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Technical Information: (202) 691-5715 USDL 01-469
Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 For release: 10 A.M. EST
December 17, 2001
Internet: http://www.bls.gov/oco/
http://www.bls.gov/cgi/
2002-03 EDITIONS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK AND THE CAREER GUIDE TO
INDUSTRIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET
The 2002-03 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career
Guide to Industries were issued today on the Bureau of Labor Statistics�
Internet site. The print versions of these publications are expected to be
available in January 2002.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor, has been a nationally recognized source of career
information for more than 50 years. Since the early 1990s, the Career Guide to
Industries has been a companion publication. They provide comprehensive, up-to-
date, and reliable labor market information that has helped millions of
Americans plan their future work lives. The 2002-03 editions will help guide
workers in this new century, presenting essential information about prospective
changes in the workplace and the qualifications that will be needed by
tomorrow's workforce. The Handbook and the Guide can be accessed at
www.bls.gov/oco/ and www.bls.gov/cgi/ on the Internet. The Occupational Outlook
Handbook and the Career Guide to Industries can assist students as well as
experienced workers, including those seeking to change careers or re-enter the
labor force.
The publications provide information that reflects the Bureau�s latest
employment projections covering the 2000-2010 period. More detailed information
on the 2000-2010 projections appears in four articles in the November 2001
Monthly Labor Review. A graphic presentation of the highlights of the
projections is featured in the Winter 2001-02 Occupational Outlook Quarterly.
(More information on these BLS publications appears below.)
The Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information on hundreds
of occupations, covering nearly 90 percent of the jobs in the economy. The
nature of the work and the typical working conditions for persons in each
occupation are discussed, in addition to the requirements for entry and
opportunities for advancement. This information can be helpful in making career
decisions that utilize completed education and training. For each occupation,
the Handbook begins with a section that highlights key occupational
characteristics and includes sections with current information on earnings,
employment of salaried and self-employed workers, related occupations, and
sources of additional information. The projected employment change relative to
overall growth projected for all occupations over the next decade is described
and, in some cases, the ease or difficulty of finding a job.
Various factors affect the need for specific occupations. A growing, aging, and
increasingly diverse population will demand a changing mix of goods and
services. The skills of the workforce needed to fulfill these demands will
likewise continue to change, as employers incorporate technological innovations
and revise business practices to optimize their efficiency.
Jobs are expected to increase by 22.2 million over the 2000-2010 period, a 15
percent increase. Occupations that require more education or training generally
are projected to grow the fastest. Table 1 lists the numerical and percent
change in employment over the 2000-2010 period for the 30 fastest growing
occupations; most require an associate or higher degree, and computer-related
and health-related occupations comprise 27 out of the 30. The most new jobs
generally arise in the largest occupations. Table 2 lists the numerical and
percent change in employment over the 2000-2010 period for the 30 occupations
with the largest projected job growth. Sixteen of these occupations require the
least amount of training--short-term on-the-job training--and account for over
one-fourth of all new jobs expected to be created between 2000 and 2010.
Occupational coverage in the 2002-03 edition of the Handbook is the first to
incorporate the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, the
Federal Government�s latest universal occupational classification system.
Information on the SOC is available at www.bls.gov/soc/ on the Internet.
The Career Guide to Industries
The Occupational Outlook Handbook�s companion publication, the Career Guide
to Industries, analyzes employment change from an industry perspective,
providing information on 42 industries that cover 3 out of 4 wage and salary
jobs in the economy. The Career Guide describes the nature of the industry,
typical working conditions, and key occupations employed in the industry. For
each industry, the Guide discusses training and education levels, earnings of
workers, and employment projections and outlook for the 2000-2010 period.
Occupations discussed in the Occupational Outlook Handbook that are important in
each industry are listed.
Industries are divided into goods-producing or service-producing. Table 3
indicates the numerical and percent change in employment over the 2000-2010
period for all industries included in the Career Guide. Employment growth is
projected to be concentrated in the service-producing sector of the economy.
Within the service-producing sector, four industry groups are expected to
account for almost half of all wage and salary employment growth in the economy:
health services, business services, education services, and engineering and
management services. In the goods-producing sector, employment is expected to
grow in construction and manufacturing, while employment in mining is expected
to decline.
Ordering Information
The print versions of the 2002-03 editions of the Occupational Outlook
Handbook (BLS Bulletin 2540) and the Career Guide to Industries (BLS Bulletin
2541) are expected to be available in January 2002. Ordering and price
information will appear at www.bls.gov/oco/ and www.bls.gov/cgi/ on the
Internet.
The Monthly Labor Review and Occupational Outlook Quarterly are sold by the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The Review costs $43 a year;
single copies are $13. The Quarterly costs $14 a year; single copies are $5.50.
Make checks payable to the Superintendent of Documents.
The Monthly Labor Review is accessible at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/mlrhome.htm on
the Internet. The Occupational Outlook Quarterly is accessible at
www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm on the Internet.
Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Service:
1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Fastest growing occupations covered in the 2002-03 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2000-2010
(Employment in thousands of jobs)
Employment change,
Occupation 2000-2010 Most significant source of education or training
Number Percent
Computer software engineers, applications 380 100 Bachelor's degree
Computer support specialists 490 97 Associate degree
Computer software engineers, systems software 284 90 Bachelor's degree
Network and computer systems administrators 187 82 Bachelor's degree
Network systems and data communications analysts 92 77 Bachelor's degree
Desktop publishers 25 67 Postsecondary vocational award
Database administrators 70 66 Bachelor's degree
Personal and home care aides 258 62 Short-term on-the-job training
Computer systems analysts 258 60 Bachelor's degree
Medical assistants 187 57 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Social and human service assistants 147 54 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Physician assistants 31 53 Bachelor's degree
Medical records and health information technicians 66 49 Associate degree
Computer and information systems managers 150 48 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Home health aides 291 47 Short-term on-the-job training
Physical therapist aides 17 46 Short-term on-the-job training
Occupational therapist aides 4 45 Short-term on-the-job training
Physical therapist assistants 20 45 Associate degree
Audiologists 6 45 Master's degree
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors 64 40 Postsecondary vocational award
Computer and information scientists, research 11 40 Doctoral degree
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal
caretakers 22 40 Short-term on-the-job training
Occupational therapist assistants 7 40 Associate degree
Veterinary technologists and technicians 19 39 Associate degree
Speech-language pathologists 34 39 Master's degree
Mental health and substance abuse social workers 33 39 Master's degree
Dental assistants 92 37 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Dental hygienists 54 37 Associate degree
Special education teachers, preschool,
kindergarten, and elementary school 86 37 Bachelor's degree
Pharmacy technicians 69 36 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Table 2. Occupations covered in the 2002-03 Occupational Outlook Handbook with the largest job growth, 2000-2010
(Employment in thousands of jobs)
Employment change,
Occupation 2000-2010 Most significant source of education or training
Number Percent
Combined food preparation and serving workers,
including fast food 673 30 Short-term on-the-job training
Customer service representatives 631 32 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Registered nurses 561 26 Associate degree
Retail salespersons 510 12 Short-term on-the-job training
Computer support specialists 490 97 Associate degree
Cashiers, except gaming 474 14 Short-term on-the-job training
Office clerks, general 430 16 Short-term on-the-job training
Security guards 391 35 Short-term on-the-job training
Computer software engineers, applications 380 100 Bachelor's degree
Waiters and waitresses 364 18 Short-term on-the-job training
General and operations managers 363 15 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer 346 20 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 323 24 Short-term on-the-job training
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and
housekeeping cleaners 317 13 Short-term on-the-job training
Postsecondary teachers 315 23 Doctoral degree
Teacher assistants 301 24 Short-term on-the-job training
Home health aides 291 47 Short-term on-the-job training
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers,
hand 289 14 Short-term on-the-job training
Computer software engineers, systems software 284 90 Bachelor's degree
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers 260 29 Short-term on-the-job training
Personal and home care aides 258 62 Short-term on-the-job training
Computer systems analysts 258 60 Bachelor's degree
Receptionists and information clerks 256 24 Short-term on-the-job training
Truck drivers, light or delivery services 215 19 Short-term on-the-job training
Packers and packagers, hand 210 19 Short-term on-the-job training
Elementary school teachers, except special
education 202 13 Bachelor's degree
Medical assistants 187 57 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Network and computer systems administrators 187 82 Bachelor's degree
Secondary school teachers, except special and
vocational education 187 19 Bachelor's degree
Accountants and auditors 181 19 Bachelor's degree
Table 3. Industries covered in the 2002-03 Career Guide to Industries with projected wage and salary employment change,
2000-2010
(Employment in thousands of jobs)
Employment change,
2000-2010
Industry Number Percent
All industries 21,977 16
Goods-producing industries 1,745 6
Agriculture, mining, and construction 1,167 12
Agricultural production -28 -3
Agricultural services 425 39
Construction 825 12
Mining and quarying -32 -14
Oil and gas extraction -23 -7
Manufacturing 577 3
Aerospace manufacturing 104 19
Apparel and other textile products -103 -16
Chemical manufacturing, except drugs -32 -4
Drug manufacturing 75 24
Electronic equipment manufacturing 103 7
Food processing -50 -3
Motor vehicle and equipment manufacturing 87 9
Printing and publishing -3 0
Steel manufacturing -49 -22
Textile mill products -29 -5
Service-producing industries 20,232 19
Transportation, communications, and public utilities 1,255 18
Air transportation 319 25
Cable and other pay television services 109 51
Public utilities 42 5
Radio and television broadcasting 25 10
Telecommunications 143 12
Trucking and warehousing 407 22
Wholesale and retail trade 3,869 13
Department, clothing, and accessory stores 168 4
Eating and drinking places 1,486 18
Grocery stores 174 6
Motor vehicle dealers 145 12
Wholesale trade 776 11
Finance, insurance, and real estate 687 9
Banking -31 -2
Insurance 151 6
Securities and commodities 152 20
Services 13,719 27
Advertising 98 32
Amusement and recreation services 597 35
Child-care services 298 42
Computer and data processing services 1,805 86
Educational services 1,603 14
Health services 2,817 25
Hotels and other lodging places 255 13
Management and public relations services 460 42
Motion picture production and distribution 82 29
Personnel supply services 1,913 49
Social services, except child care 927 42
Government 702 7
Federal Government -145 -8
State and local government 856 11