The 1996-2006 Job Outlook In Brief

By Rick Melchionno and Michael Sean Steinman

Bob Dylan told the world in 1963, "The times, they are a-changin'."
Times were changing then - and still are today.  Evolving technology,
shifts in consumer taste, and innovative business practices are among
the contributors to progress over the past 35 years and to anticipated
growth for the future.

Changing times lead to changing employment, keeping the world of work in
constant flux.  The wide array of occupations in the American labor
market responds to societal, global, scientific, commercial, and
legislative developments.  These forces cause a decline in employment
for jobs that once offered solid careers while creating rapid growth in
positions that were unheard of not long ago.  In today's dynamic
marketplace, people must plan their careers carefully and be aware of
which occupations will be in demand in the future.  Employment
projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provide important
information for long-term career planning.

The $6.9-trillion economy of 1996 is projected to reach $8.5 trillion by
2006.  Employment in 2006 is expected to reach 150.9 million, an
increase of 14 percent, or 18.6 million jobs, above the 1996 level.  The
table beginning on Page 9 shows the occupations that will benefit most
from its growth as well as those in which employment is projected to
decline.  For each of about 250 occupations, the table gives the
numerical and percent change in employment as well as a summary of job
prospects for the 1996-2006 projections period.

The next few pages discuss factors that affect an occupation's
employment outlook, describe the assumptions used in making the
projections, and point out general trends.

Why Employment Changes

The number of workers employed in an occupation depends largely on the
demand for the goods or services those workers provide.  Over the last
decade, for example, increased use of computers by businesses, schools,
scientific organizations, and government agencies has contributed to
large numerical increases for systems analysts, programmers, and
computer repairers.

However, even if the demand rises for goods and services provided by a
group of workers, employment may not increase at all or may increase
more slowly than demand because of changes in the ways goods are
produced and services are provided.  In fact, some changes in technology
and business practices cause employment to decline.  For example, while
the volume of paperwork is expected to increase dramatically, the
employment of typists and word processors will probably fall.  This
reflects the growing us of word-processing equipment that increases
efficiency and allows other office personnel to do more of their own
typing.

Traditionally, BLS economists have projected changes in the economy in
terms of high, moderate, and low growth.  These projections were made in
light of various assumptions about factors such as output, unemployment,
productivity, and inflation.  For the 1996-2006 projections in this
issue of the Quarterly, however, BLS economists held labor force
assumptions constant while deriving projections from information on the
demand for goods and services, advances in technology, changes in
business practices, the occupational composition of industries, and
historical trends.

Any projection of employment growth is clouded by uncertainty.
Unforeseen changes in technology, the balance of trade, or major
international political upheavals could also radically alter future
employment for individual occupations.

Employment Through the Year 2006

Between 1996 and 2006, employment will rise to 150.9 million from 132.4
million.  This section gives a brief overview of projected employment
change.  It focuses on the following 10 clusters of occupations based on
the Federal Government's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
system:

* Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations
* Professional and technical occupations
* Marketing and sales occupations
* Administrative support occupations, including clerical
* Service occupations
* Mechanics, installers, ad repairers
* Construction trades occupations
* Production occupations
* Transportation and material moving occupations
* Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.

A particular occupation may not follow the trend projected for its
group; therefore, you should refer to the table on pages 9 to 36 for the
outlook for specific occupations.  An index of individual occupations
appears on pages 37-39.

Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations.  

Workers in executive, administrative, and managerial occupations establish
policies, make plans, determine staffing requirements, and direct the
activities of businesses, government agencies, and other organizations.
This group includes managerial and administrative occupations, such as
financial property, health services, and construction managers;
purchasers and buyers; education administrators; and funeral directors.
It also includes management support occupations that provide technical
assistance to managers.  Some examples include accountants and auditors,
budget analysts, loan officers, purchasing agents, and underwriters.

Overall, employment of executive, administrative, and managerial
occupations is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all
occupations.  However, because these workers are employed throughout the
economy, differences in the rate of expansion for individual industries
will produce varying rates of employment change for particular kinds of
managers and support workers.  For example, employment of engineering,
science, and computer systems managers will grow much faster than
average, whereas the number of industrial production managers is
expected to decline.

Because of strong competition for these jobs, applicants with previous
work experience, specialized training, or graduate study have an
advantage.  Computer skills will become essential as managers rely on
computerized information systems to assist with the routine function of
their organizations.

Professional and technical occupations.  Professional and technical
occupations.  Professional and technical personnel provide a variety of
services, conduct research, and work in different industries.  This
group includes professionals such as engineers; architects; surveyors
and mapping scientists; life, physical, and social scientists; lawyers
and judges; social, recreational, and religious workers; teachers;
librarians; and counselors.  It also includes professionals working in
computer, mathematical, and operations research occupations; health
diagnosing, assessment, and treating occupations; and communications,
visual arts, and performing arts occupations.

This group also includes technical workers such as paralegals, computer
programmers, health technologists and technicians, engineering and
science technicians, aircraft pilots, air traffic controllers, broadcast
technicians, and library technicians.  Technical personnel usually
program and operate technical equipment and assist engineers,
scientists, physicians, and other professional workers.

Professional and technical occupations are expected to grow faster than
average and gain more new jobs than any other occupational group.
However, projected growth rates for individual occupations are as
diverse as the jobs themselves, reflecting changes in technology,
demographics, and business practices, among other factors.  For
instance, paralegals will be one of the fastest growing occupations in
the economy as lawyers increasingly rely on these workers to improve
efficiency and cut the cost of legal services.  Population trends and
increasing student enrollments will fuel a faster than average increase
in the overall employment of teachers, who will account for nearly
one-fourth of all job growth among professional and technical
occupations.  Increased demand for health and social services from a
growing and aging population will spur rapid growth for physical
therapists, occupational therapists, and social and human services
assistants.  Likewise, employment of computer scientists, computer
engineers, and systems analysts is expected to double during the next
decade as organizations become increasingly dependent on advancing
technologies and the workers who implement them.

Along with continued efforts to reduce costs, these same technologies
will adversely affect employment of other professional and technical
workers.  For example, employment of drafters and air traffic
controllers should show little change because of increased use of
laborsaving equipment.  The number of physicists and astronomers, on the
other hand, should decline because of budget tightening and decreased
demand for physics-related research.

Marketing and sales occupations.  Workers in this group sell goods and
services, purchase commodities and property for resale, and stimulate
consumer interest.  This group includes cashiers; counter and rental
clerks; insurance agents and brokers; manufacturers' and wholesale sales
representatives; real estate agents, brokers, and appraisers; retail
sales workers; financial services sales representatives; and travel
agents.

Overall employment in this group is expected to grow as fast as average
because of the increased demand for financial, travel, and other
services.  However, the rate of growth should be slower from 1996 to
2006 than during the previous decade because these workers are
concentrated in wholesale and retail trade, industries that are expected
to grow more slowly than in the past.

Nonetheless, some occupations will experience rapid growth.  Securities
and financial services sales representatives should grow much faster
than average as investment increases and diversifies and as financial
institutions offer more complex services.  Employment of services sales
representatives should increase as the health care and computer
industries expand rapidly, requiring more workers to market and service
their products.   Faster than average employment growth is expected for
counter and rental clerks and travel agents due to increased demand for
business and recreational services.

There is greater competition for jobs in higher paying marketing and
sales occupations, such as securities and financial services sales
representatives, than in lower paying ones, such as retail sales
workers.  Opportunities will be best for well trained, personable, and
ambitious people who enjoy selling.

Administrative support occupations, including clerical.  Workers in this
group prepare and record memos, letters, and reports; collect accounts;
gather and distribute information; operate office machines; and handle
other administrative tasks.  The group includes occupations such as
adjuster, investigator, and collector in the insurance industry;
computer and communications equipment operator; information clerk;
postal clerk and mail carrier; secretary; bank teller; and typist, word
processor, and data entry keyer.

This occupational group will continue to employ the largest number of
workers, although employment will grow more slowly than average.
Despite the tremendous increase expected n the volume of clerical tasks,
increased automation and other technological changes will cause a
decline in some occupations, including typist, word processor, and data
entry keyer; bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk; and telephone
operator.  In contrast, employment of teacher aides should grow much
faster than average as schools increasingly make use of these workers to
help with growing enrollments, including those of students in special
education and students for whom English is a second language.

A projected faster than average increase in employment of receptionists
reflects rapid growth of the services industries in which they work.
Similarly, the expanding population, economy, and volume of insurance
sales will spur growth among adjusters, investigators, and collectors.
Because many administrative support occupations are large and have
relatively high turnover, opportunities should be plentiful for full-
and part-time jobs, even in slow-growing occupations.

Service occupations.  This group includes a wide range of workers in
four subgroups; Food and beverage; health; personal, buildings, and
grounds; and protective services.  Included among service workers are
chefs, cooks, and all other food and beverage service workers; health
service occupations, such as dental and medical assistants, nursing and
psychiatric aides, and physical, occupational, and corrective therapy
assistants and aides; personal, buildings, and grounds service
occupations such as animal caretakers, cosmetologists, flight
attendants, gardeners, preschool teachers, and child-care and private
household workers; and protective service occupations including
correctional officers, firefighters, guards, police officers,
detectives, and investigations.  Population and economic growth and
changes in health care delivery will fuel average employment growth
among service occupations as a whole over the next decade.

Employment of correctional officers is expected to rise faster than
average as correctional facilities expand.  The public's growing concern
for security will also lead to faster than average growth for guards and
average growth for police officers and detectives.  However,
firefighters should experience slow growth as various public service
providers continue to compete for funding.

Full- and part-time jobs will be plentiful for food and beverage service
workers because of the group's large size, high turnover, and overall
average employment growth.

Most health services occupations - including medical assistants and
physical and corrective therapy assistants and aides, which are among
the fastest growing occupations in the economy - are expected to grow
much faster than the average.  Such rapid growth reflects an increasing
and aging population, technological advances in medicine, and the
increasing use of support personnel who are cost-effective providers of
health care.

Growth in personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations will vary
widely.  Homemaker-home health aide should grow much faster than the
average because of the increase in the elderly population and advances
in medical technology that can make in-home treatment more effective.
Employment of private household workers, on the other hand, will decline
rapidly, as child-care and household cleaning service firms increasingly
assume those duties.

Mechanics, installers, and repairers.  Workers in this group adjust,
maintain, and repair automobiles, industrial equipment, computers, and
many other types of machinery.  Occupations include electronics
repairer; telephone and cable television line installer; aircraft,
automotive, and motorcycle mechanic; millwright; musical instrument
repairer; rigger; and watchmaker.

Average overall growth is expected due to continued importance of
mechanical and electronic equipment throughout the economy, but
projections vary by occupation.  Computer and office machine repairer is
expected to be the fastest growing occupation in this group, reflecting
the increased use of these machines.  In contrast, employment of
electronic home entertainment equipment repairer, telephone installer
and repairer, farm equipment mechanic, millwright, and vending machine
servicer and repairer is expected to decline due to laborsaving devices
and improvements in reliability.

Construction trades occupations.  Workers in this group construct,
alter, and maintain buildings and other structures.  Occupations include
carpenter, electrician, roofer, drywall worker, carpet installer, and
plumber.

Virtually all of the new jobs will be in construction.  An increase in
the number of households and industrial plants, the desire to alter or
modernize existing structures, and the need to maintain and repair the
Nation's infrastructure - highways, dams, and bridges - will result in a
significant number of new jobs.  However, overall employment is expected
to grow more slowly than the average as construction activity declines
and the industry benefits from productivity gains and more efficient
technologies.  Employment of insulation workers will grow the fastest,
roofers and titlesetters the slowest.  Because the construction industry
is sensitive to fluctuations in the Nation's economy, employment in
construction occupations varies from year to year.  Many construction
workers become unemployed during downturns in construction activity.

Production occupations.  These workers set up, adjust, operate, and tend
machinery and use handtools and hand-held power tools to make goods and
assemble products.  Occupations include prepress printing worker,
machinist, assembler, jeweler, stationary engineer, butcher, apparel
worker, and fisher.

Increases in imports, overseas production, and automation - including
robotics and advanced computer techniques - will result in little change
in overall employment.  Growth, however slow, is nevertheless expected
for printing press operators, workers, butchers, and meat, poultry, and
fish cutters.  Employment of water treatment plant operators is expected
to grow faster than average due to construction of new plants and
expansion of water and wastewater treatment services.  Desktop
publishing specialists should experience much faster than average
employment growth with the shift to computer-based layout and printing.

Many production occupations are sensitive to the business cycle and
competition from imports. When factory orders decline, workers may face
shortened workweeks, layoffs, and plant closings.

Transportation and material moving occupations.  Operating the equipment
used for moving people and materials is the principal activity of
workers in this group. Occupations include busdriver, rail and water
transportation worker, subway and streetcar operator, and truckdriver.
Overall employment is expected to grow about as fast as average, but
prospects vary by occupation.  The fastest growing occupations in this
group are busdrivers and truckdrivers.  Employment of busdrivers should
increase to meet the needs of a growing school-age population, while the
number of truckdrivers is also expected to increase as the expanding
economy requires more shipment of goods.  Employment declines are
expected for rail and water transportation occupations, reflecting
global competition improved efficiency, and technological advances.

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. These workers
perform routine tasks and assist skilled workers.  Some occupations
include parking lot attendants, service station attendants, and helpers
in construction trades.

Overall employment in this group is expected to grow about as fast as
the average for all occupations, although some occupations, such as
machine feeder and service station attendant, will show little or no
change.  Many opportunities will arise from the need to replace workers
who leave these high-turnover occupations.  However, the number of
openings will depend on the strength of the economy, particularly for
construction laborer and other occupations in industries highly
sensitive to changes in the business cycle.

