U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Occupational Outlook Quarterly

Labor force

Occupational employment

Inside, projections of:

Industry employment

Occupational Outlook Quar ccupational Outlook Quarterly

Charting the projections: 2012–22

A special issue
Occupational Outlook Quarterly

Occupational Outlook Quarterly

Charting the projections: 2012–22

(A special issue)

Industry employment

Projected employment change by industry and industry sector.

29

How BLS develops and charts the projections.

2

Projected employment change by occupation and occupational group, including:

5

Labor force

Occupational employment

Getting started

24

Projected changes in the labor force by age, sex, race, and ethnic origin.

10 Fastest growing occupations

11 Occupations adding the most jobs

12 Occupations with the most job openings

13 Job growth and openings by education assignment

www.bls.gov/ooq • Winter 2013–14 • Volume 57, Number 4

Editorial staff

Kathleen Green, Editor

Sara Royster, Managing editor

Elka Torpey, Contributing editor

Dennis Vilorio, Design and layout

Maureen Soyars, Associate editor

Keith Tapscott, Design consultant
2 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Getting started

When making career choices for yourself, or 

helping someone else to choose a career, it’s 

good to know a few basics: the types and 

number of jobs likely to be available, the wages of workers in those occupations, and the ways you can prepare to 

work in the occupations. And that’s just to get started.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides 

this information and more. The 2014–15 Occupational 

Outlook Handbook covers hundreds of occupations in 

detail, describing data on employment, wages, projections, 

education, and job duties. And several articles in the 

Monthly Labor Review include comprehensive descriptions of the data, analysis, and methods BLS uses in the 

projections.

This special issue of the Occupational Outlook 

Quarterly (OOQ) offers a graphic summary of the latest 

projections, which cover the decade from 2012 to 2022.

Reading the charts

The charts in this issue of the OOQ provide graphic 

answers to some basic questions about employment: How 

many new jobs are projected? How fast is the number of 

jobs projected to change? How many job openings are 

expected for people who are entering an occupation?

How many new jobs are projected? Charts that 

show numeric change illustrate how many new jobs are 

projected. In general, the occupations and industries with 

the greatest numeric increases are those that already have 

large numbers of workers.

How fast is the number of jobs projected to change? 

Charts showing percent change illustrate how fast the 

number of jobs is projected to change (the rate of job 

growth or decline during the 2012–22 decade). The fastest 

rates of growth are often in occupations and industries 

that do not have large numbers of workers. 

Fast growth does not always mean many new jobs. 

For example, see the following three charts. The first two 

charts show projected employment growth for general 

office clerks compared with that for interpreters and translators. The third chart shows, for office clerks, projected 

employment growth as part of projected total openings.

As this first chart illustrates, employment of interpreters and translators is expected to grow more than 7 times 

faster than that of general office clerks.

Getting started

Interpreters and translators

Office clerks, general

46%

6

Percent employment growth in two occupations, 

 projected 2012–22
3 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Getting started

•	 Occupational groups related to healthcare are 

projected to have the fastest growth and to add the 

most new jobs. (See pages 7–8.)

•	 About 51 million job openings for workers entering 

an occupation are expected across 22 occupational 

groups. (See page 9.)

•	 Industrial-organizational psychologists is projected 

to be the fastest growing occupation. (See page 10.)

•	 Personal care aides and registered nurses are 

expected to gain the most new jobs: more than 

500,000 each. (See page 11.)

•	 Most projected job openings for workers entering an 

occupation come from the need to replace workers 

who have left the occupation, rather than from the 

need to fill newly created jobs. (See page 12.)

•	 In most of the growing occupations that typically 

require a degree or a non-degree award, median 

annual wages are higher than the median wage 

for all workers. The same is true of occupations in 

these education groups that have many openings. 

(See pages 13–18.)

•	 In growing occupations that typically require a high 

school diploma or less, experience or on-the-job 

training is often required at the entry level. (See 

pages 19–22.) 

•	 Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers 

are projected to lose the most jobs. (See page 23.)

Labor force is a measure of the number of people 

available for work. It includes both people who are 

employed and those who are unemployed (those not working but actively looking for a job). It excludes active-duty 

military personnel and the institutionalized population, 

such as prison inmates. Projections highlights include:

•	 By 2022, the number of people in the labor force is 

expected to increase by about 8 million. (See page 

25.)

•	 Labor force participation rates are projected to fall 

slightly for both men and women. (See page 25.)

•	 As aging baby boomers continue working, the 

number of 65- to 74-year-olds in the labor force is 

projected to increase more than that of other age 

groups. Workers ages 75 and older are expected to 

have the fastest rate of growth. (See page 26.)

•	 The labor force will continue to become more 

diverse. For example, Whites’ share of the labor 

force is projected to decline and Hispanics’ to rise 

over the decade. (See pages 27–28.)

But in numeric terms, that faster growth doesn’t mean 

a greater number of new jobs. As this chart shows, over 

6 times as many new jobs are projected for general office 

clerks as for interpreters and translators from 2012–22.

How many job openings are expected? Some charts 

go beyond showing the expected change in the total number of jobs and show how many job openings are expected 

for workers who are entering an occupation. This includes 

not only openings from growth in the number of jobs but 

also openings from the need to replace workers who retire 

or leave an occupation permanently. 

