Technical information: (202) 691-5700     USDL 07-1847
              http://www.bls.gov/emp/     For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:               691-5902     Tuesday, December 4, 2007


                     EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS:  2006-16

   Projections of industry and occupational employment, labor force, and
economic growth covering the 2006-16 decade were released today by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor.  The 10-year
projections are widely used in career guidance, in education and training
program planning, and in studying long-range employment trends.  The pro-
jections, which are updated every 2 years, continue a 60-year tradition
of providing information to individuals who are making education and
training choices, entering the job market, or changing careers.

   Over the 2006-16 decade, total employment is projected to increase by
15.6 million jobs, or 10 percent, slightly less than the 15.9 million jobs,
or 12 percent, during the 1996-2006 decade.  The labor force filling these
jobs, while becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, is projected to
grow more slowly than in the past.  This slowdown in the growth of the 
labor force is expected, in part, because of the aging and retiring of baby
boomers.  As a result, the need to replace workers who retire or leave the
labor force for other reasons--called replacement needs--is projected to
create a significant number of additional job openings.

Industry Employment

   --Employment growth is projected to continue to be concentrated in the
     service-providing sector of the economy.  Service-providing indus-
     tries will generate almost all of the employment gain from 2006 to 
     2016 and will provide more than three-quarters of all jobs in 2016.
     Professional and business services and health care and social assist-
     ance, the industry sectors with the largest employment growth, will
     add 8.1 million jobs, more than half of the projected increase in 
     total employment.  (See table 1.)

   --Within the goods-producing sector, construction is the only sector
     projected to grow.  Employment in manufacturing will decline by
     1.5 million jobs.  This decline is  half of the 3 million manufac-
     turing jobs lost in the previous decade (1996-2006).  Employment in
     goods-producing industries is expected to decrease from 14.9 to
     13.1 percent of total employment.  (See table 1.)

   --The 10 detailed industries with the largest projected wage and salary
     employment growth--led by management, scientific, and technical con-
     sulting services; employment services; and general medical and surgical
     hospitals--all are in the service-providing sector.  (See table 2.)

   --Four of the 10 detailed industries with the largest projected wage and
     salary employment declines are in the manufacturing sector, including
     printing and related support activities and motor vehicle parts
     manufacturing.  (See table 3.)

                                   - 2 - 

Occupational Employment

   --Professional and related occupations and service occupations--2 major
     occupational groups on opposite ends of the educational and earnings
     ranges--are projected to grow the fastest and add the most jobs, 
     accounting for more than 6 of 10 new jobs created over the 2006-16
     decade.  (See table 4.)

   --A large portion of job gains and losses are projected to be concentrated
     in a small number of detailed occupations.  The 30 occupations with the
     largest numeric increases will account for more than half of all new
     jobs.  (See table 5.)  The 30 occupations with the largest numeric
     declines will account for more than two-thirds of all job losses from
     declining occupations.  (See table 8.)

   --Nineteen of the 30 occupations with the largest job growth are in
     professional and related occupations and service occupations.  
     (See table 5.)

   --Twenty-eight of the 30 fastest growing occupations are in professional
     and related occupations and service occupations.  (See table 6.)

   --Job openings generally are more numerous in large occupations.  Of the
     30 occupations with the largest number of total job openings due to 
     growth and net replacements, 29 are projected to have more than 1 million
     jobs in 2016.  (See table 7.)
                                 
   --Production occupations and farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
     are the two major occupational groups projected to lose employment over
     the decade.  (See table 4.)

Education and Training Categories

   --For 19 of the 30 occupations with the largest job growth, short- or
     moderate-term on-the-job training are the most significant sources of
     postsecondary education or training.  (See table 5.)

   --For 15 of the 30 fastest growing occupations, a bachelors or higher
     degree is the most significant source of postsecondary education or
     training.  (See table 6.)

   --On-the-job training and work experience are the most significant
     source of postsecondary education or training for 24 of the 30 occu-
     pations projected to have the most total job openings due to growth
     and net replacements.  (See table 7.)

   --For 28 of the 30 occupations projected to have the largest employment
     declines, on-the-job training and work experience are the most signi-
     ficant sources of postsecondary education or training.  (See table 8.)

   --The proportion of jobs in occupations that typically require a college
     degree will increase slightly between 2006 and 2016.  (See table 9.)

                                   - 3 - 

Labor Force

   --The civilian labor force is projected to increase by 12.8 million over
     the 2006-16 decade, reaching 164.2 million by 2016.  This 8.5 percent
     increase is less than the 13.1 percent increase over the previous
     decade--1996 to 2006--when the labor force grew by  17.5 million.
     (See table 10.)

   --The number of workers in the 55-and-older group is projected to grow by
     46.7 percent, nearly 5.5 times the 8.5 percent growth projected for the
     labor force overall.  (See table 10.)