Information in the "Brief"
"The Job Outlook in Brief" provides thumbnail sketches of employment
data for each occupation in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1998-99
edition, on which it is based.  Nearly all employment estimates are from
the BLS industry-occupation matrix.  Throughout this article, employment
growth rates are compared to the average for all occupations; the box,
"Key Phrases in the Brief," explains the terms used.  The box also
explains the phrases used to describe the amount of competition
jobseekers are likely to encounter.

Assessing the degree of competition is difficult, although for
occupations with length training and strict entry requirements, it can
be done with some accuracy.  However, because most occupations have
several routes of entry and flexible requirements, the potential supply
of workers is difficult to measure.  For many occupations, therefore, no
description of job opportunities or competition is given.  When given,
the description of the relationship between supply and demand is based
on information obtained from technical journals and other relevant
literature, interviews with occupational experts, historical data, and
the judgement of the analyst ho studied the occupation.

Growth in employment is only one source of job openings.  In fact, BLS
projects that 3 out of 5 job openings over the 1996-2006 period will
arise because of the need to replace workers who transfer to other
occupations or leave the labor force.  As a result, even occupations
with slower than average growth may offer many jobs for new workers.
This is especially true of large occupations.

Beyond the "Brief" "The Job Outlook in Brief" is only a starting point
for exploring economic projections or careers.  The projections in it
were produced by BLS as part of its employment projections program,
which develops new sets of projections every 2 years.  Besides
occupational employment, BLS also projects industry employment, industry
outlook, labor force activity, and numerous components of the gross
domestic product.  This information is available in a variety of
publications designed to meet different needs.

The winter 1997-98 issue of the Occupational Outlook Quarterly provides
a graphic presentation of highlights of the projections.  Considerably
more detail is available in the November 1997 issue of the Monthly Labor
Review.  Employment Outlook:  1996-2006 presents an overview of BLS
projections of the labor force, the economy, industry employment, and
occupational employment; it also includes detailed statistical tables
for the major components of the projections.  Occupational Projections
and Training Data, 1998 edition, is a statistical supplement to the
Occupational Outlook Handbook that contains current and projected
employment estimates for about 500 occupations.  It also presents
information on occupational separation rates, unemployment rates, and
the demographic characteristics of workers when such information is
available.

The data and information in those publications also are accessible via
the Office of Employment Projections homepage:
http://stats.bls.gov/emphome.htm

People weighing the advantages of different career choices will probably
find two of the BLS publications more useful  than the technical ones:
the previously mentioned Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1998-99 edition,
and "Matching Yourself With the World of Work in 1992."

"The Job Outlook in Brief" provides information in a format that allows
easy comparison of job prospects in different fields.  But employment
prospects are not the only consideration when choosing a certain career;
matching your goals and abilities to the type of work and the education
required is another part of choosing a career.  Where you want to live
and how much money you want to earn also are important.  Information
like this appears in the Handbook and in "Matching."

The Handbook has been published for over 50 years.  It contains more
detailed information about the outlook for each of the occupations
mentioned in the "Brief," as well as information about the nature of the
work, training and personal qualifications, earnings, and other
subjects.  Originally published in the fall 1992 OOQ, "Matching Yourself
With the World of Work in 1992" is a 20-page, tabular presentation
similar in format to the "Brief."  Rather than outlook, it highlights
significant job characteristics, including educational level required,
working conditions, and interaction with data, people, and things.  An
updated version, "Matching Yourself With the World of Work in 1998,"
will appear in the fall 1998 Quarterly.

Additional information job growth is also available from State job
service offices.  The outlook for many occupations varies considerably
among local job markets.  For example, sections of the country with slow
population growth may have less need for elementary school teachers than
do regions with high growth.  State job service offices, listed in the
State government section of local telephone directories, can provide
information on local labor market conditions.  Also, see the section on
"Sources of Career Information in the Handbook.

Ordering Information The Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1998-99 edition
(Bulletin 2500) is available for $42 paper cover, $46 hard cover, and
$28 CD-ROM.  Prices for other publications were not available at press
time.

BLS publications are usually available in libraries, career centers, and
the offices of school and employment counselors.  They are sold by the
Government Printing Office.  Use the order card in the back of this
issue of the OOQ or request publications on a separate sheet of paper.
Send orders to:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Publication Sales Center
P.O. Box 2145
Chicago, IL  60690
(312) 353-1880

Payment by check, money order, VISA, MasterCard, DiscoverNOVUS, or GPO
deposit account must accompany your order.  Make check or money order
payable to the Superintendent of Documents.

Key Phrases in the "Brief"

Changing employment between 1996 and 2006

If the statement                    Employment is projected to...
about growth reads...

Much faster than average            Increase 36 percent or more

Faster than average                 Increase 21 to 35 percent

About as fast as average            Increase 10 to 20 percent

Little change or more               Increase 0 to 9 percent
slowly than average

Decline                             Decrease 1 percent or more

Opportunities and competition for jobs

If the statement about              Job openings compared to
opportunities reads...              jobseekers may be...

Excellent                           Much more numerous
Very good                           More numerous
Good or favorable                   About the same
May face competition                Fewer
May face keen competition           Many fewer

Reprints of this article will be sold by the Superintendent of Documents
and are available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Publication Sales
Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago, IL 60690.
--------------------------------------------------------

Occupational Outlook in Brief 1996-2006

The names of the 10 major occupational clusters are printed with ALL
CAPITAL LETTERS.  The names of subgroups are inset slightly, and the
names of individual occupations are inset further.

All estimates of employment in 1996 and projected change in employment
are based on the BLS Industry-Occupational Matrix, unless otherwise
noted.  This symbol * marks the occupations that are projected to grow
the fastest or provide the most new jobs.

This column compares the employment change for the occupation with that
for total employment.  When possible, it also indicates the amount of
competition that jobseekers can expect.  The terms used for these
comparisons are defined in the box on page 8.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Accountants and auditors
Employment, 1996: 1,002,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 9,400
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average.
Professional recognition through certification or licensure, a master's
degree, familiarity with accounting and auditing computer software, or
specialized expertise provide an advantage in the job market.  Due to
the large size of this occupation, many job openings will occur.
However, competition will remain keen for the most prestigious jobs:
those with  major accounting and business firms.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation:  Administrative services managers
Employment, 1996: 291,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 11
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006:      33,000
Employment prospects:   Average employment growth is expected.  Like
other managerial occupations, this occupation is characterized by low
turnover.  These factors, coupled with the ample supply of competent,
experience workers seeking managerial jobs, should result in keen
competition for administrative services management positions in the
future.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation:     Budget analysts
Employment, 1996:       66,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006:        12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 7,700
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average.
Competition for jobs should remain keen because of the substantial
number of qualified applicants; people with a master's degree should
enjoy the best job prospects.  Experience working with financial
software will also enhance opportunities.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Construction and building inspectors
Employment, 1996: 66,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 10,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected as growing
concern for public safety and improvements in the quality of
construction continue to stimulate demand.  Job opportunities should be
best for highly experienced supervisors and craft workers who have some
college education, have some engineering or architectural training, or
are certified as inspectors or plan examiners.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Construction managers
Employment, 1996: 49,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 45,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected as the level
of construction activity and complexity of construction projects
continues to increase.  Prospects in construction management,
engineering and architectural services, and construction contracting
firms should be particularly favorable for persons who have worked in
construction and have a bachelor's degree or higher in construction
science, construction management, or engineering.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Cost estimators
Employment, 1996: 188,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 16
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 29,000
Employment prospects: Employment growth is expected to be about as fast
as average.  Job prospects should remain favorable.  Growth in the
construction industry, where over 60 percent of all cost estimators are
employed, will be a driving force behind demand for these workers.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Education administrators
Employment, 1996: 386,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 45,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected due to
increasing school enrollments, services provided to students, and
efforts to improve the quality of education.  Substantial competition is
expected for prestigious jobs such as higher education administrators.
On the other hand, it is becoming more difficult to attract candidates
for principal, vice principal, and administration jobs at the elementary
and secondary school level, so competition for these jobs is decreasing.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Employment interviewers
Employment, 1996: 87,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 16
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 14,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average,
spurred by expansion of personnel supply firms, particularly those
specializing in temporary help.  Job growth is not anticipated in State
job service offices.  In firms with a special focus such as accounting
or law, a background in the specialized field is helpful, if not
required.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Engineering, science, and computer systems managers
Employment, 1996: 343,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 45*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 155,000
Employment prospects: Employment, which is expected to increase much
faster than average, is closely related to the growth of the occupations
these workers supervise and to changes in the industries in which they
are found.  Underlying much of the growth of managers in science and
engineering are competitive pressures and advancing technologies, which
force companies to update and improve products more frequently.
Employment of computer systems managers will increase rapidly due to the
expansion of the computer services industry and the increased employment
of computer systems analysts.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Farmer and farm managers
Employment, 1996: 1,290,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -9
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -118,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline due to
increasing productivity and consolidation in the agricultural production
industry.  Aquaculture, or fish farming, should provide some new job
opportunities.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Financial managers
Employment, 1996: 800,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 146,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth reflects the need for
skilled financial management.  Jobseekers with lending experience should
enjoy the best opportunities for branch management jobs in banks. Those
who have a graduate degree, a strong analytical background, and
knowledge of various aspects of financial management should enjoy the
best opportunities for other positions.  Developing expertise in a
rapidly growing industry, such as health care, could also be an
advantage in the job market.  Like other managerial occupations,
competition is expected because applicants will outnumber job openings.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Funeral directors
Employment, 1996: 33,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 2
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 700
Employment prospects: Employment of funeral directors is expected to
increase more slowly than average, but many openings will arise from
replacement needs.  Although funeral directors are highly attached to
their jobs, there are more workers age 55 and over in this occupation
than in any other.  Employment opportunities are expected to be
excellent because the number of graduates in mortuary science is likely
to continue to be smaller than the number of job openings.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: General managers and top executives
Employment, 1996: 3,210,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 467,000*
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected.  Because
this is a large occupation, many openings will occur each year as
executives transfer to other positions, start their own businesses, or
retire.  Nonetheless, competition for top managerial jobs will be keen.
Many executives who leave their jobs transfer to other executive or
managerial positions, limiting openings for new entrants.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Government chief executives and legislators
Employment, 1996: 93,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 2
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 2,100
Employment prospects: Little, if any, growth is expected in the number
of State or Federal government chief executives and legislators.  Few
new governments at any level are likely to form, and the number of chief
executives and legislators in existing governments rarely changes.  Some
increase will occur at the local level as counties, cities, and towns
take on new responsibilities.  New positions will develop as cities and
counties turn to professional management to deal with growth, Federal
regulations, and long-range planning and as volunteer positions are
converted to paid ones.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Health services managers
Employment, 1996: 329,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 28
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 93,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average growth is expected as the
health care industry expands and diversifies.  Opportunities will be
good in home health care, long-term care, and nontraditional health
organizations, such as managed care operations, particularly for health
services managers who combine work experience in the health care field
with strong business and management skills.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Hotel managers and assistants
Employment, 1996: 175,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 21,000
Employment prospects: Average job growth is expected.  Population growth
and rising personal incomes will continue to produce growth in the
number of hotels and other lodging places and, therefore, of managers.
Those with college degrees in hotel management will have the best
opportunities.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Human resources specialists and managers
Employment, 1996: 544,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 97,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth reflects the increasing
need for human resources specialists in a wide range of areas.  While a
college degree is sufficient for most positions, some jobs may require a
graduate or professional degree.  The job market is likely to remain
competitive in view of the abundant supply of qualified college
graduates and experienced workers.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Industrial production managers
Employment, 1996: 207,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -5,200
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline as
organizational restructuring and productivity increases reduce the
demand for these workers.  Just-in-time manufacturing will limit the
need for production planning, while the application of computers to
recordkeeping and production will help to balance responsibilities.
Opportunities will be best for college graduates with degrees in
business administration and industrial engineering.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Inspectors and compliance officers, except construction
Employment, 1996: 163,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 8,400
Employment prospects: Little growth in employment is expected,
reflecting a balance of continuing public demand for a safe environment
and quality products against the desire for smaller government and fewer
regulations.  Job openings will arise primarily from the need to replace
those who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the labor
force for other reasons.  In private industry, employment growth will
reflect industry growth due to continuing self-enforcement of government
and company regulations and policies, particularly among franchise
operations in various industries.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Loan officers and counselors
Employment, 1996: 209,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 28
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 59,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than
average.  Increases in the number and complexity of loans will sustain
the growth despite a projected employment decline in the banking
industry, where most loan officers and counselor work.  Those with a
college education or a strong sales background will have the best
employment opportunities.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Management analysts and consultants
Employment, 1996: 244,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 52,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected
as industry and government increasingly rely on outside expertise to
improve the performance of their organizations.  Growth is expected not
only in very large consulting firms, but also in smaller consulting
firms whose consultants specialize in certain areas.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Marketing, advertising, and public relations managers
Employment, 1996: 482,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 29
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 138,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase faster than
average.  Increasingly intense domestic and global competition in
products and services offered to consumers should require greater
marketing, promotional, and public relations efforts.  Competition for
these jobs should be intense, but college graduates with extensive
experience, a high level of creativity, and strong communication skills
will have the best prospects.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Property managers
Employment, 1996: 271,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 16
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 44
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is projected.  The
number of commercial, industrial, and residential properties requiring
professional property management is expected to drive employment growth.
Opportunities should be best for persons with college degrees in
business administration and related fields, as well as for those who
attain professional designations.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Purchasers and buyers
Employment, 1996: 639,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 32,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average.  The increasing use of computers by businesses and governments
when purchasing goods and services is expected to reduce the demand for
these workers.  Furthermore, new business practices, such as long term
contracting and the use of credit cards, are expected to allow
businesses and government agencies to rely on fewer purchasers and
buyers when obtaining necessary supplies and services.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Restaurant and food service managers
Employment, 1996: 493,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 34
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 166,000
Employment prospects: Job growth is expected to be faster than average.
Population growth and rising personal incomes will continue to produce
growth in the number of eating and drinking establishments and,
therefore, of managers.  Those with college degrees in restaurant or
institutional food service management will have the best opportunities.

