Occupational employment W hen choosing a career, jobseekers often employment growth in broad groups of similar occupa- want to know which occupations offer the tions. best prospects. Generally, occupations that The federal government classifies workers into cat- have rapid job growth, many new jobs, or many job egories using the Standard Occupational Classification openings—and good wages—promise better opportuni- (SOC) system. All of the SOC occupations are included ties. in these 12 broad groups: This section shows how employment in particular Management, business, and financial occupa- occupations is projected to change from 2010 to 2020. tions. Examples include logisticians, construction man- Many of the charts in this section show which occu- agers, and personal financial advisors. pations or occupational groups are expected to grow Computer, engineering, and science occupa- fastest (highest percent growth) or gain the most jobs tions. Examples are computer programmers, nuclear (highest numeric growth). engineers, landscape architects, chemists, and political Between 2010 and 2020, overall employment is pro- scientists. jected to grow by about 14 percent. This rate is shown Education, legal, community service, arts, and as a dotted vertical line in the chart on page 11. media occupations. Examples include teachers, court But when it comes to employment prospects, job reporters, social workers, graphic designers, and editors. growth tells only part of the story. Job openings for Healthcare practitioners and technical occupa- workers also come from the need to replace work- tions. Examples of these workers include dentists, ers who retire or permanently leave an occupation for physical therapists, and veterinarians. other reasons. Some charts show which occupations are expected to have the most openings for workers who are Service occupations. This group includes work- entering the occupation. These charts show projected ers who assist the public, including healthcare support openings both from job growth and from replacement occupations. Firefighters, dental assistants, bartenders, needs (the need to replace workers who leave). barbers, and pest control workers are examples. Sales and related occupations. Examples include Growth by occupational group cashiers, insurance sales agents, and retail salespersons. Most charts in this section focus on detailed occupa- Office and administrative support occupations. tions. To better illustrate general employment trends, Examples include order clerks, customer service repre- however, charts at the beginning of the section show sentatives, tellers, and medical secretaries. 6 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2011–12 Occupational employment Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. Assignments for on-the-job training typically Examples include forest and conservation workers, needed to attain competency are indicated in the appro- animal breeders, and logging equipment operators. priate column as follows: internship/residency (I/R), Workers who manage farms or ranches are counted in apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), the management occupations group rather than in this short-term (S), or none (N). group. • Internship and residency assignments include Construction and extraction occupations. This only those required for workers to be employed group includes workers in construction and building in an occupation. They may be paid or unpaid trades, such as boilermakers and roofers. It also includes and vary from 1 to 8 years. occupations in oil and gas extraction and mining, such • Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job train- as roustabouts and mining machine operators. ing with occupation-specific instruction. Most Installation, maintenance, and repair occupa- programs last between 3 and 5 years. tions. Examples include home appliance repairers, • Long-term on-the-job training lasts more than millwrights, and small engine mechanics. 12 months and includes either on-the-job train- Production occupations. Examples include ing or combines work experience with formal machinists, power plant operators, welders, and tailors. instruction. Transportation and material moving occupations. • Moderate-term on-the-job training includes Examples include air traffic controllers, railroad con- informal instruction and on-the-job training ductors, taxi drivers, and dredge operators. that lasts between 1 and 12 months. • Short-term on-the-job training includes infor- Growth by education assignment mal, on-the-job training or experience of 1 To help guide students and jobseekers, some charts month or less. show occupations by education assignment. These For complete information, see www.bls.gov/emp/ charts are grouped by the typical level of education ep_education_training_system.htm. most workers need to enter an occupation: graduate Wages degree, bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, post- secondary non-degree award, high school diploma or Wages include hourly, weekly, or annual pay that people equivalent, and less than a high school diploma. receive for the work that they do. Sales commissions, • Completion of a graduate degree typically tips, and production bonuses also are part of the wages requires a bachelor’s degree plus 1 or 2 years shown in these charts, but overtime and nonproduction of full-time study for a master’s degree or at bonuses are not. least 3 years of full-time study for a doctoral or For individual occupations, most charts include professional degree. 