   --Youths--those between the ages of 16 and 24--will decline in numbers and
     will see their share of the labor force fall from 14.8 to 12.7 percent.
     The number of prime-age workers--those between the ages of 25 and 54--
     will increase by 2.4 percent, but their share of the labor force will
     decline from 68.4 to 64.6 percent.  (See table 10.)

   --The Hispanic labor force is expected to grow by 29.9 percent, reaching
     26.9 million by 2016, while the non-Hispanic labor force is projected
     to grow by only 5.1 percent.  (See table 10.)

   --Increases in the labor force will vary by race.  Whites will remain 
     the largest race group despite relatively slow growth of 5.5 percent,
     composing 79.6 percent of the labor force by 2016.  The number of blacks
     will grow by 16.2 percent and will constitute 12.3 percent of the labor
     force.  Asians will continue to be the fastest growing race group,
     increasing by 29.9 percent and will make up 5.3 percent of the labor
     force by 2016.  (See table 10.)

A Note on Labor Shortages in the Context of Long-Term Economic Projections

   Users of these data should not assume that the difference between the
projected increase in the labor force and the projected increase in
employment implies a labor shortage or surplus.  The measures upon which
the employment and labor force projections are based are different.  Employ-
ment is a count of jobs; labor force is a count of individuals.  In
addition, the BLS projections assume a labor market in equilibrium, that
is, one where labor supply meets labor demand except for some degree of
frictional unemployment.  For a discussion of the basic projection
methodology, see "An overview of BLS projections to 2016," James Franklin,
November 2007 Monthly Labor Review.  For a discussion of labor shortages in
the context of long-term projection models, see "Employment projections to
2012: concepts and context," Michael W. Horrigan, February 2004 Monthly
Labor Review.

Notes

   More detailed information on the 2006 to 2016 projections appears in
five articles in the November 2007 issue of the Monthly Labor Review,
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
The Monthly Labor Review is available online at http://www.bls.gov/opub/
mlr/welcome.htm.

   The forthcoming 2008-09 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook
and the Career Guide to Industries will feature the 2006-16 projections
in assessing job prospects, work activities, earnings, educational require-
ments, and more for numerous occupations and industries.  The Handbook and
Career Guide both will be available online December 18, 2007, at http://www.
bls.gov/oco and http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg, respectively.  A graphic pre-
sentation of the highlights of the projections appears in the Fall 2007
Occupational Outlook Quarterly.  The Quarterly is available online at
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq.

                                   - 4 - 

   Detailed, comprehensive statistics used in preparing the projections
will be published in the 2008-09 edition of the Occupational Projections
and Training Data (OPTD).  The OPTD will be available online May 2008 at
http://www.bls.gov/emp/optd/home.htm.

   The Occupational Outlook Handbook, Career Guide to Industries, Occupa-
tional Outlook Quarterly, Occupational Projections and Training Data, and
the Monthly Labor Review are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C. 20402.  To order, visit:  http://www.bls.gov/emp/
emppub01.htm.  To order Monthly Labor Review, visit:  http://www.bls.gov/
opub/mlr/subscrib.htm.

   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; TDD message
referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1.  Employment by major industry sector, 1996, 2006, and projected 2016
(In thousands)

                                                                                                               Average 
                                                                                                            annual rate
Industry sector                               Employment              Change      Percent distribution       of change

                                        1996    2006    2016     1996-   2006-    1996    2006    2016     1996-   2006-
                                                                 2006    2016                              2006    2016 

Total (1) ...........................  134,690 150,620 166,220  15,930  15,600   100.0   100.0   100.0      1.1     1.0

Nonagriculture wage and salary (2) ..  120,371 136,912 151,962  16,541  15,050    89.4    90.9    91.4      1.3     1.0

Goods-producing, excluding
   agriculture ......................   23,329  22,505  21,773    -824    -732    17.3    14.9    13.1      -.4     -.3
 Mining .............................      556     619     608      62     -10      .4      .4      .4      1.1     -.2
 Construction .......................    5,536   7,689   8,470   2,153     781     4.1     5.1     5.1      3.3     1.0
 Manufacturing ......................   17,237  14,197  12,695  -3,039  -1,503    12.8     9.4     7.6     -1.9    -1.1