This chart shows employment growth as part of total 

job openings projected for general office clerks. Most 

openings for these workers are expected to come from the 

need to replace existing clerks who leave the occupation.

Highlights of the projections

The charts show the projected 2012–22 changes in 

occupational employment, the labor force, and industry 

employment. You will get the most out of the charts if you 

understand how BLS organizes data in these areas.

Occupation classifies jobs according to the type of 

work performed. For example, people who help retail 

customers find and buy products are in the occupation of 

retail salespersons. Projections highlights in this section 

include:

Job openings for general office clerks, 

 projected 2012–22, in thousands of openings

Office clerks, general 184 627 811

From growth From replacement needs

Interpreters and translators

Office clerks, general 184

29

Numeric employment growth in two occupations, 

 projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs
4 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Getting started

Industry classifies jobs in businesses according to 

the type of good produced or service provided by that 

business. For example, any job in clothing stores—such 

as retail salesperson or stock clerk—is classified as part of 

the retail trade industry. Projections highlights include:

•	 Job growth is projected to be concentrated in 

service-providing industries. (See page 31.)

•	 The health care and social assistance sector is 

expected both to grow the fastest and to add the 

most jobs. (See pages 32–33.)

•	 Many of the detailed industries that are projected to 

grow the fastest are in the health care and professional and business services sectors. (See page 34.)

•	 The construction industry is expected to gain the 

most new jobs. All of this projected growth is to 

regain jobs lost during the 2007–09 recession but 

is still not enough to return construction to its 

prerecession employment level. (See page 35.)

•	 Of the industries projected to lose the most jobs, 

nearly half are in manufacturing. (See page 36.)

How we develop the BLS projections

BLS economists in the Office of Occupational Statistics 

and Employment Projections develop the projections in 

a number of steps, first analyzing broad trends and then 

examining several hundred industries and occupations.

The 2007–09 recession affects the projections, in part 

because the economy has been slow to recover. Although 

the recession ended in 2009, the economy added about 2.3 

million jobs between 2010 and 2012—just over 30 percent 

of the 7.6 million jobs lost between 2006 and 2010. Some 

of the projected changes in employment between 2012 

and 2022 include regaining jobs that were lost during 

the downturn. For example, of the 15.6 million new jobs 

projected to be added to the economy between 2012 and 

2022, about 5.3 million are needed just to return total 

employment to its prerecession level from 2006.

Population and labor force. We begin developing 

projections by analyzing how much the U.S. population and labor force are expected to grow over the next 

10 years. We use population projections from the U.S. 

Census Bureau, which take into account trends in births, 

deaths, and immigration. 

We combine the population projections with our own 

estimates of what portion of the population is expected 

to be in the labor force, based on historical trends for 

each age, gender, and race or ethnic group. The result is 

a projection of the labor force—an estimate of the total 

supply of workers in the future economy.

Economic growth. We then create a model of an 

economy that is operating at full potential, given the labor 

force and several other factors. Using this framework, we 

estimate the dollar value of each industry’s total output of 

goods or services. Some of these goods and services are 

sold to other industries; for example, plastics are used in 

making computers. Other output—such as the computers 

themselves or computer-user support services—is sold 

directly to consumers.

Industry employment. We also study trends in 

productivity—the amount of output produced per hour of 

work. Because of technological advances, for example, 

some industries are able to increase output with fewer 

employees. We use this information to translate projected 

output into the number of jobs that each industry needs to 

produce these goods and provide these services.

Occupational employment. Next, we project how 

the jobs in each industry are expected to be distributed 

by occupation. We depict how employment in each of 

more than 300 industries is distributed across over 800 

occupations. To do this, we make extensive use of the 

BLS Occupational Employment Statistics survey, and we 

obtain information from other sources for sectors that are 

not covered by the survey. (For the 2012–22 projections, 

we used 2012 employment data.) 

We analyze how this distribution is likely to change 

over the decade by studying trends in technology, changing skill requirements, and other factors. Our projection 

methods are based on the fact that employment trends 

in most occupations are closely tied to the trends in 

particular industries. Using this analysis, along with the 

survey data and our industry employment projections, 

we project employment by occupation—in this set of 

projections, for 2022.
5 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

When choosing a career, jobseekers often want 

to know which occupations offer the best 

prospects. Generally, occupations that have 

rapid job growth, many new jobs, or many job openings—

and good wages—promise better opportunities.

This section shows how employment in particular 

occupations is projected to change between 2012 and 

2022. Many of the charts in this section show the 

occupations or occupational groups that are expected to 

grow fastest (highest percent growth) or gain the most 

jobs (highest numeric growth) in the coming decade.

Between 2012 and 2022, overall employment is 

projected to grow by about 11 percent. This overall 

growth rate is shown as a dotted vertical line in the charts 

on pages 7 and 10.

But when it comes to employment prospects, job 

growth tells only part of the story. Job openings for 

workers also come from the need to replace workers who 

retire or otherwise leave an occupation permanently. 

Some of the charts show the occupations that are expected 

to have the most openings for workers who are entering 

the occupation; these charts show projected openings both 

from job growth and from replacement needs.

Growth by occupational group

Most charts in this section focus on detailed occupations. 