2010 median annual wage data from the BLS Occu- • Completion of a bachelor’s degree typically pational Employment Statistics (OES) program. The requires at least 4 years of full-time study median wage is the point at which half of the workers beyond high school. in an occupation earned more than the amount, and half • Completion of an associate’s degree typically earned less. In May 2010, the median annual wage for requires 2 years of full-time study beyond all workers was $33,840. high school. Postsecondary non-degree award The highest median annual wage among the programs typically last from several weeks to 1 occupations in a given chart is in boldface type. For year or more beyond high school. occupations with a median annual wage of more than Although the charts in this section are arranged by $166,400, a specific wage figure is not given because education assignment, columns within each chart also the OES survey does not publish wage data above this provide information about the experience and training amount. In these cases, the charts show that the median assignments for the occupations. Assignments for work wage was greater than or equal to (≥) $166,400. experience in a related occupation are indicated in the Wages in these charts are for wage and salary work- appropriate column as follows: more than 5 years (5+), ers only. Self-employed workers are not included in 1 to 5 years (1–5), less than 1 year (<1), or none (N). these measurements. Winter 2011–12 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 7 Occupational employment Employment, 2010 Percent distribution of employment by aggregate occupational group, 2010 Service Farming, fishing, and forestry 20 Installation, maintenance, and repair 1 4 Construction and Office and extraction 4 administrative support 16 Computer, engineering, 5 and science Healthcare practitioners 6 and technical 11 Management, 6 Production business, and financial 6 Transportation and material moving 11 10 Education, legal, community service, Sales and related arts, and media Occupations that have similar job duties are grouped according to the tasks that the workers in those occupations perform. This chart shows the aggregated occupational groups from the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. For example, the computer, engineering, and science group in this chart includes computer and mathematical occupations; architecture and engineering occupations; and life, physical, and social science occupations. 8 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2011–12 Occupational employment Numeric change in employment by major occupational group, projected 2010–20, in thousands of jobs Office and administrative support 2,336 Healthcare practitioners and technical 2,020 Sales and related 1,869 Healthcare support 1,444 Construction and extraction 1,407 Education, training, and library 1,404 Personal care and service 1,337 Transportation and material moving 1,329 Business and financial operations 1,173 Food preparation and serving related 1,093 Installation, maintenance, and repair 800 Computer and mathematical 778 Building and grounds cleaning 664 and maintenance Management 616 Community and social service 582 Protective service 365 Production 357 Arts, design, entertainment, 343 sports, and media Architecture and engineering 253 Life, physical, and social science 191 Legal 131 -19 Farming, fishing, and forestry This chart shows the 22 major occupational groups from the SOC. All of the major groups except one are projected to gain jobs. Winter 2011–12 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 9 Occupational employment Job openings by major occupational group, projected 2010–20, in thousands of openings Office and administrative support 7,450 Sales and related 6,454 Food preparation and serving related 5,103 Transportation and material moving 3,597 Healthcare practitioners and technical 3,591 Education, training, and library 3,398 Construction and extraction 2,760 Personal care and service 2,583 Management 2,568 Business and financial operations 2,555 Production 2,231 Healthcare support 2,042 Installation, maintenance, and repair 2,026 Building and grounds cleaning 1,655 and maintenance Computer and mathematical 1,438 Protective service 1,196 Community and social service 1,098 Arts, design, entertainment, 1,067 sports, and media From growth Architecture and engineering 798 From replacement needs Life, physical, and social science 546 Legal 344 Farming, fishing, and forestry 291 Employment prospects depend on more than job growth. Openings for new workers occur not only when jobs are added to the economy but also when current workers leave an occupation permanently. In most occupations, the need to replace workers who leave an occupation is expected to create more openings than job growth will. 10 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2011–12 Occupational employment Fastest growing occupations Percent growth in employment, projected 2010–20 Median annual wages, May 2010 Personal care aides 70% $19,640 Home health aides 69 20,560 Biomedical engineers 62 81,540 Helpers—brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters 60 27,780 Helpers—carpenters 56 25,760 Veterinary technologists and technicians 52 29,710 Reinforcing iron and rebar workers 49 38,430 Physical therapist assistants 46 49,690 Helpers—pipelayers, plumbers, 45 26,740 pipefitters, and steamfitters Diagnostic medical sonographers 44 64,380 Meeting, convention, and event planners 44 45,260 Physical therapist aides 43 23,680 Occupational therapy assistants 43 51,010 Glaziers 42 36,640 Interpreters and translators 42 43,300 Brickmasons and blockmasons 41 46,930 Medical secretaries 41 30,530 Marriage and family therapists 41 45,720 Market research analysts and marketing specialists 41 60,570 Physical therapists 39 76,310 Overall growth, all occupations = 14% Six of the occupations in this chart are construction occupations. The construction and extraction occupations group is projected to grow rapidly, by about 22 percent, and add 1.4 million jobs. However, employment in 2020 in this group is expected to remain below its 2006 level, before the 2007–09 recession. Winter 2011–12 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 11 Occupational employment Most new jobs Numeric growth in employment, projected 2010–20, in thousands of jobs Median annual wages, May 2010 Registered nurses 712 $64,690 Retail salespersons 707 20,670 Home health aides 706 20,560 Personal care aides 607 