Service-providing ...................   97,043 114,407 130,190  17,364  15,782    72.0    76.0    78.3      1.7     1.3
 Utilities ..........................      640     549     518     -91     -31      .5      .4      .3     -1.5     -.6
 Wholesale trade ....................    5,522   5,898   6,326     376     429     4.1     3.9     3.8       .7      .7
 Retail trade .......................   14,143  15,319  16,006   1,177     687    10.5    10.2     9.6       .8      .4
 Transportation and warehousing . ...    3,936   4,466   4,962     530     496     2.9     3.0     3.0      1.3     1.1
 Information ........................    2,940   3,055   3,267     115     212     2.2     2.0     2.0       .4      .7
 Financial activities ...............    6,969   8,363   9,570   1,395   1,207     5.2     5.6     5.8      1.8     1.4
 Professional and business services .   13,462  17,552  21,644   4,090   4,092    10.0    11.7    13.0      2.7     2.1
 Educational services ...............    2,078   2,918   3,527     841     609     1.5     1.9     2.1      3.5     1.9
 Health care and social assistance ..   11,605  14,920  18,954   3,315   4,034     8.6     9.9    11.4      2.5     2.4
 Leisure and hospitality ............   10,777  13,143  15,017   2,367   1,873     8.0     8.7     9.0      2.0     1.3
 Other services .....................    5,435   6,235   7,077     800     843     4.0     4.1     4.3      1.4     1.3
 Federal government .................    2,877   2,728   2,626    -149    -103     2.1     1.8     1.6      -.5     -.4
 State and local government .........   16,662  19,262  20,696   2,600   1,434    12.4    12.8    12.5      1.5      .7

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and
 hunting (3) ........................    2,731   2,139   1,965    -592    -173     2.0     1.4     1.2     -2.4     -.8
Agriculture wage and salary .........    1,390   1,220   1,114    -170    -105     1.0      .8      .7     -1.3     -.9
Agriculture self-employed and unpaid
 family workers .....................    1,341     919     851    -422     -68     1.0      .6      .5     -3.7     -.8

Nonagriculture self-employed and
 unpaid family workers ..............    9,368   9,772  10,462     404     690     7.0     6.5     6.3       .4      .7
Secondary wage and salary jobs in
 agriculture and private household
 industries  (4) ....................      177     178     185       2       7      .1      .1      .1       .1      .4
Secondary jobs as self-employed or
 unpaid family worker (5) ...........    2,043   1,619   1,646    -425      27     1.5     1.1     1.0     -2.3      .2

   1 Employment data for wage and salary workers are from the BLS Current Employment Statistics survey, which counts 
jobs, whereas self-employed, unpaid family workers, and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting are from the 
Current Population Survey, which counts workers.
   2 Includes wage and salary data from the Current Employment Statistics survey, except private households, which is
from the Current Population Survey.  Logging workers are excluded.
   3 Includes agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting data from the Current Population Survey, except logging,
which is from the Current Employment Statistics survey.  Government wage and salary workers are excluded.
   4 Workers who hold a secondary wage and salary job in agricultural production, forestry, fishing, and private
household industries.
   5 Wage and salary workers who hold a secondary job as a self-employed or unpaid family worker.





Table 2.  The 10 industries with the largest wage and salary employment growth,
2006-2016 (1)
(In thousands)

                  Industry                          Employment          Change
                                                   2006    2016     Number  Percent

Management, scientific, and technical
 consulting services  ........................      921   1,639       718     77.9
Employment services ..........................    3,657   4,348       692     18.9
General medical and surgical hospitals, public
 and private .................................    4,988   5,679       691     13.9
Elementary and secondary schools, public and
 private .....................................    8,346   8,983       638      7.6
Local government, excluding education and
 hospitals ...................................    5,594   6,206       612     10.9
Offices of physicians ........................    2,154   2,687       534     24.8
Limited-service eating places ................    4,019   4,548       529     13.2
Colleges, universities, and professional
 schools, public and private .................    3,434   3,933       499     14.5
Computer systems design and related services .    1,278   1,768       489     38.3
Home health care services ....................      867   1,348       481     55.4

   1 Data are from the National Employment Matrix.





Table 3.  The 10 industries with the largest wage and salary employment declines,
2006-2016 (1)
(In thousands)

                  Industry                              Employment      Change
                                                       2006   2016  Number  Percent

Gasoline stations ................................     861     716   -146    -16.9
Printing and related support activities ..........     636     497   -139    -21.8
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing ................     654     516   -138    -21.1
Department stores ................................   1,551   1,438   -113     -7.3
Cut and sew apparel manufacturing ................     186      77   -108    -58.4
Wired telecommunications carriers ................     478     379    -99    -20.8
Crop production; primary job .....................     539     441    -98    -18.2
Federal government, excluding postal service .....   1,958   1,869    -90     -4.6
Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores .....     379     300    -79    -20.9
Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing ..     199     132    -67    -33.5

   1 Data are from the National Employment Matrix.





Table 4.  Employment by major occupational group, 2006 and projected 2016
(In thousands)

             Occupational group                      Employment      Percent distribution          Change
                                                    2006     2016     2006         2016      Percent    Number