To better illustrate general employment trends, however, 

charts at the beginning of the section show employment 

growth in broad groups of similar occupations.

The federal government classifies workers into groups 

using the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification 

(SOC) system. Aggregate occupational groups analyzed 

for the 2012–22 projections are in the table on page 6.

Growth by education assignment

To help guide students and jobseekers, some charts show 

occupations by education assignment. These charts are 

grouped by the typical level of education most workers 

need to enter an occupation: graduate degree, bachelor’s 

degree, associate’s degree or postsecondary non-degree 

award, high school diploma or equivalent, or less than a 

high school diploma.

•	 Completion of a graduate degree typically requires 

a bachelor’s degree plus 1 or 2 years of full-time 

study for a master’s degree or at least 3 years of 

full-time study for a doctoral or professional degree.

•	 Completion of a bachelor’s degree typically requires 

at least 4 years of full-time study beyond high 

school.

•	 Completion of an associate’s degree typically 

requires 2 years of full-time study beyond high 

school. Postsecondary non-degree award programs 

typically last from several weeks to 1 year or more 

beyond high school. 

Occupational employment

Occupational employment
Occupational employment

6 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Although the charts in this section are arranged by 

education assignment, columns within each chart also 

provide information about the work experience and 

training assignments for the occupations. Assignments for 

work experience in a related occupation are indicated in 

the appropriate column as follows: 5 years or more (5+), 

less than 5 years (<5), or none (N). 

Assignments for on-the-job training typically needed 

to attain competency in an occupation are indicated in the 

appropriate column as follows: internship/residency (I/R), 

apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), 

short-term (S), or none (N).

•	 An internship or residency is generally supervised 

in a professional setting and may occur before a 

worker is employed. Completion of the program is 

commonly required for state licensure or certification in some fields.

•	 Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training 

with occupation-specific instruction. Most programs 

last between 3 and 5 years.

•	 Long-term on-the-job training lasts more than 12 

months and either includes training on the job or 

combines work experience with formal instruction.

•	 Moderate-term on-the-job training includes 

informal instruction and training on the job that 

lasts more than 1 month and up to 12 months.

•	 Short-term on-the-job training includes informal 

training on the job or experience of 1 month or less.

Wages

Wages include hourly, weekly, or annual pay that people 

receive for the work that they do. Sales commissions, tips, 

and production bonuses also are part of the wages shown 

in these charts, but overtime pay and nonproduction 

bonuses are not.

For individual occupations, most charts include May 

2012 median annual wage data from the U.S. Bureau of 

Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. The median wage is the point at 

which half of the workers in an occupation earned more 

than the amount, and half earned less. In May 2012, the 

median annual wage for all workers was $34,750.

The highest median annual wage among the 

occupations in a given chart is in boldface type. For 

occupations with a median annual wage of more than 

$187,200, a specific wage figure is not given because 

the OES survey does not publish wage data above this 

amount. In these cases, the charts show that the median 

wage was greater than or equal to (≥) $187,200.

Wages in these charts are for wage and salary workers 

only. Self-employed workers are not included in these 

measurements.

Aggregate occupational group Example occupations

Management, business, and financial Management analysts, cost estimators, accountants and auditors

Computer, engineering, and science Computer systems analysts, civil engineers, medical scientists

Education, legal, community service, arts, and media Rehabilitation counselors, teacher assistants, coaches and scouts

Healthcare practitioners and technical Physical therapists, registered nurses, pharmacy technicians

Service Home health aides, bartenders, childcare workers

Sales and related Cashiers, retail salespersons, insurance sales agents

Office and administrative support Customer service representatives, general office clerks, 

medical secretaries

Farming, fishing, and forestry Agricultural inspectors, fishers and related fishing workers, fallers

Construction and extraction Carpenters, construction laborers, oil and gas roustabouts

Installation, maintenance, and repair Automotive service technicians and mechanics, HVAC mechanics and 

installers, general maintenance and repair workers 

Production Team assemblers, bakers, machinists

Transportation and material moving Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, taxi drivers and chauffeurs, 

hand packers and packagers 

Occupational groups analyzed for the 2012–22 projections, with examples of occupations
Occupational employment

7 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Projected percent change in employment measures the rate of expected growth or decline for each major occupational 

group between 2012 and 2022. Of the 22 major SOC groups analyzed for these projections, nearly half are expected to 

grow as fast as or faster than the average for overall projected employment growth during the decade.

Percent change by occupational group

Percent change in employment by major occupational group, projected 2012–22

Healthcare practitioners and technical

Office and administrative support

Personal care and service

Sales and related

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Computer and mathematical

Building and grounds cleaning 

and maintenance

Management

Community and social service

Protective service

Arts, design, entertainment, 

sports, and media

Life, physical, and social science

Legal

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Education, training, and library

Construction and extraction

Healthcare support

Food preparation and serving related

Business and financial operations

Transportation and material moving

Production

Architecture and engineering

28%

22

21

21

18

17

13

13

11

11

10

10

9

9

8

7

7

7

7

7

1

-3

Overall growth, all occupations = 11%
Occupational employment

8 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Projected numeric change in employment is the number of new jobs expected to be added to each major occupational 

group between 2012 and 2022. Of the 22 major SOC groups analyzed, the only group projected to lose jobs is 

farming, fishing, and forestry. 