19,640 Office clerks, general 490 26,610 Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food 398 17,950 Customer service representatives 338 30,460 Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers 330 37,770 Laborers and freight, stock, and 319 23,460 material movers, hand Postsecondary teachers 306 62,050 Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 302 24,010 Childcare workers 262 19,300 Bookkeeping, accounting, & auditing clerks 259 34,030 Cashiers 250 18,500 Elementary school teachers, except 249 51,660 special education Receptionists and information clerks 249 25,240 Janitors and cleaners, except maids and 246 22,210 housekeeping cleaners Landscaping and groundskeeping workers 241 23,400 Sales reps, wholesale and manufacturing, 223 52,440 except technical and scientific products Construction laborers 212 29,280 These 20 occupations are projected to gain the most new jobs between 2010 and 2020 and account for about 36 percent of all jobs projected to be added over the decade. These occupations have a range of wages, job duties, and education and training requirements. Registered nurses had the highest wage in May 2010 among occupations projected to gain the most new jobs. 12 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2011–12 Occupational employment Most job openings Job openings due to growth and replacement needs, projected 2010–20, in thousands of openings Median annual From growth From replacement needs wages, May 2010 Retail salespersons 1,959 $20,670 Cashiers 1,776 18,500 Waiters and waitresses 1,324 18,330 Registered nurses 1,207 64,690 Combined food preparation and 1,147 17,950 serving workers, including fast food Office clerks, general 1,012 26,610 Laborers and freight, stock, and 980 23,460 material movers, hand Customer service representatives 960 30,460 Home health aides 838 20,560 Janitors and cleaners, except maids 682 22,210 and housekeeping cleaners Personal care aides 675 19,640 Childcare workers 666 19,300 Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers 649 37,770 Postsecondary teachers 586 62,050 First-line supervisors of office and 584 47,460 administrative support workers Elementary school teachers, except 573 51,660 special education Receptionists and information clerks 566 25,240 Sales reps, wholesale and manufacturing, 560 52,440 except technical and scientific products First-line supervisors of retail sales workers 514 35,820 Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 496 24,010 Retail salespersons and cashiers are expected to have the most job openings over the projections decade. For most of the occupations in this chart, the need to replace workers leaving the occupation is projected to create more openings than job growth will. Winter 2011–12 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 13 Occupational employment Graduate degree Occupations that have the most growth and have a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree as the typical level of education needed to enter the occupation, projected 2010–20, in thousands of jobs Median annual Experience1 Training2 wages, May 2010 N N Postsecondary teachers 306 $62,050 N I/R Physicians and surgeons 168 ≥166,400 N N Physical therapists 77 76,310 N N Lawyers 74 112,760 N N Pharmacists 70 111,570 Educational, guidance, school, and N N vocational counselors 53 53,380 N N Healthcare social workers 51 47,230 N I/R Mental health counselors 44 38,150 N N Rehabilitation counselors 37 32,350 N N Occupational therapists 36 72,320 Medical scientists, except N N 36 76,700 epidemiologists Clinical, counseling, and N I/R 34 66,810 school psychologists N N Speech-language pathologists 29 66,920 Education administrators, 1–5 N 28 83,710 postsecondary N I/R Dentists, general 28 141,040 5+ N Instructional coordinators 27 58,830 N N Physician assistants 25 86,410 Education administrators, 1–5 N 23 86,970 elementary and secondary school N N Veterinarians 22 82,040 N N Chiropractors 15 67,200 ¹ Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are more than 5 years (5+), 1–5 years (1–5), less than 1 year (<1), or none (N). ² Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N). Most high-growth occupations in these educational categories are related to healthcare, education, and social services. The projected increase in the number of postsecondary teachers reflects expanding college enrollments. 14 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2011–12 Occupational employment Graduate degree Occupations that have the most job openings and have a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree as the typical level of education needed to enter the occupation, projected 2010–20, in thousands of openings Median annual From growth From replacement needs Experience1 Training2 wages, May 2010 N N Postsecondary teachers 586 $62,050 N I/R Physicians and surgeons 305 ≥166,400 N N Lawyers 212 112,760 N N Pharmacists 140 111,570 Educational, guidance, school, and N N vocational counselors 114 53,380 N N Physical therapists 101 76,310 Education administrators, 1–5 N 90 86,970 elementary and secondary school N N Healthcare social workers 87 47,230 Clinical, counseling, and N I/R 82 66,810 school psychologists N I/R Mental health counselors 69 38,150 Education administrators, 1–5 N 69 83,710 postsecondary N I/R Dentists, general 66 141,040 N N Rehabilitation counselors 64 32,350 5+ N Instructional coordinators 58 58,830 N N Occupational therapists 57 72,320 N N Speech-language pathologists 52 66,920 N N Librarians 51 54,500 Medical scientists, except N N 43 76,700 epidemiologists N N Physician assistants 41 86,410 N N Veterinarians 34 82,040 ¹ Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are more than 5 years (5+), 1–5 years (1–5), less than 1 year (<1), or none (N). ² Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N). Workers in seven of the occupations in this chart typically need either experience or training in addition to a graduate degree. Winter 2011–12 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 15