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Internet: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ USDL 04-290
http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/ For release: 10 A.M. EST
Technical Information: (202) 691-5700 Friday, February 27, 2004
Media Contact: (202) 691-5902
2004-05 EDITIONS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK AND THE CAREER GUIDE TO
INDUSTRIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET
The 2004-05 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career
Guide to Industries were issued today on the Bureau of Labor Statistics'
Internet site. Print versions of both publications are expected to be available
in Spring 2004.
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 since the late 1940s. The Career Guide to Industries was
developed as a companion publication to the Handbook in the early 1990s. These
publications provide comprehensive, up-to-date, and reliable labor market
information that has helped millions of Americans plan their future work lives.
The 2004-05 editions will help guide workers in the new century by presenting
essential information about prospective changes in the workplace and the
qualifications that will be needed by tomorrow's workforce. The Handbook and
the Career Guide can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco and
http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg, respectively.
These publications reflect the Bureau's latest employment projections,
which cover the 2002-12 decade. Detailed information on the 2002-12 projections
appears in five articles in the February 2004 issue of the Monthly Labor Review,
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. A
graphic presentation of projection highlights appears in the Winter 2003-04
Occupational Outlook Quarterly, accessible at
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information about
hundreds of occupations, covering 7 out of 8 jobs in the economy. For each
occupation, the Handbook begins with a section that highlights key occupational
characteristics and is followed by sections with information about the nature of
the work, typical working conditions, employment of salaried and self-employed
workers, requirements for entry and opportunities for advancement, earnings,
related occupations, and sources of additional information. There also is a
section on job outlook that provides each occupation's projected employment
change over the next decade as compared to projected growth for all occupations.
The job outlook section also provides a perspective on the various factors that
can affect occupational projections, such as the aging of baby boomers, the
increasing ethnic diversity of the labor force, the introduction of
technological innovations, changes in the skills that are required in the
workplace, and increasing foreign competition, among others.
Employment over the 2002-12 decade is expected to increase by 21.3 million,
or 14.8 percent. Table 1 lists the numeric and percent changes in employment
over the 2002-12 decade for the 30 fastest growing occupations. For 19 of these
occupations, the most significant source of postsecondary education or training
is an associate or higher degree. Computer-related and health-related
occupations account for 21 of the 30 fastest growing occupations. Table 2 lists
the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2002-12 decade for the 30
occupations with the largest projected job growth. The most significant source
of postsecondary education or training for half of these occupations is short-
term on-the-job training.
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 about 42 industries that cover 3 out of 4 wage-and-salary
jobs in the economy. For each industry, the Career Guide describes the nature
of the industry, typical working conditions, and key occupations employed in the
industry. The Career Guide also discusses industry training practices and
worker earnings. A section on the outlook for each industry compares the
industry's projected percentage change in wage and salary employment with the
overall percentage change in wage and salary jobs across all industries.
Table 3 indicates the numeric and percent changes in employment over the
2002-12 decade for each of the industries included in the Career Guide.
Employment growth is projected to be concentrated in the service-providing
sector of the economy. Within the service-providing sector, two industry groups
are expected to account for almost half of all wage-and-salary employment growth
in the economy: professional and business services and education and health
services. In the goods-producing sector, employment is expected to grow in
construction; employment is expected to decline both in natural resources and
mining and in manufacturing.
Industrial coverage in the 2004-05 edition of the Career Guide is the first
to incorporate the 2002 North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
Information on the NAICS is available at http://www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm.
Ordering Information
The print versions of the 2004-05 editions of the Occupational Outlook
Handbook (BLS Bulletin 2570) and the Career Guide to Industries (BLS Bulletin
2571) are expected to be available in Spring 2004. Ordering and price
information will appear at http://www.bls.gov/oco and http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg,
respectively.
The print versions of the Monthly Labor Review and Occupational Outlook
Quarterly are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
20402. The Review costs $49 a year; single copies are $15. The Quarterly costs
$15 a year; single copies are $6. Make checks payable to the Superintendent of
Documents.