Numeric change by occupational group

Numeric change in employment by major occupational group, projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Healthcare practitioners and technical

Office and administrative support

Personal care and service

Sales and related

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Computer and mathematical

Building and grounds cleaning 

and maintenance

Management

Community and social service

Protective service

Arts, design, entertainment, 

sports, and media

Life, physical, and social science

Legal

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Education, training, and library

Construction and extraction

Healthcare support

Food preparation and serving related

Business and financial operations

Transportation and material moving

Production

Architecture and engineering

1,733

1,534

1,302

1,156

1,123

1,102

1,096

1,016

691

898

791

686

637

531

409

263

181

180

133

126

76

-32
Occupational employment

9 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

This chart shows the number of job openings that the major occupational groups are projected to have over the 

2012–22 decade. Openings for new workers occur not only when jobs are added to the economy but also when 

current workers leave an occupation permanently. In most of these occupations, the need to replace workers who 

leave an occupation is projected to create more job openings than those expected from job growth.

Job openings by occupational group

Job openings by major occupational group, projected 2012–22, in thousands of openings

Office and administrative support

Transportation and material moving

Management

Construction and extraction

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Protective service

Building and grounds cleaning 

and maintenance

Business and financial operations

Community and social service

Computer and mathematical

Arts, design, entertainment, 

sports, and media

Life, physical, and social science

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Legal

Healthcare practitioners and technical

Sales and related

Healthcare support

Education, training, and library

Personal care and service

Food preparation and serving related

Production

Architecture and engineering

5,515

5,627

6,765

3,378

2,992

2,897

2,587

2,353

2,352

2,289

2,151

1,826

1,938

1,814

1,309

1,147

488

963

800

764

334

271

From growth

From replacement needs
Occupational employment

10 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Projected percent growth in employment measures how fast an occupation is expected to add jobs. The 20 

occupations in the chart are projected to grow the fastest over the 2012–22 decade. Many of these fast-growing 

occupations are related to healthcare.

Fastest growing occupations

Percent growth in employment, projected 2012–22

Industrial-organizational psychologists

Personal care aides

Helpers—brickmasons, blockmasons, 

stonemasons, and tile and marble setters

Home health aides

Insulation workers, mechanical

Skincare specialists

Physician assistants

Medical secretaries

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Physical therapists

Diagnostic medical sonographers

Physical therapist aides

Occupational therapy aides

Segmental pavers

Helpers—electricians

Information security analysts

Interpreters and translators

Occupational therapy assistants

Genetic counselors

Physical therapist assistants

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

$83,580

19,910

20,820

45,430

56,800

53,240

28,220

52,160

23,880

28,640

90,930

33,720

27,670

86,170

26,850

81,140

31,350

79,860

65,860

39,170

53%

49

48

47

46

46

43

43

41

41

40

40

38

38

37

37

36

36

36

36

Overall growth, all occupations = 11%
Occupational employment

11 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Projected numeric growth in employment measures how many new jobs are expected to be added in each 

occupation. These 20 occupations are projected to gain the most new jobs from 2012 to 2022 and account for 

about 38 percent of all jobs expected to be added over the decade.

Most new jobs

Numeric growth in employment, projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Personal care aides

Registered nurses

Retail salespersons

Combined food preparation and

serving workers, including fast food

Secretaries and administrative assistants, 

except legal, medical, and executive

Nursing assistants

Home health aides

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and 

housekeeping cleaners

Office clerks, general

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Licensed practical and licensed 

vocational nurses

Customer service representatives

Carpenters

Bookkeeping, accounting, & auditing clerks

Medical secretaries

Childcare workers

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

$19,910

65,470

21,110

18,260

22,320

29,990

30,580

32,410

95,440

23,890

39,940

35,170

38,200

31,350

19,510

27,470

19,570

41,540

24,420

20,820

581

527

435

424

312

308

299

280

260

244

242

218

205

193

189

184

184

183

183

422

Construction laborers

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers, hand

General and operations managers
Occupational employment

12 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

These occupations are projected to have the most job openings due to growth and the need to replace workers 

who leave the occupation permanently. Many of these are service-related occupations, which are projected to have 

numerous openings over the 2012–22 decade. For most of the occupations in this chart, the need to replace workers 

leaving the occupation is projected to create more openings than those expected from job growth.

Most job openings

Job openings due to growth and replacement needs, projected 2012–22, in thousands of openings

Registered nurses

Waiters and waitresses

Retail salespersons

Nursing assistants

Home health aides

Combined food preparation and 

serving workers, including fast food

Office clerks, general

Personal care aides

General and operations managers

Janitors and cleaners, except maids 

and housekeeping cleaners

First-line supervisors of office and 

administrative support workers

Secretaries and administrative assistants, 

except legal, medical, and executive

Cashiers

Customer service representatives

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers, hand

Childcare workers

Stock clerks and order fillers

Construction laborers

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Accountants and auditors

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

$21,110

18,260

18,970

65,470

22,320

19,910

27,470

23,890

95,440

24,420

20,820

32,410

19,510

22,050

63,550

49,330

29,990

19,570

30,580

18,540

1,956

1,556

1,530

1,268

1,053

923

942

811

717

666

613

594

591

588

570

546

544

508

489

468

From growth From replacement needs
Occupational employment

13 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Graduate degree

Of occupations that typically require a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree for entry, these are projected to add 

the most new jobs between 2012 and 2022. An increasing need for treatment of obesity, diabetes, and other diseases in 

the population is expected to account for some of the growth in healthcare occupations.