Total, all occupations .........................  150,620  166,220   100.0        100.0        10.4     15,600
Management, business, and financial 
 occupations (1) ...............................   15,397   16,993    10.2         10.2        10.4      1,596
Professional and related occupations (2) .......   29,819   34,790    19.8         20.9        16.7      4,970
Service occupations (3) ........................   28,950   33,780    19.2         20.3        16.7      4,830
Sales and related occupations ..................   15,985   17,203    10.6         10.3         7.6      1,218
Office and administrative support occupations ..   24,344   26,089    16.2         15.7         7.2      1,745
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .....    1,039    1,010      .7           .6        -2.8        -29
Construction and extraction occupations ........    8,295    9,079     5.5          5.5         9.5        785
Installation, maintenance, and repair
 occupations ...................................    5,883    6,433     3.9          3.9         9.3        550
Production occupations .........................   10,675   10,147     7.1          6.1        -4.9       -528
Transportation and material moving occupations .   10,233   10,695     6.8          6.4         4.5        462

   1 Major occupational groups 11-0000 through 13-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   2 Major occupational groups 15-0000 through 29-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   3 Major occupational groups 31-0000 through 39-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).





Table 5.  The 30 occupations with the largest employment growth, 2006-2016
(In thousands)

                                                                                                                    Most significant source of
           Occupation                              Occupational group            Employment        Change           postsecondary education
                                                                                                                           or training (1)
                                                                                2006    2016    Number   Percent                           

Registered nurses ..........................   Professional and related                                                                    
                                                occupations (2)..............   2,505   3,092     587      23.5       Associate degree

Retail salespersons ........................   Sales and related occupations .  4,477   5,034     557      12.4       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

Customer service representatives ...........   Office and administrative                                              Moderate-term on-the-
                                                support occupations ..........  2,202   2,747     545      24.8       job training

Combined food preparation and serving                                                                                 Short-term on-the-job
 workers, including fast food ..............   Service occupations (3)........  2,503   2,955     452      18.1        training

Office clerks, general .....................   Office and administrative                                              Short-term on-the-job
                                                support occupations ..........  3,200   3,604     404      12.6        training

Personal and home care aides ...............   Service occupations (3) .......    767   1,156     389      50.6       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

Home health aides ..........................   Service occupations (3) .......    787   1,171     384      48.7       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

Postsecondary teachers .....................   Professional and related
                                                occupations (2) ..............  1,672   2,054     382      22.9       Doctoral degree

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and                                                                               Short-term on-the-job
 housekeeping cleaners .....................   Service occupations (3) .......  2,387   2,732     345      14.5        training

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants ...   Service occupations (3) .......  1,447   1,711     264      18.2       Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                                                       award 

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing          Office and administrative                                              Moderate-term on-the-
 clerks ....................................    support occupations ..........  2,114   2,377     264      12.5       job training 

                                                                                                                      Short-term on-the-job 
Waiters and waitresses .....................   Service occupations (3) .......  2,361   2,615     255      10.8        training

                                                                                                                      Short-term on-the-job
Child care workers .........................   Service occupations (3) .......  1,388   1,636     248      17.8        training

Executive secretaries and administrative ...   Office and administrative                                              Work experience in a
 assistants ................................    support occupations ..........  1,618   1,857     239      14.8        related occupation 

Computer software engineers, applications ..   Professional and related
                                                occupations (2) ..............    507     733     226      44.6       Bachelor's degree

Accountants and auditors ...................   Management, business, and
                                                financial occupations (4) ....  1,274   1,500     226      17.7       Bachelor's degree

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers .....   Service occupations (3) .......  1,220   1,441     221      18.1       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training


Elementary school teachers, except special     Professional and related
 education .................................    occupations (2) ..............  1,540   1,749     209      13.6       Bachelor's degree

Receptionists and information clerks .......   Office and administrative                                              Short-term on-the-job
                                                support occupations ..........  1,173   1,375     202      17.2        training

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer ...   Transportation and material                                            Moderate-term on-the-
                                                moving occupations ...........  1,860   2,053     193      10.4        job training

                                                                                                                      
Maids and housekeeping cleaners ............   Service occupations (3) .......  1,470   1,656     186      12.7       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

Security guards ............................   Service occupations (3) .......  1,040   1,216     175      16.9       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

Carpenters .................................   Construction and extraction                                            Long-term on-the-job
                                                occupations ..................  1,462   1,612     150      10.3        training

                                                                                                                      Bachelor's or higher
Management analysts ........................   Management, business, and                                               degree, plus work
                                                financial occupations (4) ....    678     827     149      21.9        experience


Medical assistants .........................   Service occupations (3) .......    417     565     148      35.4       Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                                                       job training

Computer systems analysts ..................   Professional and related
                                                occupations (2) ..............    504     650     146      29.0       Bachelor's degree