The Monthly Labor Review is accessible at
http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/mlrhome.htm. The Occupational Outlook Quarterly is
accessible at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Fastest growing occupations covered in the 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-12
(Employment in thousands of jobs)
Employment change,
Occupation 2002-12 Most significant source of postsecondary
Number Percent education or training
Medical assistants 215 59 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Network systems and data communications analysts 106 57 Bachelor's degree
Physician assistants 31 49 Bachelor's degree
Social and human service assistants 149 49 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Home health aides 279 48 Short-term on-the-job training
Medical records and health information technicians 69 47 Associate degree
Physical therapist aides 17 46 Short-term on-the-job training
Computer software engineers, applications 179 46 Bachelor's degree
Computer software engineers, systems software 128 45 Bachelor's degree
Physical therapist assistants 22 45 Associate degree
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors 81 44 Postsecondary vocational award
Database administrators 49 44 Bachelor's degree
Veterinary technologists and technicians 23 44 Associate degree
Hazardous materials removal workers 16 43 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Dental hygienists 64 43 Associate degree
Occupational therapist aides 4 43 Short-term on-the-job training
Dental assistants 113 42 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Personal and home care aides 246 40 Short-term on-the-job training
Self-enrichment education teachers 80 40 Work experience in a related occupation
Computer systems analysts 184 39 Bachelor's degree
Occupational therapist assistants 7 39 Associate degree
Environmental engineers 18 38 Bachelor's degree
Postsecondary teachers 603 38 Doctoral degree
Network and computer systems administrators 94 37 Bachelor's degree
Environmental science and protection technicians,
including health 10 37 Associate degree
Preschool teachers, except special education 153 36 Postsecondary vocational award
Computer and information systems managers 103 36 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Physical therapists 48 35 Master's degree
Occupational therapists 29 35 Bachelor's degree
Respiratory therapists 30 35 Associate degree
Table 2. Occupations covered in the 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Handbook with the largest job growth, 2002-12
(Employment in thousands of jobs)
Employment change,
Occupation 2002-12 Most significant source of postsecondary
Number Percent education or training
Registered nurses 623 27 Associate degree
Postsecondary teachers 603 38 Doctoral degree
Retail salespersons 596 15 Short-term on-the-job training
Customer service representatives 460 24 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Combined food preparation and serving workers,
including fast food 454 23 Short-term on-the-job training
Cashiers, except gaming 454 13 Short-term on-the-job training
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and
housekeeping cleaners 414 18 Short-term on-the-job training
General and operations managers 376 18 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Waiters and waitresses 367 18 Short-term on-the-job training
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 343 25 Short-term on-the-job training
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer 337 19 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Receptionists and information clerks 325 29 Short-term on-the-job training
Security guards 317 32 Short-term on-the-job training
Office clerks, general 310 10 Short-term on-the-job training
Teacher assistants 294 23 Short-term on-the-job training
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing,
except technical and scientific products 279 19 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Home health aides 279 48 Short-term on-the-job training
Personal and home care aides 246 40 Short-term on-the-job training
Truck drivers, light or delivery services 237 23 Short-term on-the-job training
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers 237 22 Short-term on-the-job training
Elementary school teachers, except special education 223 15 Bachelor's degree
Medical assistants 215 59 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Maintenance and repair workers, general 207 16 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Accountants and auditors 205 19 Bachelor's degree
Computer systems analysts 184 39 Bachelor's degree
Secondary school teachers, except special and
vocational education 180 18 Bachelor's degree
Computer software engineers, applications 179 46 Bachelor's degree
Management analysts 176 30 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Food preparation workers 172 20 Short-term on-the-job training
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales
workers 163 9 Work experience in a related occupation
Table 3. Industries covered in the 2004-05 Career Guide to Industries with projected wage and salary employment change,
2002-12
(Employment in thousands of jobs)
Employment change,
2002-12
Industry Number Percent
All industries 21,603 16
Goods-producing industries 772 3
Natural resources and mining -84 -5
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting -24 -2
Oil and gas extraction -34 -28
Mining -32 -15
Construction 1,014 15
Manufacturing -157 -1
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing -83 -18
Apparel manufacturing -245 -69
Chemical manufacturing, except drugs -106 -17
Computer and electronic product manufacturing -189 -12
Food manufacturing 72 5
Motor vehicle and parts manufacturing 29 3
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing 68 23
Printing 24 3
Steel manufacturing -34 -20
Textile mills and products -152 -31
Service-providing industries 20,831 19
Trade, transportation, and utilities 3,600 14
Automobile dealers 158 13
Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores 344 8
Grocery stores 133 5
Wholesale trade 638 11
Air transportation 67 12
Truck transportation and warehousing 422 23
Utilities -34 -6
Information 632 18
Broadcasting 28 9
Motion picture and video industries 112 31
Publishing, except software -11 -1
Software publishers 174 68
Telecommunications 80 7
Financial activities 590 10
Banking 112 6
Insurance 168 8
Securities, commodities, and other investments 124 15
Professional and business services 4,866 30
Advertising and public relations services 84 19
Computer systems design and related services 635 55
Employment services 1,764 54
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 406 55
Education and health services 6,875 26
Child day care services 316 43
Educational services 2,489 20
Health services 3,501 28
Social assistance, except child day care 597 47
Leisure and hospitality 2,135 18
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 497 28
Food services and drinking places 1,337 16
Hotels and other accommodations 301 17
Public administration 808 8
Federal Government, excluding the postal service 50 3
State and local government, except education and health 759 10
NOTE: Detail may not add to totals due to omission of industries not covered in the Career Guide.