Occupations that have the most growth and that typically require a master’s, doctoral, 

or professional degree to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

<5

5+

5+

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

I/R

N I/R

I/R

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2

<5

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

Lawyers $113,530

Health specialties teachers,

postsecondary 81,140

≥187,200

Pharmacists 116,670

Healthcare social workers 49,830

Physicians and surgeons, all other

Nurse practitioners 89,960

Physician assistants 90,930

Occupational therapists

Postsecondary teachers, all other

75,400

Speech-language pathologists 69,870

145,240

62,160

Family and general practitioners 18

18

18

21

23

23

24

26

31

32

33

33

37

37

39

41

65

69

73

75

172,020

Physical therapists 79,860

Mental health counselors 40,080

Educational, guidance, school, and 

vocational counselors 53,610

64,290

Dentists, general

Instructional coordinators

86,490

Nursing instructors and teachers, 

postsecondary

Education administrators, 

postsecondary

64,850

Rehabilitation counselors 33,880

Art, drama, and music teachers, 

postsecondary

60,050
Occupational employment

14 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Graduate degree

Of occupations that typically require a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree for entry, these are projected to 

have the most job openings between 2012 and 2022. Job openings in healthcare and social services occupations are 

expected to arise, in part, from the needs of an aging population. 

Occupations that have the most job openings and that typically require a master’s, doctoral, 

or professional degree to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of openings

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

Lawyers 197 $113,530

≥187,200

Physical therapists

Physicians and surgeons, all other

116,670

79,860

Pharmacists

81,140

Educational, guidance, school, and 

vocational counselors

Health specialties teachers,

postsecondary

53,610

Healthcare social workers

Postsecondary teachers, all other

87,760

49,830

64,290

Occupational therapists

Speech-language pathologists

86,490

40,080

Physician assistants

Family and general practitioners

67,650

Rehabilitation counselors 33,880

Librarians

69,870

44

46

48

48

49

49

51

56

59

64

67

70

70

75

87

97

55,370

124

153

110

Mental health counselors

Clinical, counseling, and 

school psychologists

Nurse practitioners 89,960

172,020

Education administrators, 

postsecondary

Dentists, general 145,240

90,930

Education administrators,

elementary and secondary school

75,400

From growth From replacement needs

5+

5+

<5

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

I/R

I/R

I/R

I/R

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2
Occupational employment

15 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Bachelor’s degree

Of selected occupations that typically require a bachelor’s degree for entry, these are projected to add the most 

new jobs between 2012 and 2022. As businesses continue to rely heavily on technology, computer-related occupations 

such as software developers and computer systems analysts are expected to experience high growth.

Occupations that have high growth and that typically require a bachelor’s degree 

to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

244 $95,440

63,550

Software developers, applications 90,060

Management analysts 78,600

Market research analysts and 

marketing specialists

Middle school teachers, except special 

and career/technical education

Elementary school teachers, except 

special education

60,300

Computer systems analysts

Software developers, systems software

Construction managers

79,680

78

83

82,790

Medical and health services managers

76 53,430

Secondary school teachers, except 

special and career/technical education

Computer and information systems 

managers

Network and computer systems 

administrators

Personal financial advisors

Cost estimators

60 67,520

Recreation workers

51 120,950

Financial managers

Child, family, and school social workers

47 109,740

43

43

41,530

72,560

Accountants and auditors

General and operations managers

168

167

140

134

131

128

53,400

99,000

73 88,580

53 58,860

Civil engineers 54 79,340

53 55,050

49 22,240

<5

<5

5+

5+

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

I/R

M

I/R

I/R

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2
Occupational employment

16 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Bachelor’s degree

Of selected occupations that typically require a bachelor’s degree for entry, these are projected to have the most 

job openings between 2012 and 2022. The large number of projected openings for teachers reflects the many 

teaching jobs that exist, the need to replace teachers who are expected to retire, and rising student enrollments. 

Occupations that have many job openings and that typically require a bachelor’s degree 

 to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of openings

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

613 $95,440

Management analysts

General and operations managers

53,400

Software developers, applications

Computer systems analysts

55,050

Software developers, systems software

78,600

Market research analysts and 

marketing specialists

Middle school teachers, except special 

and career/technical education

Elementary school teachers, except 

special education

90,060

79,680

Medical and health services managers

60,300

Secondary school teachers, except 

special and career/technical education

Sales reps, wholesale & manufacturing, 

technical & scientific products

Securities, commodities, and

financial services sales agents

82,790

Financial managers

Construction managers

109,740

Computer programmers

Cost estimators

74,280

Civil engineers

74,970

55,800

28,360

Accountants and auditors 544

467

313

245

219

211

210

189

155

150

147

135

123

120

118

118

112

110

109

63,550

53,430

88,580

71,720

99,000

Human resources specialists

Coaches and scouts

79,340

58,860

From growth From replacement needs

<5

<5

5+

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

M

M

M

I/R

I/R

I/R

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2
Occupational employment

17 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Associate’s degree or postsecondary non-degree award

Of occupations that typically require an associate’s degree or postsecondary non-degree award for entry, these are 

projected to have the most job growth between 2012 and 2022. Most of the occupations are in healthcare, which is 

projected to add many jobs in response to the needs of an aging population and those seeking treatment for disease.