Maintenance and repair workers, general ....   Installation, maintenance, and                                         Moderate-term on-the-
                                                repair occupations ............ 1,391   1,531     140      10.1        job training

Network systems and data communications        Professional and related
 analysts ..................................    occupations (2) ..............    262     402     140      53.4       Bachelor's degree

Food preparation workers ...................   Service occupations (3) .......    902   1,040     138      15.3       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

Teacher assistants .........................   Professional and related                                               Short-term on-the-job
                                                occupations (2) ..............  1,312   1,449     137      10.4        training

   1 An occupation is placed into 1 of 11 categories that best describes the postsecondary education or training needed by most workers to
become fully qualified in that occupation.  For more information about the categories, see Occupational Projections and Training Data,
2006-07 edition,Bulletin 2602 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2006) and Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2008-09 edition,
Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).
   2 Major occupational groups 15-0000 through 29-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   3 Major occupational groups 31-0000 through 39-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   4 Major occupational groups 11-0000 through 13-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).





Table 6.  The 30 fastest-growing occupations, 2006-2016
(In thousands)

                                                                                                                    Most significant source of
           Occupation                              Occupational group              Employment        Change           postsecondary education
                                                                                                                           or training (1)
                                                                                  2006    2016    Number   Percent
Network systems and data communications         Professional and related
 analysts ..................................     occupations (2) ..............    262     402      140      53.4        Bachelor's degree

Personal and home care aides ...............    Service occupations (3) .......    767   1,156      389      50.6        Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                          training

Home health aides ..........................    Service occupations (3) .......    787   1,171      384      48.7        Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                          training
Computer software engineers, applications ..    Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    507     733      226      44.6        Bachelor's degree

Veterinary technologists and technicians ...    Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............     71     100       29      41.0        Associate degree

Personal financial advisors ................    Management, business, and
                                                 financial occupations (4) ....    176     248       72      41.0        Bachelor's degree

Makeup artists, theatrical and performance .    Service occupations (3) .......      2       3        1      39.8        Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                                                          award

Medical assistants .........................    Service occupations (3) .......    417     565      148      35.4        Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                                                          job training

Veterinarians ..............................    Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............     62      84       22      35.0        First professional degree

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder         Professional and related
 counselors ................................     occupations (2) ..............     83     112       29      34.3        Bachelor's degree


Skin care specialists ......................    Service occupations (3) .......     38      51       13      34.3        Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                                                          award

Financial analysts ........................     Management, business, and
                                                 financial occupations (4) ....    221     295       75      33.8        Bachelor's degree

Social and human service assistants .......     Professional and related                                                 Moderate-term on-the-
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    339     453      114      33.6         job training

Gaming surveillance officers and gaming                                                                                  Moderate-term on-the-
 investigators ............................     Service occupations (3) .......      9      12        3      33.6         job training

Physical therapist assistants ..............    Service occupations (3) .......     60      80       20      32.4        Associate degree

Pharmacy technicians .......................    Professional and related                                                 Moderate-term on-the-
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    285     376       91      32.0         job training

Forensic science technicians ................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............     13      17        4      30.7        Bachelor's degree

Dental hygienists ...........................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    167     217       50      30.1        Associate degree

Mental health counselors ....................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    100     130       30      30.0        Master's degree

Mental health and substance abuse social        Professional and related
 workers ....................................    occupations (2) .............     122     159       37      29.9        Master's degree


Marriage and family therapists ..............   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2)..............      25      32        7      29.8        Master's degree

Dental assistants ...........................   Service occupations (3)            280     362       82      29.2        Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                                                          job training

Computer systems analysts ...................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) .............     504     650      146      29.0        Bachelor's degree

Database administrators .....................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) .............     119     154       34      28.6        Bachelor's degree


Computer software engineers, systems            Professional and relate
 software ...................................    occupations (2) .............     350     449       99      28.2        Bachelor's degree

Gaming and sports book writers and runners ..   Service occupations (3)             18      24        5      28.0        Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                          training

Environmental science and protection            Professional and related
 technicians, including health ..............    occupations (2) .............      36      47       10      28.0        Associate degree

Manicurists and pedicurists .................   Service occupations (3)             78     100       22      27.6        Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                                                          award

Physical therapists .........................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ............      173     220       47      27.1        Master's degree

Physician assistants ........................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ........           66      83       18      27.0        Master's degree

   1 An occupation is placed into 1 of 11 categories that best describes the postsecondary education or training needed by most workers to
become fully qualified in that occupation.  For more information about the categories, see Occupational Projections and Training Data,
2006-07 edition,Bulletin 2602 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2006) and Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2008-09 edition,
Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).
   2 Major occupational groups 15-0000 through 29-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   3 Major occupational groups 31-0000 through 39-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   4 Major occupational groups 11-0000 through 13-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).





