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Technical Information: (202) 606-5700 USDL 98-44
Media Contact: (202) 606-5902 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. The dynamic U.S.
economy necessitates workforce flexibility. 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 1996-
2006 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. As a result, most computer occupations are projected to grow much faster than
average. 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. The Review costs $29 a
year; single copies are $7.50. 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: 1-800-
326-2577.
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 Most significant source of training
Number 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
Physical and corrective therapy
assistants and aides 66 79 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Home health aides 378 76 Short-term on-the-job training
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
Teachers, special education 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
Amusement and recreation attendants 138 48 Short-term on-the-job training
Physician assistants 30 47 Bachelor's degree
Respiratory therapists 37 46 Associate's degree
Adjustment clerks 183 46 Short-term on-the-job training
Engineering, science, and computer
systems managers 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
Bill and account collectors 112 42 Short-term on-the-job training
Residential counselors 74 41 Bachelor's degree
Instructors and coaches, sports and physical
training 123 41 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Dental assistants 77 38 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Securities and financial services sales workers 100 38 Bachelor's degree
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 Most significant source of training
Number Percent
Cashiers 530 17 Short-term on-the-job training
Systems analysts 520 103 Bachelor's degree
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
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 249 118 Bachelor's degree
Marketing and sales worker supervisors 246 11 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