Occupations that have the most growth and that typically require an associate’s degree or postsecondary 

non-degree award to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

527 $65,470

38,200

Licensed practical and licensed 

vocational nurses 41,540

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and

cosmetologists

Preschool teachers, except special 

education

29,370

Heating, air conditioning, and 

refrigeration mechanics and installers

Medical and clinical laboratory 

technicians

Dental assistants

Dental hygienists

22,700

Medical assistants

27,130

70,210

56

78

76

74

64

43,640

Emergency medical technicians and 

paramedics

Medical records and

health information technicians

Phlebotomists

Web developers

55 31,020

Paralegals and legal assistants

Radiologic technologists

46 46,990

Surgical technologists 29 41,790

28 62,500

27 29,730

Nursing assistants

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Registered nurses

312

193

183

163

24,420

34,500

48 37,240

41 34,160

42 54,620

Massage therapists 30 35,970

Physical therapist assistants 29 52,160

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

S

L

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2
Occupational employment

18 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Associate’s degree or postsecondary non-degree award

Of occupations that typically require an associate’s degree or postsecondary non-degree award for entry, these are 

projected to have the most job openings between 2012 and 2022. Healthcare occupations are projected to have many 

job openings as medical advances increase the average life span and create new options for treating disease.

Occupations that have the most job openings and that typically require an associate’s degree or postsecondary 

non-degree award to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of openings

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

1,053 $65,470

38,200

41,540

29,370

22,700

27,130

43,640

31,020

70,210

46,990

54,620

62,500

29,730

594

465

363

270

221

199

137

124

121

114

104

91

90

90

84

70

66

51

46

24,420

34,500

45,250

37,240

34,160

54,040

30,660

From growth From replacement needs

Licensed practical and

licensed vocational nurses

Preschool teachers, except

special education

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and

cosmetologists

Heating, air conditioning, and 

refrigeration mechanics and installers

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Dental assistants

Medical assistants

Dental hygienists

Emergency medical technicians and 

paramedics

Medical records and

health information technicians

First-line supervisors of production 

and operating workers

Firefighters

Paralegals and legal assistants

Radiologic technologists

Web developers

Medical and clinical laboratory 

technicians

Nursing assistants

Registered nurses

Phlebotomists

Library technicians

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

<5

L

S

L

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2
Occupational employment

19 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

High school diploma or equivalent

Of selected occupations that typically require a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, these are projected 

to have the most job growth from 2012 to 2022. Most of the occupations require that workers get some form of 

on-the-job training to attain competency.

Occupations that have high growth and that typically require a high school diploma or equivalent 

 to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

308 $32,410

39,940

Childcare workers

35,170 Bookkeeping, accounting, and 

auditing clerks

31,350

Sales reps, wholesale & manufacturing, 

except technical & scientific products

Medical secretaries

First-line supervisors of office and 

administrative support workers

First-line supervisors of construction 

trades and extraction workers

First-line supervisors of food 

preparation and serving workers

First-line supervisors of retail sales 

workers

19,510

Receptionists and information clerks

27,470

25,990

Security guards

Electricians

54,230

Carpenters

Maintenance & repair workers, general

23,970

Billing and posting clerks

Social and human service assistants

Pharmacy technicians

Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

35,210

33,450

28,850

36,820

29,320

Customer service representatives

Office clerks, general

299

218

205

189

184

184

172

136

132

130

128

125

115

109

71

82

93

81

71

30,580

49,330

59,700

Secretaries and admin. assistants, 

except legal, medical, and executive

49,840

29,270

49,140

<5

<5

5+

<5

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

S

S

A

S

S

S

S

S

S

A

M

M

L

A

M

M

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2
Occupational employment

20 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

High school diploma or equivalent

Of selected occupations that typically require a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, these are projected 

to have the most job openings between 2012 and 2022. Duties in several of these occupations, including first-line 

supervisors, often involve the direction of workers with less seniority. These supervisory occupations typically 

require some work experience in a related occupation, in addition to a high school diploma or equivalent.

Occupations that have many job openings and that typically require a high school diploma or equivalent 

to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of openings

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

$30,580

32,410

19,510

49,330

54,230

36,820

35,210

35,170

29,270

27,640

29,010

811

942

588

570

508

421

420

407

380

370

349

329

294

260

253

244

238

225

213

190

27,470

25,990

39,940

24,940

23,970

31,350

49,840

36,610

55,270

From growth From replacement needs

Childcare workers

Bookkeeping, accounting, and 

auditing clerks

Sales reps, wholesale & manufacturing, 

except technical & scientific products

First-line supervisors of office and 

administrative support workers

First-line supervisors of food

preparation and serving workers

Receptionists and information clerks

Security guards

Tellers

Carpenters

Maintenance & repair workers, general

Automotive service technicians and 

mechanics

Medical secretaries

Police and sheriff’s patrol officers

Electricians

Team assemblers

Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks

Customer service representatives

Office clerks, general

Secretaries and admin. assistants, 

except legal, medical, and executive

First-line supervisors of

retail sales workers

<5

<5

<5

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

S

S

S

S

S

A

A

S

S

S

L

L

M

M

M

M

M

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2
Occupational employment

21 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Less than a high school diploma

Of occupations that typically require less education than a high school diploma for entry, these are projected to 

have the most job growth between 2012 and 2022. Personal care aides and home health aides together are projected 

to add more than 1 million new jobs, largely because their services are expected to be in demand as the population 

ages.