Table 7.  The 30 occupations with the largest number of total job openings due to growth and net replacements, 2006-2016
(In thousands)

                                                                                                           Total job
                                                                                               Net          openings due   Most significant source of
           Occupation                  Occupational group           Employment     Change   replacement     to growth       postsecondary education
                                                                                              needs          and net              or training (1)
                                                                   2006    2016    Number                replacements(1)

Retail salespersons ..............   Sales and related                                                                      Short-term on-the-job
                                      occupations ............    4,477   5,034      557        1,378          1,935         training

Cashiers, except gaming ..........   Sales and related                                                                      Short-term on-the-job
                                      occupations ............    3,500   3,382     -118        1,664          1,664         training

Waiters and waitresses ............. Service occupations (3) .    2,361   2,615      255        1,282          1,537        Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                             training

Customer service representatives ..  Office and administrative                                                              Moderate-term on-the-
                                      support occupations ....    2,202   2,747      545          613          1,158         training

Registered nurses .................  Professional and related
                                       occupations (2)........    2,505   3,092      587          413          1,001        Associate degree

Office clerks, general ............  Office and administrative                                                              Short-term on-the-job
                                      support occupations ....    3,200   3,604      404          587            991         training

Combined food preparation and
 serving workers, including fast                                                                                            Short-term on-the-job
 food .............................  Service occupations (3) .    2,503   2,955      452          475            927         training

                                     Transportation and
Laborers and freight, stock, and      material moving                                                                       Short-term on-the-job
 material movers, hand ............   occupations ............    2,416   2,466       50          773             823        training

Janitors and cleaners, except maids                                                                                         Short-term on-the-job
 and housekeeping cleaners .........  Service occupations (3) .   2,387   2,732      345          457             802        training

Postsecondary teachers .............  Professional and related
                                       occupations (2) ........   1,672   2,054      382          280             662       Doctoral degree


Child care workers .................  Service occupations (3) .   1,388   1,636      248          399             646       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                             training

Bookkeeping, accounting, and          Office and administrative                                                             Moderate-term on-the-
 auditing clerks ....................  support occupations ....   2,114   2,377      264          331             594        job training

Elementary school teachers, except    Professional and related
 special education ..................  occupations (2) ........   1,540   1,749      209          336             545       Bachelor's degree

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-     Transportation and
 trailer ...........................   material moving                                                                      Moderate-term on-the-
                                       occupations ............   1,860   2,053      193          330             523        job training

Personal and home care aides .......  Service occupations (3) .     767   1,156      389          130             519       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                             training

Executive secretaries and             Office and administrative                                                             Work experience in a
 administrative assistants .........   support occupations ....   1,618   1,857      239          258             497        related occupation

Receptionists and information         Office and administrative                                                             Short-term on-the-job
 clerks.............................   support occupations ....   1,173   1,375      202          287             489        training

Sales representatives, wholesale and
 manufacturing, except technical and  Sales and related                                                                     Work experience in a
 scientific products ...............   occupations ............   1,562   1,693      131          345             476        related occupation

Maids and housekeeping cleaners ....  Service occupations (3) .   1,470   1,656      186          277             463       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                             training

Home health aides ..................  Service occupations (3) .     787   1,171      384           70             454       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                             training


Food preparation workers ............ Service occupations (3) .     902   1,040      138          313             451       Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                             training

Accountants and auditors ............ Management, business,
                                       and financial
                                       occupations (4) ........   1,274   1,500      226          224             450       Bachelor's degree

General and operations managers ..... Management, business                                                                  Bachelor's or higher
                                       and financial                                                                         degree, plus work
                                       occupations (4) ........   1,720   1,746       26          415             441        experience

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food                                                                                         Short-term on-the-job
 concession, and coffee shop ........ Service occupations (3) .     533     587       54          370             424        training

First-line supervisors/managers of    Sales and related                                                                     Work experience in a
 retail sales workers ...............  occupations ............   1,676   1,747       71          352             423        related occupation

Stock clerks and order fillers ...... Office and administrative                                                             Short-term on-the-job
                                       support occupations ....   1,705   1,574     -131          405             405        training

Nursing aides, orderlies, and                                                                                               Postsecondary vocational
 attendants .......................   Service occupations (3) .   1,447   1,711      264          130             393        award

                                                                                                                            Short-term on-the-job
Security guards ...................   Service occupations (3) .   1,040   1,216      175          211             387        training

Landscaping and groundskeeping                                                                                              Short-term on-the-job
 workers ..........................   Service occupations (3) ..  1,220   1,441      221          161             382        training

First-line supervisors/managers of
 office and administrative support    Office and administrative                                                             Work experience in a
 workers ..........................    support occupations ....   1,418   1,500       82          293             374        related occupation

