But I’ve worked in the travel industry for 15 years and every sector is up right now. Hotel, air, cruise, tour, luxury, Disney, ski, etc. All of it is up.
10points
#17

Utilities. Data centers are so desperate for energy they want thier own nuclear reactors. .
9points
#18

Any industry that fills the void left by having a partner and friends. People are lonelier than ever. So pets, p**n, entertainment/distractions, dumb**s consumables (looking at you, labubu).
9points
#19

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.
9points
#20

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.
9points


