Great question Lee... and a very important one. Disclaimer: I think the answer(s) to your question may not be the same for everyone everywhere, as a number of variables can affect growth potential and environment (namely geographic location, culture, and amount of resources available).

That being said, I wanted to offer a few data points surrounding growing sectors. According to our most recent study here at Focus, a few industries emerged as growing in key areas like revenue, profitability, hiring, and general sentiment.

Information-driven or Hi Tech industries (Software, Internet, Computers, Electronics, Telecommunications, etc.) are the first to emerge as seemingly stronger sectors showing upwards trends in business sentiment, growing sales and revenue, and increased hiring since this time last year. There are likely many explanations for why these industries are experiencing growth, perhaps the most obvious of which is the continued emphasis towards moving processes, functions, jobs, etc. online. In a time of economic uncertainty and limited resources, creating efficiencies, tapping into new markets, and often lowering costs -or saving money in the process- naturally drives growth in these sectors.

The other sectors in our survey showing strength are Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Financial Services industries such as Banking institutions and Insurance industries. Each of these shows similar growth in revenue, profitability, and optimism relative to this time last year. In my opinion, this begs the question: has government regulation/ intervention helped these industries to the extent that they are seeing real benefit? These industries, through some form or another, have all seen substantial bailout, regulation, or intervention in the last few years.

While this answer includes a number of specific industries, indications of growth may be seen initially in clumps: i.e. multiple industries that comprise common themes or groupings. One thing I find fascinating is the evolution (for some, de-evolution) that the economy has triggered; While some industries are struggling (e.g. Real Estate, Construction), others are just getting by (tightening up their processes, shifting the paradigm of operations or product focus, etc), and even others are experiencing a sort of renaissance with new markets and opportunities unfolding faster than they can keep up!