Cluster: Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Underwriters, insurance
Employment, 1996: 95,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 6
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 5,700
Employment prospects: Employment is projected to grow more slowly than
average as more businesses self-insure and as insurance companies
increasingly forego some personal lines of insurance and use
underwriting software systems that automatically analyze and rate
insurance applications.  Computer-literate college graduates will have
the best opportunities.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Air transportation-related occupations
Occupation: Aircraft pilots
Employment, 1996: 110,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 15,000
Employment prospects: Despite employment growth as fast as average,
pilots should face considerable competition for jobs because the
glamour, prestige, and high pay associated with the occupation attracts
many applicants.  Generally, the best prospects are for pilots who have
logged the most flying hours using the more sophisticated equipment and
for those who have the most FAA licenses.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Air transportation-related occupations
Occupation: Air traffic controllers
Employment, 1996: 29,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 0
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 0
Employment prospects: Little or no employment growth is expected as
productivity gains stemming from laborsaving air traffic control
equipment offset the demand generated by more air travel.  Competition
for jobs is expected to remain keen because of the occupation's few job
openings and relatively high pay.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Engineers
Employment, 1996: 1,382,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 250,000*
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase about as fast
as average, while the number of degrees granted in engineering is
expected to remain near present levels through 2006.  Therefore, a
favorable job outlook is expected.  Companies increasingly will rely on
engineers to improve both product design and efficiency. Computer
technology is not expected to curtail employment opportunities.
Increased investment in plant and equipment should account for many
openings as companies expand their output of goods and services.  More
engineers will also be needed to improve or build new roads, bridges,
water and pollution control systems, and other public facilities.
Because defense expenditures are expected to continue at relatively low
levels, the job outlook for engineers working for defense contractors
may not be as favorable.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Aerospace Engineers
Employment, 1996: 53,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 4,000
Employment prospects: Employment growth is expected to be slower than
average due to decreased federal expenditures, particularly from the
Defense Department.  The growth of the commercial aircraft industry will
account for most job openings.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Chemical engineers
Employment, 1996: 49,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 7,400
Employment prospects: Although employment in the chemical manufacturing
industry is projected to grow slowly, employment of chemical engineers
should increase about as fast as average as chemical companies research
and develop new chemicals and more efficient processes to increase
output of existing chemicals.  Nonmanufacturing industries, especially
service industries and areas relating to the production of specialty
chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and plastics materials, may provide better
opportunities than other portions of the chemical industry.  The
projected surplus of chemical engineering graduates may result in
competition for jobs.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Civil engineers
Employment, 1996: 196,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 35,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase as fast as
average.  Population growth and an expanding economy will require more
civil engineers to design and construct buildings and higher capacity
transportation, water supply, and pollution control systems.  Employment
opportunities will vary by geographic area and may decrease during
economic slowdowns, when construction often is curtailed.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Electrical and electronics engineers
Employment, 1996: 367,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 29
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 105,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average job growth is expected.  The
need for electronics manufacturers to invest heavily in research and
development to remain competitive will provide many openings, as will
increased demand for improved computers and communications equipment and
other electronic products.  Job growth is expected to be fastest in
nonmanufacturing industries as firms increasingly obtain electronic
engineering expertise from consulting and service companies.
Opportunities for electronics engineers in defense-related firms may
improve with the upgrading of existing aircraft and weapons systems.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Industrial engineers
Employment, 1996: 115,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 16,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth and favorable
opportunities are expected due to industrial growth, more complex
business operations, and the greater use of automation in factories and
offices.  Industrial engineers' function - to improve a product's
quality and efficiency - should result in continued demand for their
services.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Mechanical engineers
Employment, 1996: 228,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 16
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 36,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected, and job
opportunities should be sufficient to absorb new entrants to the field.
In manufacturing, the number of engineers should increase as the demand
for improved machinery and tools grows an industrial processes become
more complex.  Business and engineering services firms are expected to
have the most openings as other industries increasingly consult with
these firms for engineering expertise.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Metallurgical, ceramic, and materials engineers
Employment, 1996: 18,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,200
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase more slowly
than average.  Many industries in which these engineers are concentrated
are expected to experience little or no employment growth.  However,
research, testing, and engineering and architectural consulting services
should provide enough job openings to absorb the relatively low number
of new graduates.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Mining engineers
Employment, 1996: 3,100
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -13
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -400
Employment prospects: Employment, which is closely linked to the price
of metals and minerals, is expected to decline.  New graduates, despite
their small number, are expected to encounter competition for the
traditionally few job opportunities.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Nuclear engineers
Employment, 1996: 14,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 700
Employment prospects: Slow employment growth is expected because of
limited construction of nuclear power plants and the possibility that
others may shut down.  Nevertheless, nuclear engineers will be needed to
operate existing plants, comply with environmental standards, and
develop nuclear medical technology.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineers and engineering technicians
Occupation: Petroleum engineers
Employment, 1996: 13,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -1,900
Employment prospects: Employment will decline unless the price of oil
and gas prices enough to fund further investment in oil and gas
exploration and production in this country.  Even without job growth,
opportunities for petroleum engineers should be favorable because of the
low number of degrees awarded in petroleum engineering.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Engineering technicians
Occupation:
Employment, 1996: 698,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 10
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 70,000
Employment prospects: Average growth is expected overall, though the
employment outlook varies with area of specialization and industry.  The
growing availability and use of advanced technologies, such as
computer-aided design and drafting and computer simulation, will
continue to increase productivity and affect employment growth.  As
technology becomes more sophisticated, employers continue to look for
technicians skilled in new technology.  Opportunities should be best for
individuals who have completed a 2-year program in engineering
technology.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Architects, surveyors, and drafters
Occupation: Architects
Employment, 1996: 94,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 20
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 18,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected as
construction of new buildings and the renovation of old buildings spur
demand for architects.  Competition for jobs is often keen, especially
during recessions.  Prospective architects who complete a summer
internship while in school and know computer-aided design and drafting
technology should have the best opportunities.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Architects, surveyors, and drafters
Occupation: Drafters
Employment, 1996: 310,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 2
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 7,000
Employment prospects: Little employment change is expected, despite an
increase in the demand for drafting services due to industrial growth
and complex design problems associated with new products and
manufacturing.  Greater use of computer-aided design and drafting
equipment should offset growth in demand.  Job opportunities should be
best for individuals who have at least 2 years of training in a
technically strong drafting program and experience using computer-aided
drafting systems.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Architects, surveyors, and drafters
Occupation: Landscape architects
Employment, 1996: 17,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 3,500
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than
average.  Planning and design of new developments and increased
conversion of open space into recreation areas, wildlife refuges, and
parks will require the skills of landscape architects.  New graduates
may face competition for jobs in the largest and most prestigious firms.
Internship experience can enhance employment prospects.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Architects, surveyors, and drafters
Occupation: Surveyors and mapping scientists
Employment, 1996: 101,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -1,400
Employment prospects: A slight decline in employment is projected as
widespread availability and use of advanced technologies are increasing
both the accuracy and productivity of the work.  Despite declining
employment, job opportunities will continue to result from the need to
replace workers who leave the occupation.  Opportunities should be best
for surveyors and mapping scientists who have at least a bachelor's
degree and strong technical skills.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Computer, mathematical, and operations research occupations
Occupation: Actuaries
Employment, 1996: 16,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 2
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 300
Employment prospects: Employment of actuaries is projected to grow more
slowly than average due to expected slower growth in the insurance
industry.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Computer, mathematical, and operations research occupations
Occupation: Computer programmers
Employment, 1996: 568,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 23
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 129,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than
average.  Drive by vary rapid growth n the computer and data processing
services industry, job opportunities should remain plentiful in data
processing services firms, software houses, and computer consulting
businesses.  Prospects should be best for college graduates with
experience in a variety of programming languages who are knowledgeable
about the latest skills and technologies.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Computer, mathematical, and operations research occupations
Occupation: Computer scientists, computer engineers, and systems analysts
Employment, 1996: 933,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 108*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,004,000*
Employment prospects: Much faster than average growth is expected as
organizations continue to adopt and integrate sophisticated technology.
Increasing demand for computer and data processing services, the need
for computer support, and new applications should drive employment
growth.  Due to the very rapid growth expected, job opportunities should
be excellent.  Opportunities should be particularly favorable for
individuals with a degree in computer science, computer engineering,
information science, or information systems.  Prospects should also be
very favorable for college graduates with noncomputer science majors who
have had courses in computer science, computer programming, and systems
analysis.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Computer, mathematical, and operations research occupations
Occupation: Mathematicians
Employment, 1996: 16,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 9
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,400
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase more slowly
than average.  The number of jobs available for workers whose educated
background is solely mathematics is not expected to increase
significantly.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Computer, mathematical, and operations research occupations
Occupation: Operations research analysts
Employment, 1996: 50,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 3,900
Employment prospects: Although slow employment growth is expected, job
prospects should be better for individuals who hold master's or Ph.D.
degrees in management science or operations research.  People with these
credentials who seek employment as operations research or management
science analysts should find good opportunities.  The number of openings
is expected to exceed the number of persons with graduate degrees.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Computer, mathematical, and operations research occupations
Occupation: Statisticians
Employment, 1996: 14,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 100
Employment prospects: Little or no employment growth is expected through
the year 2006; however, job opportunities should remain favorable for
people with statistical training, especially those with advanced
degrees.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Scientists and science technicians
Occupation:
Employment, 1996:
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006:
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006:
Employment prospects:

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Life scientists
Occupation: Agricultural scientists
Employment, 1996: 24,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 20
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 4,800
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average.
The need to develop new an improved agricultural products and practices
to feed a growing population will drive demand.  Competition may be keen
for some research jobs.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Life scientists
Occupation: Biological and medical scientists
Employment, 1996: 118,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 25
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 29,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth reflects
further research into health-related issues such as AIDS, cancer, and
Alzheimer's disease; the growing use of biotechnology techniques in
pharmaceutical firms; and continuing advances in genetic research.
Biological and medical scientists can expect strong competition for
basic research positions.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Life scientists
Occupation: Foresters and conservation scientists
Employment, 1996: 37,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 17
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 6,400
Employment prospects: Overall, average employment growth is expected.  A
continuing emphasis on responsible management of forested lands will
spur demand for foresters.  However, budgetary constraints in the
Federal Government and reductions in timber harvesting on public lands
will dampen overall job growth.  Government regulations regarding water
quality and the management of stormwater and coastlines will spur the
need for soil conservationists and water quality experts at the State
and local government levels.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Physical scientists
Occupation: Chemists
Employment, 1996: 91,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 17,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average.
Slow or declining employment growth in most segments of the chemical
industry will be offset by demand for chemists in pharmaceutical and
biotechnology firms and in research, development, and testing firms.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Physical scientists
Occupation: Geologists and geophysicists
Employment, 1996: 47,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 6,900
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected, due in part
to a generally improved outlook in the oil and gas industry.  Job
opportunities should be limited in the U.S. Geological Survey and other
agencies as the Federal Government attempts to balance its budget.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Physical scientists
Occupation: Meteorologists
Employment, 1996: 7,300
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 600
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average.  Some job growth is expected in private weather consulting
firms and environmental consulting firms.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Physical scientists
Occupation: Physicists and astronomers
Employment, 1996: 18,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -2
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -300
Employment prospects: A slight decline in employment will result from
further reductions in defense-related research, a continued slowdown in
the growth of civilian physics-related research, and proposed cutbacks
and overall budget tightening in the Federal Government.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Science technicians
Occupation:
Employment, 1996: 228,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 13
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 29,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase as fast as
average.  Growth in scientific and medical research and the development
and production of technical products should stimulate demand for
technicians in all areas.  Job opportunities are expected to be best for
qualified graduates of science technician training programs or applied
science technology programs who are knowledgeable of equipment used in
industrial and government laboratories and production facilities.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Legal occupations
Occupation: Lawyers and judges
Employment, 1996: 699,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 17
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 120,000
Employment prospects: Employment of lawyers is expected to grow about as
fast as average, reflecting growth in the population and in business
activities; increased legal action in health care, intellectual
property, international law, elder law, sexual harassment, and the
environment; and the wider availability and affordability of legal
clinics and prepaid legal service.  Employment of judges is expected to
grow more slowly than average due to tight government budgets.
Competition should remain keen for job openings for both lawyers and
judges.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Legal occupations
Occupation: Paralegals
Employment, 1996: 113,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 68
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 76,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average growth is expected as law
firms and other employers increasingly hire paralegals to lower the cost
and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services.
Competition for jobs should continue the growing number of graduates
from paralegal education program keeps pace with employment growth.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Social scientists
Occupation: Economists and marketing research analysts
Employment, 1996: 51,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 19
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 9,400
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as
average.  Most job openings are likely to result from the need to
replace experienced workers who transfer to other occupations, retire,
or leave the labor force for other reasons.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Social scientists
Occupation: Psychologists
Employment, 1996: 143,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 11,000
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to grow more slowly
than average.  Job opportunities should increase only slightly in health
care while increasing more rapidly in other services.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Social scientists
Occupation: Urban and regional planners
Employment, 1996: 29,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,400
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average.  Factors contributing to limited job growth include the need
for governments to do more with less.  Most planners work in local
government, where limited resources require careful balancing of
competing demands for services.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Social and recreation workers
Occupation: Recreation workers
Employment, 1996: 233,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 22
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 52,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase faster than
average as growing numbers of people have both the time and the money to
enjoy leisure services.  Job growth will also stem from increased
interest in fitness and health and the rising demand for recreational
opportunities for residents of senior centers and retirement
communities.  Competition is expected for full-time career positions,
but prospects are better for the large number of seasonal jobs.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup:  Social and recreation workers
Occupation: Social and human services assistants
Employment, 1996: 178,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 55*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 98,000
Employment prospects: Jobs are expected to increase much faster than
average due to the expansion of facilities and programs for the elderly
and disabled and for families in crisis.  Faced with rapid growth in the
demand for services but slower growth in resources to provide these
services, employers are expected to rely increasingly on social and
human services assistants rather than on workers who command higher pay,
such as social workers.  Opportunities for qualified people should be
excellent due to high job turnover, relatively low pay, and the
demanding nature of the work.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Social and recreation workers
Occupation: Social workers
Employment, 1996: 585,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 32
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 188,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average job growth is expected in
response to the increased needs of the elderly, mentally ill, people
with chronic health problems, and families in crisis.  Competition for
jobs is stronger in cities where training programs for social workers
are prevalent; qualified staff is more difficult to attract and retain
in rural areas.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Clergy
Occupation: Protestant ministers
Employment, 1996: 300,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006:
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006:
Employment prospects: Competition is expected to continue to the slow
growth of church membership and the large number of men and women
attracted to the ministry.  Graduates of theological schools should have
the best opportunities.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Clergy
Occupation: Rabbis
Employment, 1996: 4,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006:
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006:
Employment prospects: Job opportunities are expected to be generally
favorable in the four major branches of Judaism.  The present unmet need
for rabbis and the fact that many rabbis are approaching retirement age
should insure good job prospects for future graduates of rabbinical
seminaries.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Clergy
Occupation: Roman Catholic priests
Employment, 1996: 49,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006:
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006:
Employment prospects: Opportunities are expected to continue to be very
favorable due to a shortage of priests.  The number of men becoming
priests in recent years has not been sufficient to meet Church needs.
This situation is likely to continue even if the recent modest increase
in seminary enrollments continues, as an increasing proportion of
priests is approaching retirement age.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Teachers, counselors, and library occupations
Occupation: Adult education teachers
Employment, 1996: 559,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 22
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 123,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average growth is expected as the
demand for adult programs continues to rise.  Opportunities should be
best for part-time positions, especially in fields that offer
attractive, and often higher paying, job opportunities outside of
teaching.  These include computer technology, automotive mechanics, and
medical technology.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Teachers, counselors, and library occupations
Occupation: Archivists and curators
Employment, 1996: 20,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 2,900
Employment prospects: Average growth is expected as organizations
establish archives and as public interest increases in science, art,
history, and technology.  However, museums and other cultural
institutions are often subject to funding cuts during recessions or
periods of budget tightening, reducing demand for archivists and
curators during these times.  Competition for jobs is expected to be
keen as qualified applicants out-number job openings.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Teachers, counselors, and library occupations
Occupation: College and university faculty
Employment, 1996: 864,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 19
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 162,000
Employment prospects: Average job growth, coupled with increasing
enrollments in higher education, will produce many job openings.  In an
effort to cut costs, however, some institutions are expected to leave
these positions vacant or hire part-time faculty.  Applicants will face
keen competition as growing numbers of Ph.D. graduates vie for fewer
full-time openings.  Job prospects will be better in fields that offer
attractive nonacademic job opportunities, such as computer science,
engineering, and business.  As more Ph.D.'s compete for openings,
master's degree holders may find even more intense competition for jobs.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Teachers, counselors, and library occupations
Occupation: Counselors
Employment, 1996: 175,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 19
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 33,000
Employment prospects: Overall, average employment growth is expected.
Rapid job growth is expected among rehabilitation and mental health
counselors.  However, budgetary constraints may limit growth among
school counselors.  When funding is tight, schools usually prefer to
hire new teachers before adding counselors in an effort to keep
classroom sizes at acceptable levels.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Teachers, counselors, and library occupations
Occupation: Librarians
Employment, 1996: 155,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 7,300
Employment prospects: Slow employment growth, along with an increasing
number of graduates with a master's degree in library science, will
result in more applicants competing for fewer jobs.  Slower than average
employment growth reflects budgetary constraints in educational
institutions and increased computerization of library services.
Opportunities will be best for librarians in nontraditional settings
such as information brokers, private corporations, and consulting firms.
Applicants for librarian jobs in large cities or suburban areas will
face competition, while those willing to work in rural areas should have
better job prospects.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Teachers, counselors, and library occupations
Occupation: Library technicians
Employment, 1996: 78,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 28
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 22,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected.
The increasing use of library automation - including computerized
information systems - has enabled library technicians to handle many
tasks formerly performed by librarians.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Teachers, counselors, and library occupations
Occupation: School teachers - Kindergarten, elementary, and secondary
Employment, 1996: 3,053,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 16
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 483,000
Employment prospects: Overall, average employment growth is expected.
Employment of secondary school teachers is expected to grow faster than
average and average employment growth is projected for kindergarten and
elementary school teachers, reflecting population trends and
corresponding student enrollments.  Job outlook varies widely by
geographic area and subject specialty.  Job prospects should be better
in cities and rural areas than in suburban districts, and many school
districts have difficulty hiring qualified teachers in mathematics,
science (especially chemistry and physics), bilingual education, and
computer science.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Teachers, counselors, and library occupations
Occupation: Special education teachers
Employment, 1996: 407,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 59*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 241,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average growth will be spurred by
the increasing number of special education students, legislation
emphasizing training and employment for persons with disabilities,
growing public concern for individuals with special needs, and
educational reform.  Job turnover and rapid employment growth, coupled
with a declining number of graduates from special education teaching
programs, should result in excellent job prospects.  Many school
districts report shortages of qualified teachers.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health diagnosing occupations
Occupation: Chiropractors
Employment, 1996: 44,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 27
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 12,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than average
as consumer demand for alternative medicine grows.  Chiropractic
treatment of back, neck, extremities, and other joint damage has become
more accepted due to new research and changing public attitudes.  Job
prospects should be good, especially for those who establish a practice
in areas with a low concentration of chiropractors.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health diagnosing occupations
Occupation: Dentists
Employment, 1996: 162,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 13,000
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected.
Although the growing middle-aged and elderly population requires more
dental care, young people are troubled less by tooth decay.  If the
number of dentists being trained increases significantly above present
levels, jobseekers may face competition.  Most jobs will result from the
need to replace the large number of dentists projected to retire.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health diagnosing occupations
Occupation: Optometrists
Employment, 1996: 41,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 4,800
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average
in response to the vision care needs of a growing and aging population.
Employment of optometrists will also grow due to greater recognition of
the importance of vision care, rising personal incomes, and growth in
employee vision care plans.  Replacement needs are low because
optometrists generally remain in the profession until they retire.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health diagnosing occupations
Occupation: Physicians
Employment, 1996: 560,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 118,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected
as the health care industries continue to expand due to a growing and
aging population, as well as the development of new technologies
permitting more intensive care.  Job prospects will be best for
generalist physicians, while some specialists may face competition.  Any
overall physician oversupply will be alleviated if the number of new
physicians entering the workforce is reduced.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health diagnosing occupations
Occupation: Podiatrists
Employment, 1996: 11,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 10
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,200
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as
average due to rising demand for podiatric services, especially from
older people.  A limited number of job openings for podiatrists is
expected because the occupation is small and most podiatrists remain in
the occupation until they retire.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health diagnosing occupations
Occupation: Veterinarians
Employment, 1996: 58,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 23
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 13,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is
projected.  Despite expected slowdowns in the growth of the pet
population, veterinarians will continue to provide more and better care
to animals using new technologies and medical advancements.  Large
numbers of new veterinary school graduates continue to be attracted to
small animal medicine, contributing to competition in this area.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Dieticians and nutritionists
Employment, 1996: 58,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 11,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as
average because of increasing emphasis on the prevention of disease
through improved health habits.  Employment of dieticians in hospitals
is expected to decline because of anticipated slow growth in the number
of inpatients, and as hospitals contract out food service operations.
On the other hand, faster than average employment growth is expected in
nursing homes as the number of elderly people rises sharply, as well as
in contract providers of food services, residential care facilities,
offices and clinics of physicians, and other social services.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Occupational therapists
Employment, 1996: 57,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 66*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 38,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average employment growth will be
driven by increasing demand for rehabilitation and long-term care
services from nearly all age groups.  Favorable job opportunities are
expected to continue.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Pharmacists
Employment, 1996: 172,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 13
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 22,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as
average due to the increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger and older
population and greater use of medication.  Cost conscious insurers and
health systems will continue to emphasize the role of pharmacists and
drug therapies in primary and preventive health services.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Physical therapists
Employment, 1996: 115,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 71*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 81,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow much faster than
average.  Employment growth will be driven by the rising number of
elderly people who are vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions
requiring therapeutic services.  Demand for physical therapy services
will also rise as the baby-boom generation enters the prime age for
heart attacks and strokes, increasing the need for cardiac and physical
rehabilitation.  Improvements in medical technology will also permit a
higher survival rate of trauma victims and newborns with health
problems, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Physician assistants
Employment, 1996: 64,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 47*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 30,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average employment growth is
expected due to anticipated expansion of the health services industry
and an emphasis on cost containment.  Job opportunities are expected to
be excellent, particularly in areas or settings that have difficulty
attracting physicians, such as rural and inner city clinics.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Recreational therapists
Employment, 1996: 38,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 8,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than average
because of anticipated expansion in long-term care, physical and
psychiatric rehabilitation, and services for people with disabilities.
The growing number of older adults also is expected to spur job growth.
Jobs will continue to be concentrated in hospitals and nursing homes.
Prospects are expected to be best for those with clinical experience.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Registered nurses
Employment, 1996: 1,971,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 411,000*
Employment prospects: Faster than average growth of this large
occupation is expected to result in many new jobs.  Many job openings
will also result from the need to replace registered nurses who transfer
to other occupations or retire.  As nursing school enrollments level off
or decline, the number of qualified applicants will fall and the
reported competition for jobs will be reduced.  There will always be a
need for traditional hospital nurses, but a large number of new nurses
will be employed in home health, long term, and ambulatory care.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Respiratory therapists
Employment, 1996: 82,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 46*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 37,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow much faster than
average because of substantial growth of the middle-aged and elderly
population, a development expected to result in an increase in
cardiopulmonary disease.  Job opportunities are expected to be good,
especially for respiratory therapists with cardiopulmonary care skills
and experience working with infants.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health assessment and treating occupations
Occupation: Speech-language pathologists and audiologists
Employment, 1996: 87,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 51*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 44,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average growth is expected.
Employment in health and rehabilitation services will increase with
advances in  medical technology and growth in the elderly population.
Employment in schools will increase with growth in elementary and
secondary school enrollments, including enrollment of special education
students.  The number of speech-language pathologists and audiologists
in private practice, though small, is like to rise sharply due to the
increasing use of contract services by managed care, hospitals, schools,
and nursing homes.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
Employment, 1996: 32,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 2,400
Employment prospects: Overall employment will grow more slowly than
average, but technologists and technicians will experience different
patterns of employment change.  Employment of cardiology technologists
is expected to grow faster than average.  Growth will occur as the
population ages because older people have a higher incidence of heart
problems.  In contrast, employment of EKG technicians is expected to
decline as hospitals train registered nurses and others to perform basic
EKG procedures.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
Employment, 1996: 285,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 42,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as
average as the volume of laboratory tests increases with population
growth and the development of new tests.  Due to consolidation and
restructuring, hospitals and independent laboratories have boosted
productivity without hiring additional personnel.  As a result,
competition for jobs has increased and jobseekers may now have to look
longer and harder than in the past to find employment.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Dental hygienists
Employment, 1996: 133,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 48*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 64,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average employment growth is
expected in response to increasing demand for dental care and greater
substitution of hygienists for services previously performed by
dentists.  Job opportunities should continue to be good if the number of
graduates of dental hygiene programs does not greatly increase.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Dispensing opticians
Employment, 1996: 67,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 9,400
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average
in response to rising demand for corrective lenses.  This occupation is
vulnerable to changes in the business cycle because eyeglass purchases
can often be deferred.  The need to replace dispensing opticians who
leave the occupation will result in additional job openings, but there
will be relatively few job openings overall because the occupation is
small.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Electroneurodiagnostic technologists
Employment, 1996: 6,500
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 24
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,500
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected
for electroneurodiagnostic technologists, reflecting the increased
numbers of neurodiagnostic tests performed.  However, the occupation is
small, and few openings are expected each year.  Most jobs will be found
in hospitals but growth will be fastest in offices and clinics of
neurologists.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Emergency medical technicians
Employment, 1996: 150,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 45*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 67,000
Employment prospects: Employment of EMT's is expected to grow much
faster than average.  Much of this growth will occur as positions change
from volunteer to paid and as the elderly population, which makes
greatest use of emergency medical services, continues to grow.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Health information technicians
Employment, 1996: 87,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 51*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 44,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average employment growth is
expected due to rapid increases in the number of medical tests,
treatments, and procedures available.  Most technicians will be employed
in hospitals, but job growth will be faster in offices and clinics of
physicians, nursing homes, and home health agencies.  Job prospects for
formally trained technicians should be very good.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Licensed practical nurses
Employment, 1996: 699,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 148,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than average
in response to the general growth of health care, especially the long
term needs of a rapidly growing elderly population.  Nursing homes will
provide most new jobs.  Jobseekers in hospitals may face competition as
the number of hospital jobs for LPN's declines and the number of
inpatients, with whom most LPN's work, stabilizers.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Nuclear medicine technologists
Employment, 1996: 13,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 13
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,700
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average
due to increases in the number of middle-aged and older persons, the
primary users of diagnostic procedures such s nuclear medicine tests.
However, relatively few job openings will occur because the occupation
is small.  Technologists trained in both radiologic technology and
nuclear medicine will have the best prospects.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Radiologic technologists
Employment, 1996: 174,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 29
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 50,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected,
but jobseekers may face competition as hospitals merge radiologic and
nuclear medicine departments to cut costs.  The streamlining of these
departments has led to slower job growth in hospitals at the same time
the number of qualified applicants entering the field has increased,
creating an imbalance that may persist.  Technologists cross-trained in
nuclear medicine technology will have the best prospects.  Sonographers
should experience somewhat better job opportunities as ultrasound
becomes an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Health technologists and technicians
Occupation: Surgical technologists
Employment, 1996: 49,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 32
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 15,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average growth is expected due to an
aging, growing population and technological advances that will increase
the number of surgical procedures performed.  Hospitals will continue to
be the primary employer of surgical technologists, although much faster
employment growth is expected in physician offices and clinics,
including ambulatory surgical centers.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Communications occupations
Occupation: Broadcast technicians
Employment, 1996: 46,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 6,900
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to grow about as
fast as average, but keen competition is expected for jobs, particularly
in large cities.  In radio and television broadcasting, slow employment
growth in expected because of laborsaving technical advances.
Employment in the cable industry will grow about as fast as average, as
cable operators offer additional channels.  Employment in the motion
picture industry will grow faster than average.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Communications occupations
Occupation: Public relations specialists
Employment, 1996: 110,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 27
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 30,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase faster than the
average, but competition for jobs is likely to continue.  Demand for
public relations specialists should be spurred by recognition of the
need for good public relations and a good public image in an
increasingly competitive business environment.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Communications occupations
Occupation: Radio and television announces and newscasters
Employment, 1996: 52,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -300
Employment prospects: A slight decline in employment is expected.
Competition for jobs as announcers will be very keen because the
broadcasting field typically attracts many more jobseekers than there
are jobs.  Cable systems may still find some growth as young people -
who are more accustomed to paying for TV than are their parents - begin
to head their own households.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Communications occupations
Occupation: Reporters and correspondents
Employment, 1996: 60,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -1,900
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline.  Small town and
suburban newspapers will offer the best opportunities for beginners.
Some growth is expected in radio and television stations, and fast
growth is expected in new online media.  Competition for jobs will be
keen.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Communications occupations
Occupation: Writers and editors
Employment, 1996: 286,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 61,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is
projected, but competition is expected for jobs.  Opportunities will be
good for technical writers.  Online publications and services, which are
relatively new, will continue to grow and require increased numbers of
writers and editors.  Opportunities should also be good on small daily
and weekly newspapers and in small radio and television stations.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Visual arts occupations
Occupation: Designers
Employment, 1996: 342,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 26
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 89,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than
average.  Because of an abundance of talented, well-educated
individuals, designers in most fields can expect to face stiff
competition throughout their careers.  Jobs in floral design should be
relatively easy to find due to the occupation's relatively low pay and
limited advancement opportunities.  Opportunities also should be good
for qualified people in some specialized fields, such as furniture
design.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Visual arts occupations
Occupation: Photographers and camera operators
Employment, 1996: 154,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 17
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 26,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average.
The demand for images, pictures, or films - for use in newspapers,
training videos, commercial films, magazines, advertising, or sales
campaigns, for example - is expected to increase.  However, competition
is expected to be keen for what is considered an exciting career.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Visual arts occupations
Occupation: Visual arts
Employment, 1996: 276,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 28
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 78,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected
for all types of artists.  However, keen competition is expected because
this field's glamorous and exciting image attracts many talented people.
Those who have a variety of abilities, including computer skills, will
have the best job prospects.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Performing arts occupations
Occupation: Actors, directors, and producers
Employment, 1996: 105,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 24
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 25,000
Employment prospects: Despite faster than average job growth, keen
competition is expected because large numbers of people are attracted to
these careers.  Only the most talented will find regular employment.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Performing arts occupations
Occupation: Dancers and choreographers
Employment, 1996: 23,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 28
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 6,500
Employment prospects: Jobs are expected to increase faster than average
due to the public's continued interest in dance.  However, very keen
competition is expected for job openings, and only the most talented
will find regular employment.