Occupations that have the most growth and that typically require less than a high school diploma 

to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

Personal care aides 581 $19,910

20,820

18,260 Combined food preparation and 

serving workers, including fast food

22,320 Janitors and cleaners, except maids 

and housekeeping cleaners

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers, hand

Landscaping and groundskeeping 

workers

29,990

Cashiers

23,890

Cooks, restaurant 22,030

23,570

Waiters and waitresses

Construction laborers

Cooks, institution and cafeteria

Food servers, nonrestaurant

18,540

Bartenders

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

18,900

Packers and packagers, hand

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs

Cement masons & concrete finishers

Counter and rental clerks 23,130

19,910

22,820

Home health aides

Retail salespersons 435

424

422

280

260

242

183

150

139

132

66

87

63

54

49

47

41

40

36

21,110

19,570

18,970

22,860

Painters, construction & maintenance 35,190

19,640

35,760

<5

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

M

M

M

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).

Experience1 Training2
Occupational employment

22 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Less than a high school diploma

Of occupations that typically require less education than a high school diploma for entry, these are projected to have 

the most job openings between 2012 and 2022. Several of these occupations are related to food service. Most of 

these occupations are expected to have high numbers of job openings over the decade because of the need to replace 

existing workers who leave the occupations permanently.

Occupations that have the most job openings and that typically require less than a high school diploma 

to enter the occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of openings

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

1,956

1,556

1,530

1,268

$21,110

18,970

18,540

23,890

22,320

19,910

22,050

29,990

19,570

22,030

19,300

19,910

18,500

923

717

666

591

546

489

468

423

352

280

269

268

261

256

215

209

18,260

20,820

23,570

18,900

18,580

18,560

18,460

From growth From replacement needs Experience1 Training2

<5

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N N

N

N

N

N

N

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

M

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

Waiters and waitresses

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers, hand

Combined food preparation and 

serving workers, including fast food

Janitors and cleaners, except maids 

and housekeeping cleaners

Personal care aides

Home health aides

Cooks, restaurant

Counter attendants, cafeteria,

food concession, and coffee shop

Dining room and cafeteria attendants 

and bartender helpers

Landscaping and groundskeeping 

workers

Stock clerks and order fillers

Construction laborers

Dishwashers

Food preparation workers

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Packers and packagers, hand

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, 

lounge, and coffee shop

Bartenders

Cashiers

Retail salespersons

1 Indicates whether work experience in a related occupation is also typically needed for entry into the occupation. Assignments are

 more than 5 years (5+), less than 5 years (<5), or none (N).

2 Indicates whether on-the-job training is typically needed to attain competency in the occupation. Assignments are

 internship/residency (I/R), apprenticeship (A), long-term (L), moderate-term (M), short-term (S), or none (N).
Occupational employment

23 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Most job losses

These selected occupations are projected to lose numerous jobs over the 2012–22 decade. There are many reasons 

why occupations experience declines in employment, including increasing worker productivity. Even in these 

occupations, however, the need to replace workers who leave is expected to create some job opportunities.

Decline in employment by selected occupation, projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Median annual 

wages, May 2012

-180

-79

-54

-42

-39

-29

-21

-20

-19

-17

-16

-14

-14

-13

-13

-12

-11

-11

-11

-26

$69,300

28,010

21,270

53,090

18,670

35,270

32,400

28,630

25,370

29,690

38,390

33,960

25,440

47,500

56,490

53,090

30,220

21,470

28,810

32,330

Sewing machine operators

Postal service mail carriers

Switchboard operators, including

answering service

Postal service clerks

Data entry keyers

Word processors and typists

Industrial truck and tractor operators

Computer operators

Couriers and messengers

Door-to-door sales workers, news and

street vendors, and related workers

Executive secretaries and executive 

administrative assistants

Extruding and drawing machine setters, 

operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and 

tenders, metal and plastic

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, 

operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers

Postal service mail sorters, processors, and 

processing machine operators

Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and 

greenhouse

Reservation and transportation ticket agents 

and travel clerks

Molding, coremaking, and casting machine 

setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Farmers, ranchers, and other

agricultural managers
Labor force

24 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

The labor force is the number of people ages 16 or 

older who are either working or looking for work. 

It does not include active-duty military personnel 

or the institutionalized population, such as prison inmates. 

Increases or decreases in the size of the labor force can 

significantly affect the growth of the economy.

The size of the labor force depends on two factors. 

The first is the size of the population, which is determined 

by rates of birth, immigration, and death. The second is 

the labor force participation rate—the percentage of the 

civilian noninstitutional population ages 16 and older that 

is working or actively seeking work.

Labor force participation rates vary significantly 

between men and women and among different age, racial, 

and ethnic groups. Population growth rates also vary from 

one group to another. These variations change the composition of the labor force over time.

