The latest U.S. job claims data was disappointing. Despite the optimism of economists, the number of people who are unemployed just kept on rising, with 450,000 on the latest count.

However, that does not mean that all hope is completely lost. Surprisingly, during the recession, several small businesses have been developed, taking advantage of niches that have been overlooked for a very long time.

Hence, if you are looking for a job right now, you may want to consider the following markets:

Green

Climate change is changing not just the lifestyle but also the business ideas of several individuals today. They are now geared into producing products and services that are energy efficient and environment friendly. Moreover, it is a growing market. It is already over 20 percent of all the venture capital businesses in the world, bringing in over $1 billion in revenues.

Possible Positions: global director for sustainability, water distribution operator, HVAC specialist, Earth Day volunteer, water resources planner, energy engineer, energy engineer, energy advisor, LEED project coordinator, and environmental services aid.

Health and Wellness

Think of cancer, diabetes, and other forms of debilitating diseases. There is no doubt that more people are looking for ways on how to extend their lives and prevent these types of illnesses from striking them or their loved ones.

Thus, there is a growing market in health and wellness. These may range from products such as diet enhancers or weight loss supplements to services like yoga or Pilates classes. The health care industry is also fast growing, especially now that the government is pushing the use of electronic medical records in health care facilities.

Possible Positions: health and wellness director, wellness coach, yoga or Pilates instructor, gym trainer, dietician, nutritionist, senior health educator, nurse aide, human resource for benefits and wellness, stress management consultant, community wellness program director, health and fitness specialist, supervisor for health services.

Baby Boomers

The baby boomers—those who have been born during the 1940s until the middle of the 1960s—are, well, getting old. They need a lot of help or assistance from the generation of today. Interestingly, though, it is also seen by many as a huge, hardly tapped market. In fact, according to Labor and Statistics, the aging services market will be one of the top 10 industries with the highest employment growth.

There are plenty of products and services that can be extended to them, including senior training, in-home care, food service, home automation, and technical assistance.

Possible Positions: in-house caregiver, occupational therapist, wellness coordinator, long-term care nurse, certified hospice and palliative care worker, social work specialist, physical therapist.

The growing niches only mean one thing: there are still a lot of opportunities for you out there. You simply need to obtain the proper education and training to get these jobs.