Cluster: Professional and Technical Occupations
Subgroup: Performing arts occupations
Occupation: Musicians
Employment, 1996: 274,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 33
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 92,000
Employment prospects: Jobs are expected to increase faster than average
due to the continued demand for live and recorded music.  Competition
for jobs will be keen, however, and even many talented individuals will
be unable to support themselves solely as musicians.  Those who can play
various instruments and types of music have the best prospects.

Cluster:  Marketing and Sales Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Cashiers
Employment, 1996: 3,146,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 17
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 530,000*
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase about as fast
as average due to a growing populations increasing demand for goods and
services.  Because the occupation is large and turnover is high,
replacement needs will continue to create a large number of both full-
and part-time employment opportunities.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Counter and rental clerks
Employment, 1996: 374,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 23
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 84,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected,
largely due to anticipated employment growth in industries where counter
and rental clerks are concentrated - business services, automotive
rentals, and amusement and recreation services.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Insurance agents and brokers
Employment, 1996: 409,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 18,000
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected
as agents increasingly use computers to handle sales and access
information on potential clients, enabling plans to be individually
tailored.  Opportunities should be best for ambitious people who enjoy
competitive sales work and have expertise in a wide range of insurance
and financial services.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Manufacturers' and wholesale sales representatives
Employment, 1996: 1,557,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 211,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase about as fast
as average due to continued growth in the amount of goods to be sold.
Technology is not expected to dramatically affect employment because
sales workers will still need to visit prospective customers to
demonstrate or describe goods or services.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Real estate agents, brokers, and appraisers
Employment, 1996: 408,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 32,000
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected.
Increasing use of electronic information technology - such as laptop
computers, faxes, modems, and databases - may increase the productivity
of agents, brokers, and appraisers.  Use of this technology is expected
to eliminate some of the more marginal workers, such as those practicing
real estate part time or between jobs.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Retail sales worker managers and supervisors
Employment, 1996: 929,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 71,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average as retail companies place more emphasis on sales staff and
increase the responsibilities of retail sales worker supervisors and
managers.  Some companies bypass the department level manager by
requiring their sales staffs to report directly to upper management
personnel.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Retail sales workers
Employment, 1996: 4,522,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 11
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 499,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase about as fast
as the average due to anticipated growth in retail sales.  Good
employment opportunities are expected for full- or part-time work
because of the large number who leave the occupation each year.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Securities and financial services sales representatives
Employment, 1996: 263,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 38*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 100,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow much faster than
average as investment increases and financial institutions offer more
complex services.  Due to the highly competitive nature of securities
sales work, many new entrants are unable to develop sufficient clientele
and leave after a short time.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Services sales representatives
Employment, 1996: 694,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 57*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 393,000
Employment prospects: Although job prospects vary depending on the
industry, overall employment is expected to grow much faster than
average.  Sales representatives for the computer and health services
industries will account for a large share of the growth.  However,
technological advances may temper growth as automation increases sales
workers' efficiency and productivity.  Those who have at least a
bachelor's degree or a proven sales record will have the best prospects.

Cluster: Marketing and sales occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Travel agents
Employment, 1996: 142,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 24
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 34,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than average
due to increased travel for business and pleasure.  All employers
require computer skills to operate reservation systems.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Adjusters, investigators, and collectors
Employment, 1996: 1,340,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 25
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 335,000*
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to increase faster
than average because of growth in the population, economy, and volume of
insurance sales.  Employment of bill and account collectors and
insurance adjusters and examiners will grow more rapidly than that of
policy processing clerks, which will decline as their duties are
increasingly computerized and assumed by other workers.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Bank tellers
Employment, 1996: 545,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 4,600
Employment prospects: Little or no change in employment is expected due
to the spread of technology and consolidation in the banking industry.
Jobseekers interested in part-time positions will have the best
opportunities as banks continue to reduce the number of full-time
tellers they employ.  Because of the large size of this occupation, many
opportunities will result from job turnover.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Clerical supervisors and managers
Employment, 1996: 1,369,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 19
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 262,000*
Employment prospects: Projected average employment growth reflects the
increasing amount of clerical work.  While office automation will cause
employment growth in some clerical occupations to slow or even decline,
supervisors will be more likely to retain their jobs because of their
relatively higher skills and longer tenure.  As with other supervisory
jobs, applicants can expect competition.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Computer operators
Employment, 1996: 291,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -32
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -94,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline sharply as
computer operations become more automated.  Experienced operators are
expected to compete for the small number of openings arising each year
to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor
force.  Opportunities should be best for operators who are familiar with
a variety of operating systems and who have kept up with changes in
technology.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Court reporters, medical transcriptionists, and stenographers
Employment, 1996: 98,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 4,000
Employment prospects: Overall employment is projected to grow more
slowly than average, as growth in medical transcriptionist jobs is
offset by the decline in stenographer jobs.  Demand for medical
transcriptionists is expected to increase rapidly, along with the need
for health care and the industries providing it.  The rising number of
criminal court cases and civil lawsuits will increase demand for court
reporters, but budget constraints should limit expansion of Federal,
State, and local courts.  The widespread use of dictation machines has
reduced the need for office stenographers.  Certified medical
transcriptionists and court reporters should have the best prospects.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: General office clerks
Employment, 1996: 3,111,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 215,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average.  Nonetheless, good job opportunities should continue to exist
because of the large size and high turnover associated with this
occupation.  Opportunities should be best for jobseekers with computer
word processing and other secretarial skills and knowledge of basic
office machinery.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Information clerks
Employment, 1996: 1,591,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 23
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 366,000*
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to increase faster
than average due to economic growth and business expansion.  Turnover is
high among these jobs.  This work is well suited to flexible work
schedules, and many opportunities for part-time employment will continue
to be available.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Hotel and motel desk clerks
Employment, 1996: 144,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 30,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average growth is expected as more
hotels, motels, and other lodging establishments are built and as
occupancy rates rise.  Employment should be favorably affected by an
increase in business and leisure travel.  Turnover is high, and job
opportunities should be plentiful.  Many opportunities for part-time
work should also continue to exist.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Interviewing and new accounts clerks
Employment, 1996: 208,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 11
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 22,000
Employment prospects: Average growth is expected, but growth rates will
vary by industry.  Employment growth of interviewing clerks is expected
to be average in health services as hospitals and health care facilities
consolidate their staffs.  Much faster than average employment growth is
expected in personnel supply services as more organizations contract out
for their services.  But little change in employment is expected for new
account clerks as banking technology and consolidation continue to
affect growth.  Opportunities should be best for applicants with a broad
range of skills.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Receptionists
Employment, 1996: 1,074,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 30
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 318,000*
Employment prospects: Faster than average growth is expected because
many receptionists work in services industries expecting significant
growth.  Job openings should be plentiful due to this occupation's large
size and high rate of turnover.  Because many receptionists also perform
secretarial duties, opportunities should be best for persons with a wide
range of clerical skills and experience.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
Employment, 1996: 166,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -4,500
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline slightly as
technology continues to automate the work of these occupations.
Automated reservations and ticketing, as well as ticketless travel, is
reducing the need for some of these positions.  Applicants are likely to
face competition because entry requirements for these jobs are minimal
and the number of qualified applicants exceeds the expected number of
openings.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Loan clerks and credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks
Employment, 1996: 252,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 3,400
Employment prospects: Little change in employment is expected.
Employment in the banking industry - where most clerks work - is
projected to decline slightly.  However, demand for credit will grow,
and the interpersonal nature of the work should keep computers from
significantly affecting employment levels.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Mail clerks and messengers
Employment, 1996: 268,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 9
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 23,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average.  Despite an anticipated increase in volume, expanding us of
automated systems will moderate the demand for these workers.  However,
favorable employment opportunities are expected due to the need to
replace the large number of workers who leave the occupation each year.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing
occupations
Employment, 1996: 3,633,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 6
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 224,000
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to grow more slowly
than average, and job prospects will vary among the individual
occupations.  Automation, which allows employees to be more productive,
is the primary cause of limited job growth for most jobs in this group.
Budgetary constraints and resource consolidation will affect job
prospects for public-safety dispatchers.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Dispatchers
Employment, 1996: 234,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 10
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 24,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as
average.  Tight government budgets and a reallocation of resources will
offset much of the increased demand for emergency services.  Employment
prospects should be better for dispatchers in fields other than
emergency services.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Stock clerks
Employment, 1996: 1,844,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 54,000
Employment prospects: Little job growth is expected in this very large
occupation.  Job prospects, however, should be favorable because of this
occupation's high turnover.  The growing use of automation will continue
to affect the work of stock clerks.  But most of the impact will be felt
in the manufacturing divisions.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks
Employment, 1996: 759,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 11
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 83,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected for this
occupation.  Automation has had a tremendous impact on job tasks and
productivity.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Postal clerks and mail carriers
Employment, 1996: 629,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 41,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average due to improvements in and increasing use of automated systems
for mail handling and sorting.  Jobseekers can expect keen competition
because of the high salaries, good pension plan, and job security these
workers enjoy.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Record clerks
Employment, 1996: 3,870,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 0
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 16,000
Employment prospects: Little or no change in employment is expected.
The declines in employment growth for bookkeeping, accounting, and
auditing clerks and payroll and timekeeping clerks are offsetting growth
for other record clerks.  Because of high turnover in this large
occupational group, job opportunities should be plentiful.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Billing clerks and billing machine operators
Employment, 1996: 437,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 54,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average
due to increasing demand for billing services, while employment of
billing machine operators is expected to decline with computerization.
Job openings are expected to be numerous because of high turnover.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
Employment, 1996: 2,250,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -102,000
Employment prospects: Declining employment is expected as new computer
software streamlines the accounting process, requiring fewer workers.
However, employment opportunities should be plentiful due to the
occupation's large size.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Brokerage clerks and statement clerks
Employment, 1996: 102,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 14,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average
for all occupations as securities transactions increase.  The number of
statement clerks is expected to decline slightly due to automation.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: File clerks
Employment, 1996: 293,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 22,000
Employment prospects: Employment of file clerks is expected to grow more
slowly than average, reflecting increased use of automated
recordkeeping.  However, high turnover should produce ample job
openings.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Library assistants and bookmobile drivers
Employment, 1996: 125,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 19,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected.  Cost
containment efforts may result in hiring of more library support staff
than librarians.  Opportunities should be good since turnover among
these workers is high.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Order clerks
Employment, 1996: 329,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 8,500
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected
due to automation.  Substantial replacement needs should result in
plentiful job openings, however, especially for outside order clerks who
deal directly with the public.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Payroll and timekeeping clerks
Employment, 1996: 161,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -6
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -9,600
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline as computer
software continues to make this work more efficient, allowing these
tasks to be performed by other workers.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Personnel clerks
Employment, 1996: 124,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,800
Employment prospects: Little or no change in employment is expected for
personnel clerks due to the increased use of computers.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Secretaries
Employment, 1996: 3,403,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 25,000
Employment prospects: Increasing office automation will ensure little or
no change in overall employment of this very large occupation.  Growth
in the health and legal services industries, however, will spur
employment growth among medical and legal secretaries.  Job openings
should be plentiful, especially for those who are well qualified and
experienced.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Teacher aides
Employment, 1996: 981,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 38*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 370,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow much faster than
average.  Student enrollment is expected to decline, but outlook will
vary among the different groups.  Employment of operators in telephone
companies is expected to decline sharply as automation continues to
increase productivity and deregulation increases competition for phone
services from other industries.  The number of switchboard or PBX
operators is expected to grow, although more slowly than the average, as
many firms employ switchboard operators in response to customer
preferences.  However, as older, human-operated switchboards are
replaced by ones that route calls automatically, some operator jobs will
be eliminated.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Telephone operators
Employment, 1996: 319,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -9
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -30,000
Employment prospects: Job opportunities will be limited as overall employment
is expected to decline, but outlook will vary among the different groups. 
Employment of operators is telephone companies is expected to decline
sharply as automation continues to increase productivity and deregulation
increases competition for phone services from other industries. The number
of switchboard or PBX operators is expected to grow, although more slowly than
the average, as many firms employ switchboard operators in response to customer
preferences. However, as older, human-operated switchboards are replaced by ones
that route calls automatically, some operator jobs will be eliminated.