   1 Major occupational groups 11-0000 through 13-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   2 Major occupational groups 15-0000 through 29-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   3 Major occupational groups 31-0000 through 39-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   4 An occupation is placed into 1 of 11 categories that best describes the postsecondary education or training needed by most workers to become
fully qualified in that occupation.  For more information about the categories, see Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2006-07 edition, 
Bulletin 2602 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2006) and Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2008-09 edition, Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of
 Labor Statistics, forthcoming).
   5 Total job openings represent the sum of employment increases and net replacements.  If employment change is negative, job openings due to growth
are zero and total job openings equal net replacements.  For more information about the occupational replacement needs, see Occupational Projections 
and Training Data, 2006-07 edition, Bulletin 2602 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2006) and Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2008-09
edition,





Table 8.  The 30 occupations with the largest employment declines, 2006-2016
(In thousands)

                                                                                                                    Most significant source of
           Occupation                      Occupational group                  Employment        Change               postsecondary education
                                                                                                                         or training (1)
                                                                              2006    2016    Number   Percent

Stock clerks and order fillers ......    Office and administrative                                                    Short-term on-the-job
                                          support occupations ..........      1,705   1,574    -131     -7.7           training

Cashiers, except gaming .............    Sales and related occupations .      3,500   3,382    -118     -3.4          Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

Packers and packagers, hand .........    Transportation and material                                                  Short-term on-the-job
                                          moving occupations ...........        834     730    -104    -12.4           training

File clerks .........................    Office and administrative                                                    Short-term on-the-job
                                          support occupations ..........        234     137     -97    -41.3           training

Farmers and ranchers ................    Management, business, and                                                    Long-term on-the-job
                                          financial occupations (2) ....      1,058     969     -90     -8.5           training

Order clerks ........................    Office and administrative                                                    Short-term on-the-job
                                          support occupations ..........        271     205     -66    -24.3           training

Sewing machine operators ............    Production occupations ........        233     170     -63    -27.2          Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                                                        job training

Electrical and electronic equipment                                                                                   Short-term on-the-job
 assemblers .........................    Production occupations ........        213     156     -57    -26.8           training

Cutting, punching, and press machine
 setters, operators, and tenders,                                                                                     Moderate-term on-the-
 metal and plastic ..................    Production occupations ........        272     231     -40    -14.9           job training

Telemarketers ......................     Sales and related occupations .        395     356     -39     -9.9          Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

Inspectors, testers, sorters,                                                                                         Moderate-term on-the-
 samplers, and weighers............      Production occupations ........        491     457     -35     -7.0           job training

First-line supervisors/managers of                                                                                    Work experience in a
 production and operating workers .      Production occupations ........        699     665     -34     -4.8            related occupation

Computer operators ................      Office and administrative                                                    Moderate-term on-the-
                                          support occupations ..........        130      98     -32    -24.7           job training

Photographic processing machine                                                                                       Short-term on-the-job
 operators .......................       Production occupations ........         49      25     -25    -49.8           training

Driver/sales workers .............       Transportation and material                                                  Short-term on-the-job
                                          moving occupations ...........        445     421     -24     -5.3           training

Machine feeders and offbearers ...       Transportation and material                                                  Short-term on-the-job
                                          moving occupations ...........        148     125     -22    -15.2           training

Packaging and filling machine                                                                                         Short-term on-the-job
 operators and tenders ...........       Production occupations ........        386     365     -21     -5.4           training

Word processors and typists ......       Office and administrative                                                    Moderate-term on-the-
                                          support occupations ..........        179     158     -21    -11.6           job training

Paper goods machine setters,                                                                                          Moderate-term on-the-
 operators, and tenders ..........       Production occupations ........        113      93     -21    -18.2           job training

Farmworkers and laborers, crop,          Farming, fishing, and forestry                                               Short-term on-the-job
 nursery, and greenhouse .........        occupations ..................        603     583     -20     -3.4           training


Molding, coremaking, and casting
 machine setters, operators, and                                                                                      Moderate-term on-the-
 tenders, metal and plastic ......       Production occupations ........        157     137     -20    -12.8           job training

Computer programmers .............       Professional and related
                                          occupations (3) ..............        435     417     -18     -4.1          Bachelor's degree

Mail clerks and mail machine
 operators, except postal                Office and administrative                                                    Short-term on-the-job
 service .........................        support occupations ..........        152     134     -18    -11.6           training

Postal service mail sorters,
 processors, and processing machine       Office and administrative                                                   Short-term on-the-job
 operators .......................         support occupations ..........       198     181     -17     -8.4           training

Lathe and turning machine tool
 setters, operators, and tenders,                                                                                     Moderate-term on-the-
 metal and plastic ...............         Production occupations ........       68      52     -16    -23.3           job training

Prepress technicians and workers .         Production occupations ........       71      56     -15    -21.1          Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                                                       award

Switchboard operators, including           Office and administrative                                                  Short-term on-the-job
 answering service ...............          support occupations ..........      177     163     -15     -8.4           training
 
Data entry keyers ................         Office and administrative                                                  Moderate-term on-the-
                                            support occupations ..........      313     299     -15     -4.7           job training

Bindery workers ..................         Production occupations ........       65      51     -14    -21.8          Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                       training

   1 An occupation is placed into 1 of 11 categories that best describes the postsecondary education or training needed by most workers to
become fully qualified in that occupation.  For more information about the categories, see Occupational Projections and Training Data,
2006-07 edition, Bulletin 2602 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2006) and Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2008-09 edition,
Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).
   2 Major occupational groups 11-0000 through 13-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   3 Major occupational groups 15-0000 through 29-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).





