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Technical Information: Media Contact: (202) 606-5700 (202) 606-5902 USDL 98-44 For release: 10 A.M. EST Thursday, February 5, 1998 Internet: http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm 1998-99 EDITION OF THE OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK PUBLISHED For more than 50 years, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, has helped jobseekers and their advisors sift through complex information on the workforce of today, with an eye towards the future. The 1998-99 Occupational Outlook Handbook provides essential information about prospective changes in the world of work and the qualifications that will be needed by tomorrow’s workforce. The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information on about 250 occupations. The Handbook provides information about the nature of the work and the usual working conditions for persons in each occupation. In addition, it gives details on the requirements for entry and the opportunities for advancement. This information may be helpful in making choices that maximize the return on investment in education or training. Job outlook sections discuss job prospects over the next decade, easing comparison between different fields. For each occupation, users also will find current information on earnings, employment settings, and related occupations. A new section in this Handbook, titled Significant Points, highlights key characteristics for each occupation. For example, for one fast growing field - computer scientists, computer engineers, and systems analysts - one of the key points is that a bachelor’s degree is virtually a prerequisite for most employers. For another - home health aides - however, the education required for entry-level jobs is generally minimal. This edition also standardizes education and training categories across all occupations. Information on self-employed workers is included where applicable. Different factors affect the nation’s occupational needs. economy necessitates workforce flexibility. The dynamic U.S. As the population grows, ages, and becomes more diverse, a changing mix of goods and services will be demanded. The skills of the workforce needed to fulfill these demands will likewise continue to change, as employers incorporate technological innovations and optimize their efficiency. Millions of jobs will be created while others will disappear, as described in the introductory section on tomorrow’s jobs. Total employment is expected to increase by 18.6 million jobs over the 19962006 period, a 14 percent increase. The fastest growing occupations are concentrated in service-producing sectors such as business services, health care, and social services. (See table 1.) Rapid growth in business services is led by computer and data processing services. average. As a result, most computer occupations are projected to grow much faster than Employment is expected to grow in occupations at all levels of education and training, but jobs usually requiring an associate degree or more education will grow faster than average. Even though occupations requiring less education and training are expected to grow more slowly than average, they account for over half of the numerical growth in employment because of their large size. (See table 2.) Although the Occupational Outlook Handbook targets junior and senior high school students, it also can assist college students and experienced workers, including career-changers and those re-entering the labor force. All successful workers need to make informed decisions and react quickly in a labor market impacted by global competition, structural shifts, and technological innovation. The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides user-friendly, comprehensive, and current information that reflects the needs of the present as well as the future labor force. The first "Handbook," called Occupational Outlook Information, issued in August 1946, was prepared at the request and under the financial support of the Veteran's Administration to make information available to World War II veterans about the need for general education and for trained personnel in various occupations. In answer to many requests, an Occupational Outlook Handbook was published in the spring of 1949 and made available for sale to the public. Subsequent editions of the Handbook were published in 1951, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, and biennially in even numbered years since 1966. The 1998-99 edition of the Career Guide to Industries (Bulletin 2503) shifts the point of view, examining job opportunities from an industry perspective. More detailed information on the 1996-2006 projections appears in five articles in the November 1997 issue of the Monthly Labor Review, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. A graphic presentation of the highlights of the projections is featured in the Winter 1997-98 Occupational Outlook Quarterly. Ordering Copies Copies of both the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career Guide to Industries can be purchased from the BLS Publications Sales Center, P. O. Box 2145, Chicago, Illinois 60690-2145, phone (312) 353-1880, or the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, phone (202) 512-1800. The 528-page 1998-99 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook with a soft cover costs $42; a hard cover version is $46. The 207-page Career Guide to Industries costs $17. Payment can be made by VISA, MasterCard, GPO Account, or check or money order. Make checks payable to the Superintendent of Documents. The Monthly Labor Review and Occupational Outlook Quarterly are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402. year; single copies are $7.50. The Review costs $29 a The Quarterly costs $9.50 a year; single copies are $4.50. Make checks payable to the Superintendent of Documents. The Occupational Outlook Handbook also is available on the BLS Internet site (http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm). Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-7828, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) phone: 202-606-5897, TDD Message Referral Phone Number: 1-800326-2577. Table 1. Fastest growing occupations covered in the 1998-99 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1996-2006 (Numbers in thousands of jobs) Occupation Employment change, 1996-2006 Number Most significant source of training Percent Database administrators, computer support specialists, and all other computer scientists 249 118 Bachelor's degree Computer engineers 235 109 Bachelor's degree Systems analysts 520 103 Bachelor's degree Personal and home care aides 171 85 Short-term on-the-job training 66 79 Moderate-term on-the-job training 378 76 Short-term on-the-job training Physical and corrective therapy assistants and aides Home health aides Medical assistants 166 74 Moderate-term on-the-job training Desktop publishing specialists 22 74 Long-term on-the-job training Physical therapists 81 71 Bachelor's degree Occupational therapy assistants and aides 11 69 Moderate-term on-the-job training Paralegals 76 68 Associate's degree Occupational therapists 38 66 Bachelor's degree 241 59 Bachelor's degree Human services workers 98 55 Moderate-term on-the-job training Data processing equipment repairers 42 52 Postsecondary vocational training Medical records technicians 44 51 Associate's degree Speech-language pathologists and audiologists 44 51 Master's degree Dental hygienists 64 48 Associate's degree 138 48 Short-term on-the-job training Physician assistants 30 47 Bachelor's degree Respiratory therapists 37 46 Associate's degree 183 46 Short-term on-the-job training 155 45 Work experience plus bachelor's and/or higher degree Emergency medical technicians 67 45 Postsecondary vocational training Manicurists 19 45 Postsecondary vocational training 112 42 Short-term on-the-job training Teachers, special education Amusement and recreation attendants Adjustment clerks Engineering, science, and computer systems managers Bill and account collectors Residential counselors 74 41 Bachelor's degree 123 41 Moderate-term on-the-job training 77 38 Moderate-term on-the-job training 100 38 Bachelor's degree Instructors and coaches, sports and physical training Dental assistants Securities and financial services sales workers Table 2. Occupations covered in the 1998-99 Occupational Outlook Handbook with the largest projected job growth, 1996-2006 (Numbers in thousands of jobs) Occupation Employment change, 1996-2006 Number Most significant source of training Percent Cashiers 530 17 Short-term on-the-job training Systems analysts 520 103 General managers and top executives 467 15 Work experience plus bachelor's and/or higher degree Registered nurses 411 21 Associate's degree Salespersons, retail 408 10 Short-term on-the-job training Truckdrivers, light and heavy 404 15 Short-term on-the-job training Home health aides 378 76 Short-term on-the-job training Teacher aides and educational assistants 370 38 Short-term on-the-job training Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 333 25 Short-term on-the-job training Receptionists and information clerks 318 30 Short-term on-the-job training Teachers, secondary school 312 22 Bachelor's degree Bachelor's degree Child care workers 299 36 Short-term on-the-job training Clerical supervisors and managers 262 19 Work experience in a related occupation Database administrators, computer support specialists, and all other computer scientists Marketing and sales worker supervisors 249 118 246 11 Bachelor's degree Work experience in a related occupation Maintenance repairers, general utility 246 18 Long-term on-the-job training Food counter, fountain, and related workers 243 14 Short-term on-the-job training Teachers, special education 241 59 Bachelor's degree Computer engineers 235 109 Bachelor's degree Food preparation workers 234 19 Short-term on-the-job training Hand packers and packagers 222 23 Short-term on-the-job training Guards 221 23 Short-term on-the-job training General office clerks 215 7 Short-term on-the-job training Waiters and waitresses 206 11 Short-term on-the-job training Social workers 188 32 Bachelor's degree Adjustment clerks 183 46 Short-term on-the-job training Cooks, short order and fast food 174 22 Short-term on-the-job training Personal and home care aides 171 85 Short-term on-the-job training Food service and lodging managers 168 28 Work experience in a related occupation Medical assistants 166 74 Moderate-term on-the-job training