Cluster: Administrative Support Occupations Including Clerical
Subgroup:
Occupation: Typists, word processors, and data entry keyers
Employment, 1996: 1,088,151
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -74,000
Employment prospects: Employment is projected to decline due to the
proliferation of personal computers and other technologies.  Job
prospects will be brightest for those with expertise in computer
equipment and software packages.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Food and beverage service occupations
Occupation: Chefs, cooks, and other kitchen workers
Employment, 1996: 3,402,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 17
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 583,000*
Employment prospects: Employment will increase about as fast as average
as more people dine out.  High turnover - characteristic of occupations
attractive to people seeking a short-term source of income rather than a
career - will result in plentiful job openings.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Food and beverage service occupations
Occupation: Food and beverage service workers
Employment, 1996: 4,766,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 11
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 530,000*
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is projected as more
people dine out.  Job openings should continue to be plentiful due to
high turnover.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Health service occupations
Occupation: Dental assistants
Employment, 1996: 202,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 38*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 77,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average employment growth and
above average job turnover should result in good job opportunities.
Population growth and greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged
and older people will fuel demand for dental services.  Dentists are
expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Health service occupations
Occupation: Medical assistants
Employment, 1996: 225,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 74*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 166,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow much faster than
average as the health services industry expands due to a growing and
aging population and technological advances in medicine.  Growth will be
driven by an increasing number of group practices, clinics, and other
health care facilities.  Medical assistants work primarily in outpatient
settings, where much faster than average growth is expected.  Job
prospects should be best for medical assistants with formal training or
experience.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Health service occupations
Occupation: Nursing aides and psychiatric aides
Employment, 1996: 1,415,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 24
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 342,000*
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected
in response to an emphasis on rehabilitation and the long-term care
needs of a rapidly aging population.  Job prospects for nursing aides
should be good due to fast growth and high turnover.  In contrast,
employment of psychiatric aides is expected to grow more slowly than
average because employment in hospitals is likely to decline due to
limits on inpatient psychiatric treatment.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Health service occupations
Occupation: Occupational therapy assistants and aides
Employment, 1996: 16,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 69*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 11,000
Employment prospects: Much faster than average employment growth is
expected as the population ages and requires occupational therapy and as
medical advances allow more critically ill patients to survive and
benefit from rehabilitation.  Opportunities for jobseekers should be
favorable, but the number of job openings will be low because the
occupation is small.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Health service occupations
Occupation: Physical and corrective therapy assistants and aides
Employment, 1996: 84,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 79*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 66,000
Employment prospects: Physical therapy assistants and aides is expected
to be one of the fastest growing occupations in the economy, as a
growing and aging population increases the demand for physical therapy
services.  Older patients often need more assistance in their treatment,
making the roles of assistants and aides vital.  Licensed physical
therapy assistants provide cost-effective physical therapy, allowing
more patients to receive care at substantially lower costs.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations
Occupation: Barbers and cosmetologists
Employment, 1996: 701,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 10
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 72,000
Employment prospects: Employment of cosmetologists is projected to grow
about as fast as average, while employment of barbers is expected to
decline.  The increasing demand for cosmetology services of a growing
population will drive employment growth, and the rising popularity of
full-service salons will benefit cosmetologists more than barbers.  The
outlook is especially bright for manicurists and cosmetologists
specializing in skin care.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations
Occupation: Flight attendants
Employment, 1996: 132,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 35
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 46,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than average
as the number of airline passengers continues to increase.  Applicants
with at least 2 years of experience in dealing with the public should
have good prospects.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations
Occupation: Homemaker-home health aides
Employment, 1996: 697,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 79*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 550,000*
Employment prospects: Much faster than average employment growth is
expected because of increasing reliance on home health care for patients
of all ages.  Demand for home health care services will stem from moving
patients out of hospitals and nursing facilities quickly, the move
toward providing treatment in familiar surroundings, and the development
of improved medical technologies for in-home treatment.  Due to rapid
growth and high turnover, job opportunities should be excellent,
especially for those with experience or training as homemaker-home
health aides or nursing aides.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations
Occupation: Janitors and cleaners and cleaning supervisors
Employment, 1996: 3,242,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 135,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average.  Job openings should be plentiful for janitors and cleaners
because limited formal education and training requirements, low pay, and
numerous part-time and temporary jobs contribute to a high turnover rate
in this large occupation.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations
Occupation: Landscaping, groundskeeping, nursery, greenhouse, and lawn
service occupations
Employment, 1996: 925,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 20
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 180,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected.  New
construction will contribute to demand as developers continue to use
landscaping services to attract buyers and tenants.  Landscaping,
groundskeeping, and lawn service workers will also be needed to maintain
and renovate existing landscapes on commercial and residential sites.
Many jobs are seasonal, and opportunities vary depending on local
economic conditions.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations
Occupation: Preschool teachers and child-care workers
Employment, 1996: 1,172,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 32
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 379,000*
Employment prospects: Faster than average growth is expected.  Although
the number of children under age 5 is expected to decline slightly, the
proportion of youngsters in child care and preschool should increase.
High turnover combined with rapid job growth is expected to create many
openings for preschool teachers and child-care workers.  Qualified
persons should have little trouble finding a job.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations
Occupation: Private household workers
Employment, 1996: 802,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -121,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline as private
household duties are increasingly assumed by child-care and household
cleaning service firms.  Nevertheless, job opportunities should be
excellent due to the limited number of jobseekers in this field.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Personal, buildings, and grounds service occupations
Occupation: Veterinary assistants and nonfarm animal caretakers
Employment, 1996: 163,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 23
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 37,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow faster than average
as pet owners increasingly make use of grooming, daily and overnight
boarding, and veterinary services.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Protective service occupations
Occupation: Correctional officers
Employment, 1996: 320,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 32
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 103,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth and the need
to replace correctional officers who transfer to other occupations or
leave the labor force will generate many thousands of job openings each
year.  Job opportunities are expected to be favorable.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Protective service occupations
Occupation: Firefighting occupations
Employment, 1996: 293,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 16,000
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected
as fire departments compete for funding with other public service
providers.  Growth will be driven by the expansion of residential areas
beyond urban centers and increased complexity of the work resulting in
fewer qualified volunteers.  Available openings are expected to fall
short of applicants, causing keen competition.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Protective service occupations
Occupation: Guards
Employment, 1996: 955,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 23
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 221,000
Employment prospects: Faster than average employment growth is expected,
contributing to favorable job opportunities.  The occupation's large
size and high turnover rate place it among those providing the greatest
number of job openings.  Many opportunities are expected.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Protective service occupations
Occupation: Police, detectives, and special agents
Employment, 1996: 704,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 13
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 90,000
Employment prospects: Employment of police officers, detectives, and
special agents is expected to increase as fast as average.  Demand for
police services should increase with society's heightened concern about
crime and security.

Cluster: Service Occupations
Subgroup: Protective service occupations
Occupation: Private detectives and investigators
Employment, 1996: 58,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 11,000
Employment prospects: Employment of private detectives and investigators
is expected to grow as fast as average.  In addition, job turnover
should create many additional openings, particularly among wage and
salary workers.  Nevertheless, competition is expected for openings
because of the many people who find private detective and investigator
careers attractive and the relatively young law enforcement and military
retirees who are qualified to enter the field.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Aircraft mechanics, including engine specialists
Employment, 1996: 137,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 13
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 18,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected as use of
air travel continues to expand.  Job prospects should be best at smaller
commuter and regional airlines and FAA repair stations and in general
aviation.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Automotive body repairers
Employment, 1996: 225,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 13
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 29,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase as fast as
average due to growth in the number of motor vehicles made of materials
that are more difficult to work with and are more easily damaged than
steel.  Opportunities should be best for persons with formal training in
automotive body repair or mechanics.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Automotive mechanics
Employment, 1996: 775,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 96,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected.  The need
for qualified mechanics to service a growing number of motor vehicles
will continue to be concentrated in automobile dealerships, independent
automotive repair shops, and specialty car care chains.  Job
opportunities are expected to be good for people who complete formal
automotive training programs.  Persons whose training includes basic
electronics skills should have the best opportunities.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Diesel mechanics
Employment, 1996: 266,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 22,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase more slowly
than average as trucks and other diesel-powered transportation equipment
require qualified mechanics.  Opportunities should be best for those who
complete formal diesel mechanic training programs.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Electronic equipment repairers
Employment, 1996: 386,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 32,000
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to grow more slowly
than average.  Although the amount of electronic equipment will grow
rapidly, lower equipment prices and improvements in product reliability
and ease of service will dampen the need for repairers.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Commercial and industrial electronic equipment repairers
Employment, 1996: 60,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 7,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected overall.
Employment in private industry is expected to grow faster than average
as business and industrial firms install more equipment to boost
productivity and improve product quality.  Because of cuts in the
defense budget, however, employment in the Federal Government is
expected to decline significantly.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Communications equipment mechanics
Employment, 1996: 116,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 5,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average.  Fewer workers are needed for maintenance and repair because
new digital systems are more reliable and compact and permit more
efficient centralized maintenance.  Consolidations and mergers of cable
and telephone companies will result in greater efficiency and could
cause slower growth in employment.  Further slowing may occur as
companies cut costs in the wake of deregulation and heightened
competition.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Computer and office machine repairers
Employment, 1996: 141,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 37*
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 53,000
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to grow much faster
than average.  The development of new computer applications and lower
computer prices will spur demand.  Employment of those who repair office
machines is expected to grow about as fast as average because slower
growth in the amount of non-computer based office equipment will
somewhat dampen demand for these repairers.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Electronic home entertainment equipment repairers
Employment, 1996: 33,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -19
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -6,200
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline.  Improvements
in reliability and ease of servicing should reduce service requirements,
even while equipment use is expected to increase.  However, job
opportunities should be good, due to the need to replace those who
transfer to higher paying occupations that also require a knowledge of
electronics.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Telephone installers and repairers
Employment, 1996: 37,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -74
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -27,000
Employment prospects: Few openings are likely because employment is
expected to decline sharply.  Widespread use of prewired jacks and
telephones and related equipment is eliminating the need for installers,
and fewer phones will be worth repairing as the price of new ones
continues to decline.  In addition, repairers will become more efficient
with portable terminals that hook into a central testing system.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Elevator installers and repairers
Employment, 1996: 25,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 2,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase more slowly
than average.  Need for these workers will increase with a growing stock
of equipment and construction of new buildings with elevators and
escalators.  Demand will be dampened somewhat by relatively low
replacement needs; workers tend to stay in these jobs because of high
earnings and time invested in training.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Farm equipment mechanics
Employment, 1996: 44,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -16
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -7,000
Employment prospects: Declining employment is expected, due to continued
consolidation of farmland and increased reliability of the equipment.
Most job openings will arise from the need to replace experienced
mechanics who retire.  Opportunities should be good for persons with
formal training in farm equipment repair or diesel mechanics.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: General maintenance mechanics
Employment, 1996: 1,362,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 18
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 246,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase about as fast
as average as the number of office and apartment buildings, stores,
schools, hospitals, hotels, and factories increases.  Although
construction of these facilities is expected to slow, many replacement
workers will be needed.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration technicians
Employment, 1996: 256,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 17
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 44,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected.  Demand
should increase as environmental concerns continue to prompt development
of energy-saving systems and as older systems are replaced with more
efficient ones in existing homes and buildings.  Job prospects for
highly skilled technicians are expected to be very good, particularly
for those with technical school or formal apprenticeship training.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Home appliance and power tool repairers
Employment, 1996: 71,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 2,400
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase more slowly
than average as the number of households and businesses grows and new
and improved appliances and tools are introduced.  Increased use of
electronic parts in appliances will reduce the frequency of repairs.
Nevertheless, prospects should continue to be good for well trained
repairers, particularly those with a strong background in electronics.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Industrial machinery repairers
Employment, 1996: 459,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 30,000
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth will be
driven by the increasing use of automation in factories.  As machines
are installed, industrial machinery repairers will be hired for
maintenance and repair.  The machinery's reliability and self-diagnostic
capabilities will limit employment growth, but prospects should be
favorable for repairers with a broad range of skills.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Line installers and cable splicers
Employment, 1996: 309,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 44,000
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to grow about as
fast as average.  Technological change is expected to have little impact
on electrical power line installers, whose employment should grow more
slowly than average.  Employment of telephone and cable television line
installers and repairers, however, is projected to grow about as fast as
average, consistent with the growth in telephone and cable television
use.  Job prospects will be best in telephone companies, particularly
for those with knowledge of line installation, cable splicing, and
equipment repair.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Millwrights
Employment, 1996: 78,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -2
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -1,700
Employment prospects: Employment is projected to decline slightly with
productivity increases due to automation, limited growth in industrial
construction, and the growing use of lower skilled workers for machinery
installation and maintenance.  However, good job opportunities should
exist for skilled applicants to maintain and repair existing machinery,
dismantle old machinery, and install new equipment.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Mobile heavy equipment mechanics
Employment, 1996: 104,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 6
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 6,800
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected.
Mechanics will be needed to support growth in the construction industry
and of equipment dealers and rental and leasing companies, as well as to
service equipment that maintains and repairs the country's highways and
bridges.  Due to shortages of qualified entrants, opportunities should
be good for persons with formal training in diesel or heavy equipment
mechanics.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Motorcycle, boat, and small-engine mechanics
Employment, 1996: 45,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 3,200
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average because of advances that have made equipment more reliable and
maintenance free.  Job prospects should be especially favorable for
people who complete mechanic training programs.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Musical instrument repairers and tuners
Employment, 1996: 9,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 700
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected.
Growing numbers of instrument repairers will be needed to work on
equipment leased to students, schools, and other organizations.  The
number of job openings will be small, but because only a few schools
offer training, opportunities should be excellent for those who complete
programs in instrument repair and tuning.