Table 9.  Employment and total job openings by postsecondary education and training category
(In thousands)

Most significant source                                  Employment                       Change
  of postsecondary                               Number       Percent distribution      2006-2016
education and training (1)                   2006     2016      2006      2016       Number   Percent

     Total, all occupations .............  150,620  166,220   100.0     100.0       15,600     10.4 

First professional degree ...............    1,970    2,247     1.3       1.4          277     14.0 
Doctoral degree .........................    2,025    2,462     1.3       1.5          437     21.6 
Master's degree .........................    2,167    2,575     1.4       1.5          409     18.9 
Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work
 experience ..........,..................    6,524    7,117     4.3       4.3          592      9.1 
Bachelor's degree .......................   18,585   21,659    12.3      13.0        3,074     16.5 
Associate degree ........................    5,812    6,899     3.9       4.2        1,087     18.7 
Postsecondary vocational award ..........    7,901    8,973     5.2       5.4        1,072     13.6 
Work experience in a related occupation .   14,579   15,889     9.7       9.6        1,310      9.0 
Long-term on-the-job training ...........   11,489   12,200     7.6       7.3          711      6.2 
Moderate-term on-the-job training .......   27,230   29,248    18.1      17.6        2,018      7.4 
Short-term on-the-job training ..........   52,339   56,951    34.7      34.3        4,613      8.8 

   1 An occupation is placed into 1 of 11 categories that best describes the postsecondary education
or training needed by most workers to become fully qualified in that occupation.  For more informa-
tion about the categories, see Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2006-07 edition, Bul-
letin 2602 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2006) and Occupational Projections and Training
Data, 2008-09 edition, Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).





Table 10.  Civilian labor force by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin, 1996, 2006, and projected 2016
(In thousands)

                                                                                                             Annual growth
Age, sex, race, and                 Level               Change       Percent change   Percent distribution   rate (percent)
    ethnicity             1996     2006     2016     1996-   2006-    1996-  2006-                            1996-  2006- 
                                                     2006    2016     2006   2016      1996   2006   2016     2006   2016

Total, 16 years and
 older.................  133,943  151,428  164,232  17,485  12,804     13.1    8.5    100.0  100.0  100.0      1.2    0.8

Age, years:
 16 to 24 .............   21,183   22,394   20,852   1,211  -1,542      5.7   -6.9     15.8   14.8   12.7       .6    -.7
 25 to 54 .............   96,786  103,566  106,026   6,780   2,460      7.0    2.4     72.3   68.4   64.6       .7     .2
 55 and older .........   15,974   25,468   37,354   9,494  11,886     59.4   46.7     11.9   16.8   22.7      4.8    3.9

Sex:
 Men ..................   72,087   81,255   87,781   9,168   6,526     12.7    8.0     53.8   53.7   53.4      1.2     .8
 Women ................   61,857   70,173   76,450   8,316   6,277     13.4    8.9     46.2   46.3   46.6      1.3     .9

Race:
 White ................  113,108  123,834  130,665  10,726   6,831      9.5    5.5     84.4   81.8   79.6       .9     .5
 Black ................   15,134   17,314   20,121   2,180   2,807     14.4   16.2     11.3   11.4   12.3      1.4    1.5
 Asian ................    5,701    6,727    8,741   1,026   2,014     18.0   29.9      4.3    4.4    5.3      1.7    2.7
 All other groups (1) .      -      3,553    4,705     -     1,152       -    32.4       -     2.3    2.9       -     2.8

Ethnicity:
 Hispanic origin ......   12,774   20,694   26,889   7,920   6,195     62.0   29.9      9.5   13.7   16.4      4.9    2.7
 Other than Hispanic ..  121,169   30,734  137,343   9,565   6,609      7.9    5.1     90.5   86.3   83.6       .8     .5
 White non-Hispanic ...  100,915  104,629  106,133   3,714   1,504      3.7    1.4     75.3   69.1   64.6       .4     .1

   1 The "all other groups" category includes (1) those classified as being of multiple racial origin and (2) the race
categories of (2a) American Indian and Alaska Native and (2b) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders.
   NOTE:  Dash indicates no data collected for category.