Cluster:  Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Subgroup:
Occupation: Vending machine servicers and repairers
Employment, 1996: 21,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -1,300
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline because of
improved technology.  Opportunities should be best for those who have
formal training in electronics and electrical repair.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Bricklayers and stonemasons
Employment, 1996: 142,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 19,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected as brick is
used for decorative work and in construction of new factories, schools,
hospitals, offices, and other structures.  Opportunities should be good
as growth in the need for trained workers outpaces the number available.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Carpenters
Employment, 1996: 996,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 6
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 60,000
Employment prospects: Employment is projected to grow more slowly than
average due to slower growth expected in residential and commercial
construction.  Employment opportunities should be plentiful because this
large occupation has substantial replacement needs.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Carpet installers
Employment, 1996: 64,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 7,800
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected due to the
need to renovate existing structures and to install new carpet in
industrial plants, schools, hospitals, and other structures.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Concrete masons and terrazzo workers
Employment, 1996: 137,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 10,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average despite an increased demand for concrete and terrazzo.
Productivity gains resulting from improved materials, equipment, and
tools will somewhat offset the increased demand for new workers.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Drywall workers and lathers
Employment, 1996: 133,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 6,600
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected,
reflecting the slow growth of new construction and renovation.  However,
there will be a substantial number of job openings due to high turnover
in this occupation.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Electricians
Employment, 1996: 575,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 9
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 52,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average.  As the population and the economy grow, more electricians will
be needed to install and maintain electrical devices and wiring in
homes, factories, offices, and other structures.  Opportunities for
skilled electricians are expected to be very good as growth in demand
outpaces the supply of trained workers.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Glaziers
Employment, 1996: 36,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,900
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected
as a result of slow growth in both residential and commercial
construction.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Insulation workers
Employment, 1996: 65,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 19
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 13,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow as fast as average
due to the demand for insulation in new construction and renovations and
the demand for asbestos removal in existing structures.  Because of high
turnover, job opportunities are expected to be plentiful.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Painters and paperhangers
Employment, 1996: 444,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 66,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected, and
prospects should be favorable.  The number of buildings in need of
painting will grow, although new construction is expected to increase
slowly.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Plasterers
Employment, 1996: 32,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 13
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 4,200
Employment prospects: Employment growth is expected to be about as fast
as average due to growing recognition of the durability and
attractiveness of troweled finishes and the need to repair plaster
surfaces in older buildings.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Plumbers and pipefitters
Employment, 1996: 389,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 18,000
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected
as the growing use of plastic pipe and fittings, more efficient
sprinkler systems, and other laborsaving technologies offset much of the
increasing demand for plumbing services.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Roofers
Employment, 1996: 138,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 6,000
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected
as innovations and advances in materials, techniques, and tools make
roofers more productive.  However, job openings should be plentiful
because of high turnover.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Sheetmetal workers
Employment, 1996: 110,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 12
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 13,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase as fast as
average, reflecting increasing demand for sheetmetal in residential and
commercial construction.  Renovation of existing structures will also
require sheetmetal for new air-conditioning and heating systems.
Opportunities should be good for individuals with apprenticeship
training.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Structural and reinforcing ironworkers
Employment, 1996: 77,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 5,100
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected.
Rehabilitation and maintenance of older buildings, factories, power
plants, highways, and bridges is expected to increase, but employment
growth will be slowed by the continued slow growth in new industrial and
commercial construction.

Cluster: Construction Trades Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Tilesetters
Employment, 1996: 29,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,200
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average due to the increasing use of tile substitutes, such as plastic
or fiberglass tub and shower enclosures.  Job opportunities will not be
as plentiful as in other construction occupations because the occupation
is small and turnover is relatively low.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Assemblers
Occupation: Precision assemblers
Employment, 1996: 380,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 2,800
Employment prospects: Little growth in employment is expected.
Increasing automation and globalization of production will offset most
employment growth that would result from industrial development.
Employment prospects, however, vary by industry.  For example,
opportunities for precision assemblers will be somewhat better in the
aerospace industry than in the structural metals industries.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Assemblers
Occupation: Blue-collar worker supervisors
Employment, 1996: 1,899,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 48,000
Employment prospects: Overall, slower than average growth is projected.
Employment in manufacturing is expected to decline, reflecting the
increasing use of computers and self-directed work teams and corporate
downsizing.  Employment in construction and most other nonmanufacturing
industries is expected to rise with employment of the workers they
supervise.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Fishing, hunting, and forestry occupations
Occupation: Fishers, hunters, and trappers
Employment, 1996: 47,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -21
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -9,600
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline because of
technological advances and the fact that many fishing, hunting, and
trapping operations are at or beyond stock supplies.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Fishing, hunting, and forestry occupations
Occupation: Forestry and logging occupations
Employment, 1996: 122,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 1,300
Employment prospects: Little or no growth in overall employment is
expected.  Despite steady demand for lumber and other wood products,
automation of logging operations and improvements in logging equipment
will continue to depress demand for timber cutting and logging workers.
Slow growth is expected in employment of forest and conservation
workers, reflecting budgetary constraints in the Federal and many State
governments.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Food processing occupations
Occupation: Butchers and meat, poultry, and fish cutters
Employment, 1996: 369,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 6
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 22,000
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is
projected.  Consolidation of meat processing and rising worker
productivity will moderate employment growth resulting from the
increasing consumption of meat, poultry, and fish.  Job growth will be
concentrated among meat, poultry, and fish cutters who have lower level
skills, as cutting and processing shift from retail stores to food
processing plants.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Food processing occupations
Occupation: Inspectors, testers, and graders
Employment, 1996: 634,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -24,000
Employment prospects: The projected employment decline for inspectors,
testers, and graders reflects growing use of automated inspection and
reassignment of quality control responsibilities from inspectors to
other production workers.  Employment is expected to grow in industries
less suited to automation and in business services, as firms hire
temporary inspectors to increase their staffing options.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Metalworking and plastics-working occupations
Occupation: Boilermakers
Employment, 1996: 18,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -600
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline as a result of
repairing rather than replacing boilers, the use of smaller boilers with
less onsite assembly, boiler importation, and increased automation.
Competition may be keen for available apprenticeships and job openings.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Metalworking and plastics-working occupations
Occupation: Jewelers
Employment, 1996: 32,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -2
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -500
Employment prospects: Employment of jewelers is expected to decline
slightly.  Nontraditional jewelry marketers that typically require few
jewelers, such as discount stores, mail-order catalog companies, and
television shopping networks, have limited sales growth of traditional
jewelers.  Increasing manufacturing automation also will adversely
affect employment, especially that of lower skilled workers.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Metalworking and plastics-working occupations
Occupation: Machinists and tool programmers
Employment, 1996: 393,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 0
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -1,600
Employment prospects: No change in employment is expected.  Demand
caused by growth in manufactured goods production will be offset by
productivity increases from new automation.  In spite of the stagnant
employment outlooks, job opportunities are expected to be excellent
because of reported shortages of skilled machinists across the Nation.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Metalworking and plastics-working occupations
Occupation: Metalworking and plastics-working machine operators
Employment, 1996: 1,512,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 3
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 51,000
Employment prospects: Overall, slower than average growth is projected
for metalworking and plastics-working machine operators.  Employment
will grow for workers who operate computer numerically controlled (CNC)
machine tools, plastics molding machines, and combination machine tools.
However, employment of most manual cutting and forming machine tool
operators and sheetmetal workers is expected to decline due to
technological growth, the demand for goods, the effects of trade, and
the reorganization of production processes.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Metalworking and plastics-working occupations
Occupation: Tool and die makers
Employment, 1996: 134,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -9,400
Employment prospects: Advancements in automation will contribute to a
projected decline in employment, but the integral role tool and die
makers have in retooling and production will moderate this decline.
Jobseekers with appropriate skills and background should enjoy excellent
opportunities due to reported shortages across the Nation of these
highly skilled workers.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Metalworking and plastics-working occupations
Occupation: Welders, cutters, and welding machine operators
Employment, 1996: 453,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 7
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 32,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow slowly, bug job
prospects should be favorable.  Demand for these workers will be
greatest in transportation, wholesale trade, utilities, services, and
construction, as well as for repair, maintenance, and construction work
that cannot be automated.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Plant and systems operators
Occupation: Electric power generating plant operators and power
distributors and dispatchers
Employment, 1996: 47,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 2,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow slowly as
demand for electricity increases.  Job opportunities depend on plant
construction and equipment upgrading and should be tempered by
deregulation and excess capacity.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Plant and systems operators
Occupation: Stationary engineers
Employment, 1996: 27,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -6
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -1,600
Employment prospects: A decrease in employment is expected, so
jobseekers may face competition.  Employment opportunities will be best
for those with apprenticeship or vocational school training in
computerized systems operation.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Plant and systems operators
Occupation: Water and wastewater treatment plant operators
Employment, 1996: 98,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 23
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 23,000
Employment prospects: Job prospects should be good because employment is
expected to grow faster than average, and there usually are few
applicants in this field.  Employment growth is being driven by the
construction of new plants and the expansion of existing water and
wastewater treatment services.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Printing occupations
Occupation: Bindery workers
Employment, 1996: 86,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 3,300
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average because of automation.  Most openings will be due to replacement
needs.  Those with experience or formal training will have the best job
prospects.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Printing occupations
Occupation: Prepress workers
Employment, 1996: 155,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -17
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -27,000
Employment prospects: Increased use of computers in typesetting and page
layout will result in an overall employment decline for prepress
workers.  However, demand for workers skilled in automated desktop
publishing will increase significantly as the printing industry expands.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Printing occupations
Occupation: Printing press operators
Employment, 1996: 244,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 13,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to grow more slowly than
average due to increased use of automated presses.  Demand for
letterpress operators will decline sharply.  Prospects are best for
experienced printing press operators and for those who have completed
postsecondary training.  Jobseekers should face keen competition from
displaced or retrained prepress workers.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations
Occupation: Apparel workers
Employment, 1996: 835,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -16
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -13,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline due to increased
imports, offshore assembly, and laborsaving machinery.  Most job losses
will occur among sewing machine operators.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations
Occupation: Shoe and leather workers and repairers
Employment, 1996: 21,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -20
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -4,300
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline, primarily
because of the availability of low-priced imported footwear.  Employment
has also been negatively affected by growth in laborsaving machinery and
business costs.  Workers employed in manufacturing and modifying
custom-made molded or orthopedic shoes may enjoy the best job prospects.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations
Occupation: Textile machinery operators
Employment, 1996: 272,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -38,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to decline due to
laborsaving automation, mergers, and restructuring among textile firms,
as well as limited demand for textiles from domestic apparel firms.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations
Occupation: Upholsterers
Employment, 1996: 57,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 0
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 300
Employment prospects: Little or no employment growth is expected.
However, opportunities will be very good for highly skilled upholsterers
in reupholstery work and sample making.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Woodworking
Occupation: occupations
Employment, 1996: 359,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 2
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 7,600
Employment prospects: Employment is projected to grow more slowly than
average.  The demand for customized wood products will spur growth among
precision woodworkers, while increasing automation and imports will
cause a decline among woodworking machine operators.  Job prospects will
be best for highly skilled workers and those with knowledge of computer
controlled machine tool operation.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Miscellaneous production occupations
Occupation: Dental laboratory technicians
Employment, 1996: 47,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 1
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 300
Employment prospects: Very slow, if any, employment growth is expected.
Any increase will be due to the public's improving dental health.
Further demand may arise from an aging public's interest in cosmetic
prostheses.  Job opportunities should be favorable, as employers have
difficulty filling trainee positions because of low entry-level salaries
and the public's lack of familiarity with the occupation.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Miscellaneous production occupations
Occupation: Ophthalmic laboratory technicians
Employment, 1996: 19,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 0
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 100
Employment prospects: Little, if any, change in employment is expected
as employment growth in retail settings is offset by declining
employment in manufacturing industries.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup: Miscellaneous production occupations
Occupation: Painting and coating machine operators
Employment, 1996: 171,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 14,000
Employment prospects: Overall, slower than average growth is projected.
Average employment growth and favorable job prospects are projected for
skilled automotive painters.  Job prospects should be favorable.

Cluster: Production Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Photographic process workers
Employment, 1996: 63,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 6
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 3,600
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase more slowly
than average as digital cameras and imaging become cheaper and more
widely used by consumers.  Most openings will result from replacement
needs.

Cluster: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Busdrivers
Employment, 1996: 592,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 20
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 117,000
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase about as fast
as average, primarily to meet the transportation needs of a growing
school-age population.  Opportunities should be best for individuals
with good driving records who are willing to work part-time, as well as
for those seeking jobs as school busdrivers in rapidly growing
metropolitan areas.

Cluster: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Material moving equipment operators
Employment, 1996: 1,097,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 10
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 114,000
Employment prospects: Average employment growth is expected.  Equipment
improvements, including automation of material handling, continue to
increase productivity and slow employment growth.  Many opportunities in
this large occupation arise replacement needs.

Cluster: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Rail transportation occupations
Employment, 1996: 83,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -5
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -3,800
Employment prospects: Employment for most rail transportation
occupations is expected to decline; only employment of locomotive
engineers and subway and streetcar operators is expected to grow.  The
amount of freight shipped by rail should continue to increase, but
improvements in operations should allow the industry to continue work
force reductions.

Cluster: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Taxi drivers and chauffeurs
Employment, 1996: 106,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 8
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 8,100
Employment prospects: Slower than average employment growth is expected
as urban transportation needs increase with population growth.
Opportunities should be best in rapidly growing metropolitan areas.

Cluster: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Truckdrivers
Employment, 1996: 3,050,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 15
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 442,000*
Employment prospects: Employment is expected to increase about as fast
as average as the economy grows and the amount of freight carried by
trucks increases.  Opportunities in this large occupation should be
plentiful, but competition is likely for jobs offering the highest
earnings or best working conditions.

Cluster: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Subgroup:
Occupation: Water transportation occupations
Employment, 1996: 51,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: -4
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: -2,000
Employment prospects: Employment is projected to decline due to foreign
competition and new ship designs that require much smaller crews.

Cluster:  Handlers, Equipment Cleaners, Helpers, and Laborers
Subgroup:
Occupation:
Employment, 1996: 4,975,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006: 14
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006: 679,000*
Employment prospects: Overall employment is expected to grow about as
fast as average.  These workers are employed throughout the country in
nearly every industry.  Employment growth by occupation varies,
depending on growth both in the industries employing these workers and
among the skilled workers they assist.  Job opportunities should be
plentiful in this very large group of occupations because of relatively
high turnover.

Cluster:  Job Opportunities In The Armed Forces
Subgroup:
Occupation:
Employment, 1996: 1,478,000
Percent change in employment, 1996-2006:
Numerical change in employment, 1996-2006:
Employment prospects: America's strategic position is stronger than it
has been in decades.  Although there have been reductions in personnel
concurrent with a diminished threat to U.S. security, the number of
active duty personnel is now expected to remain constant.  Opportunities
will be very limited for enlisted personnel without a high school
diploma.  Competition for officer positions has always been keen and
will continue to be so.

Index to the 1996-2006 Job Outlook in Brief

Accountants and auditors
Accounting clerks
Actors, directors, and producers
Actuaries
Adjusters, investigators, and collectors
Administrative occupations
Administrative services managers
Administrative support occupations, including clerical
Adult education teachers
Advertising managers
Aerospace Engineers
Agents and brokers, insurance
Agents, brokers, and appraisers, real estate
Agricultural scientists
Air traffic controllers
Air-conditioning technicians
Aircraft mechanics
Aircraft pilots
Animal caretakers, nonfarm
Announcers and newscasters, radio and television
Apparel workers
Appliance repairers
Appraisers, real estate
Architects
Archivists and curators
Armed Forces
Artists, performing
Artists, visual
Assemblers
Assemblers, precision
Astronomers
Audiologists
Auditing clerks
Auditors
Automotive body repairers
Automotive mechanics

Bank tellers
Barbers and cosmetologists
Billing clerks and billing machine operators
Bindery workers
Biological and medical scientists
Blue-collar worker supervisors
Boat engine mechanics
Boilermakers
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
Bookmobile drivers
Bricklayers and stonemasons
Broadcast technicians
Brokerage clerks and statement clerks
Brokers, insurance
Brokers, real estate
Budget analysts
Building inspectors
Busdrivers
Butchers and meat, poultry, and fish cutters
Buyers

Cable splicers
Camera operators
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
Carpenters
Carpet installers
Cashiers
Ceramic engineers
Chauffeurs
Chefs, cooks, and other kitchen workers
Chemical engineers
Chemists
Child-care workers
Chiropractors
Choreographers
Civil engineers
Cleaners, building services
Cleaners, equipment
Clergy
Clerical supervisors and managers
Clerks
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
Collectors, insurance
College and university faculty
Commercial and industrial electronic equipment repairers
Communications equipment mechanics
Communications occupations
Computer and office machine repairers
Computer occupations
Computer operators
Computer programmers
Computer scientists, computer engineers, and systems analysts
Computer systems managers
Concrete masons and terrazzo workers
Conservation scientists
Consultants, management
Construction and building inspectors
Construction managers
Construction trades occupations
Cooks
Correctional officers
Correspondents
Cosmetologists
Cost estimators
Counselors
Counter and rental clerks
Court reporters, medical transcriptionists, and stenographers
Credit authorizers
Curators

Dancers and choreographers
Data entry keyers
Dental assistants
Dental hygienists
Dental laboratory technicians
Dentists
Designers
Detectives, private
Detectives, public
Die makers
Diesel mechanics
Dietitians and nutritionists
Directors, performing arts
Dispatchers
Dispensing opticians
Drafters
Drywall workers and lathers

Economists and marketing research analysts
Editors
Education administrators
Electric power generating plant operators and power distributors and dispatchers
Electrical and electronics engineers
Electricians
Electroneurodiagnositc technologists
Electronic equipment repairers
Electronic equipment repairers, commercial and industrial
Electronic home entertainment equipment repairers
Elementary school teachers
Elevator installers and repairers
Emergency medical technicians
Employment interviewers
Engineering, science, and computer systems managers
Engineering technicians
Engineers
Engineers, stationary
Equipment cleaners
Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations

Faculty, college and university
Farm equipment mechanics
Farmers and farm managers
File clerks
Financial managers
Financial service sales representatives
Firefighting occupations
Fish cutters
Fishers, hunters, and trappers
Flight attendants
Food and beverage service workers
Food processing occupations
Food service managers
Foresters and conservation scientists
Forestry and logging occupations
Funeral directors

General maintenance mechanics
General managers and top executives
General office clerks
Geologists and geophysicists
Glaziers
Government chief executives and legislators
Graders, production
Groundskeepers
Guards

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers
Health assessment and treating occupations
Health diagnosing occupations
Health information technicians
Health service occupations
Health services managers
Health technologists and technicians
Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration technicians
Heavy equipment mechanics, mobile
Home appliance and power tool repairers
Home entertainment equipment repairers
Homemaker-home health aides
Hotel and motel desk clerks
Hotel managers and assistants
Human resources specialists and managers
Hunters and trappers

Industrial engineers
Industrial machinery repairers
Industrial production managers
Information clerks
Inspectors and compliance officers, except construction
Inspectors, testers, and graders, production
Installers and repairers
Insulation workers
Insurance agents and brokers
Interviewing and new accounts clerks
Investigators, insurance
Investigators and private detectives
Ironworkers, structural and reinforcing

Janitors and cleaners
Jewelers
Judges

Kindergarten teachers
Kitchen workers

Laborers
Labor relations specialists and managers
Landscape architects
Landscaping, groundskeeping, nursery, greenhouse, and lawn service occupations
Lawyers and judges
Leather workers and repairers
Legislators
Librarians
Library assistants and bookmobile drivers
Library technicians
Licensed practical nurses
Life scientists
Line installers and cablesplicers
Loan clerks and credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks
Loan officers and counselors
Logging occupations

Machinists and tool programmers
Mail carriers
Mail clerks and messengers
Maintenance mechanics, general
Management analysts and consultants
Managerial occupations
Managers, clerical
Managers, farm
Managers, retail sales workers
Manufacturers' and wholesale sales representatives
Marketing, advertising, and public relations managers
Marketing and sales occupations
Marketing research analysts
Material moving equipment operators
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupations
Materials engineers
Mathematical occupations
Mathematicians
Meatcutters
Mechanical engineers
Mechanics, installers, and repairers
Medical assistants
Medical scientists
Medical transcriptionists
Messengers
Metallurgical, ceramic, and materials engineers
Metalworking and plastics-working machine operators
Meteorologists
Millwrights
Mining engineers
Ministers
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics
Motorcycle, boat, and small engine mechanics
Musical instrument repairers and tuners
Musicians

Newscasters, radio and television
Nuclear engineers
Nuclear medicine technologists
Nursery occupations
Nurses, licensed practical
Nurses, registered
Nursing aides and psychiatric aides
Nutritionists

Occupational therapists
Occupational therapy assistants and aides
Office clerks, general
Office machine repairers
Operations research analysts
Operators, telephone
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians
Opticians, dispensing
Optometrists
Order clerks

Painters and paperhangers
Painting and coating machine operators
Paperhangers
Paralegals
Payroll and timekeeping clerks
Performing arts occupations
Personal, building, and ground service occupations
Personnel clerks
Petroleum engineers
Pharmacists
Photographers and camera operators
Photographic process workers
Physical scientists
Physical therapists
Physical and corrective therapy assistants and aides
Physician assistants
Physicians
Physicists and astronomers
Pilots, aircraft
Pipefitters
Plant and systems operators
Plasterers 
Plastics-working machine operators
Plumbers and pipefitters
Podiatrists
Police, detectives, and special agents
Postal clerks and mail carriers
Poultry cutters
Power tool repairers
Precision assemblers
Prepress workers
Preschool teachers and child-care workers
Priests, Roman Catholic
Printing press operators
Printing occupations
Private detectives and investigators
Private household workers
Producers, performing arts
Production occupations
Programmers, computer
Programmers, tool
Professional specialty occupations
Property managers
Protective service occupations
Protestant ministers
Psychiatric aides
Psychologists
Public relations managers
Public relations specialists
Purchasers and buyers

Rabbis
Radio and television announcers and newscasters
Radiologic technologists
Rail transportation workers
Real estate agents, brokers, and appraisers
Receiving clerks
Receptionists
Record clerks
Recreation workers
Recreational therapists
Refrigeration technicians
Regional planners
Registered nurses
Reinforcing iron workers
Rental clerks
Repairers
Reporters and correspondents
Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
Respiratory therapists
Restaurant and food service managers
Retail sales worker managers and supervisors
Retail sales workers
Roman Catholic priests
Roofers

Sales occupations
School teachers: Kindergarten, elementary, and secondary
Science managers
Science technicians
Scientists, life
Scientists, physical
Scientists, social
Secondary school teachers
Secretaries
Securities and financial services sales representatives
Service occupations
Services sales representatives
Sheetmetal workers
Shipping and receiving clerks
Shoe and leather workers and repairers
Small engine mechanics
Social and human services assistants
Social scientists
Social workers
Special agents
Special education teachers
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists
Statement clerks
Stationary engineers
Statisticians
Stenographers
Stock clerks
Stonemasons
Structural and reinforcing iron workers
Supervisors, blue-collar worker
Supervisors, cleaning
Supervisors, clerical
Supervisors, retail sales worker
Surgical technologists
Surveyors and mapping scientists
Systems analysts, computer

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs
Teacher aides
Teachers
Teachers, preschool
Technicians except health
Technicians, health
Technologists, health
Telephone installers and repairers
Telephone operators
Television announcers and newscasters
Tellers, bank
Terrazzo workers
Testers and graders, production
Textile machinery operators
Therapists
Tilesetters
Timekeeping clerks
Tool and die makers
Tool programmers
Tool repairers, power
Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks
Transportation and material moving occupations
Transportation ticket agents
Trappers
Travel agents
Travel clerks
Truckdrivers
Tuners, musical instrument
Typists, word processors, and data entry keyers

Underwriters
University faculty
Upholsterers
Urban and regional planners

Vending machine servicers and repairers
Veterinarians
Veterinary assistants and non-farm animal caretakers
Visual artists
Visual arts occupations

Water and wastewater treatment plant operators
Water transportation occupations
Welders, cutters, and welding machine operators
Wholesale sales representatives
Woodworking occupations
Word processors
Writers and editors