The charts that follow show how the labor force is 

projected to change between men and women and among 

age groups, racial groups (Asians, Blacks, Whites, and 

others), and ethnic groups (Hispanics and non-Hispanics 

of any race). BLS bases its labor force projections on U.S. 

Census Bureau population projections.

Total labor force growth is expected to be about 0.5 

percent annually between 2012 and 2022. (See table at 

right.) This average growth rate is shown as a dotted 

vertical line in the chart on page 26.

As in previous years, the labor force is projected to 

grow more slowly than the number of jobs, but this does 

not indicate a labor shortage. Instead, this discrepancy 

reflects that these two measures are based on different 

concepts.

Category Annual growth rate

2002–12 Projected 2012–22

Civilian noninstitutional 

population, 16 years and older 1.1% 0.9%

Labor force 0.7 0.5

Annual growth rates in population and labor force, 

2002–12 and projected 2012–22, in percent

Labor force
Labor force

25 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

This chart shows the sizes of the population and the labor force in 2002 and 2012 and their projected sizes in 2022. 

“Population” refers to the civilian noninstitutional population; people in this group are ages 16 or older and are not 

active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, inmates of penal or mental institutions, or in homes for the elderly. 

The labor force includes the subset of the population that is either working or currently seeking a job.

Population and labor force, 2002, 2012, and projected 2022, in millions of people

Labor force participation rates are the percentages of men and women in the population who are either working or 

looking for work. The rates for men and women have converged over the last several decades. By 2022, the rates are 

projected to fall to 68 percent for men and 56 percent for women. The overall labor force participation rate is expected 

to decline from about 64 percent in 2012 to about 62 percent in 2022.

Labor force participation rates for men and women, 1972–2012 and projected 2022, in percent

218

243

145 155 163

265

Civilian noninstitutional population,

16 years and older Labor force

2002

2012

Projected 2022

Men

Total

Women

1972

50

40

60

70

80%

1982 1992 2002 2012 Projected

2022
Labor force

26 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

The projected annual growth rate in the labor force by age shows the percent increase or decrease expected each year 

between 2012 and 2022, on average, for people in these age groups who are either working or looking for work. The 

projected rate of growth is highest for those ages 75 and older, as the baby-boom generation ages and as advances in 

heathcare allow people to live and work longer.

The projected numeric change in the labor force by age shows the number of people working or looking for work who 

are expected to be added to each age group between 2012 and 2022. The shares of the labor force ages 55 to 64 and 65 

to 74 continue to grow as the baby-boom generation ages but keeps working. 

Numeric change in labor force by age, projected 2012–22, in thousands of people

Annual growth rate in labor force by age, projected 2012–22, in percent

-2,823 Ages 16 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 and older

-3,454

2,076

3,607

4,571

1,178

3,321

-1.4%

1.0

0.6

1.4

5.6

6.4

-1.0

Ages 16 to 24

25 to 34

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 and older

35 to 44

45 to 54

Average, total labor force = 0.5%
Labor force

27 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

The percent distribution of the labor force by race shows the share of people in each race who are either working 

or looking for work. Whites’ share of the labor force is projected to fall from about 80 percent in 2012 to about 78 

percent in 2022. Other races’ shares are expected to rise as their population growth outpaces that of Whites.

Percent distribution of labor force by race, 2012 and projected 2022

77.7% 79.8%

White Black Asian All other races

11.9 12.4

5.3 6.2 3.0 3.8

2012 Projected

2022 2012 Projected2022 2012 Projected2022 2012 Projected2022

The percent distribution of the labor force by ethnic origin shows the share of people in each of these groups who are 

either working or looking for work. As the Hispanic population grows at a faster rate than the non-Hispanic group, its 

share of the labor force is projected to increase from almost 16 percent in 2012 to about 19 percent in 2022.

Percent distribution of labor force by ethnic origin, 2012 and projected 2022

19.1% 15.7%

Hispanic Non-Hispanic

80.9 84.3

2012 Projected

2022 2012 Projected2022
Labor force

28 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

The projected annual growth rate in the labor force by race and Hispanic origin shows the percent increase expected 

during the 2012–22 decade for people in these groups who are either working or looking for work. The “all other 

races” category includes American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, 

multiracial individuals, and any other people who do not identify themselves as Black, White, or Asian.

Annual growth rate in labor force by race and Hispanic origin, projected 2012–22, in percent

0.5%

Total White Black Asian Hispanic origin All other races

1.0

2.2

2.5

2.7

0.3
Industry employment

29 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

This section illustrates projected employment 

change for industries over the 2012–22 decade. 

Workers are grouped into an industry according 

to the type of good produced or service provided by 

the establishment for which they work. For example, 

all the workers on a construction company’s payroll 

are part of the construction industry, regardless of their 

specific job duties. The construction industry includes 

not only construction workers, but others—such as office 

managers and truck drivers—who perform tasks in an 

administrative or support role.

Industry employment projections are shown in terms 

of numeric change (growth or decline in the total number 

of jobs) and percent change (the rate of job growth or 

decline) over the 2012–22 decade. 

Employment growth for all wage and salary workers 

is projected to average about 11 percent between 2012 

and 2022. This average growth rate is shown as a dotted 

vertical line in the charts on pages 32 and 34.

Job growth or decline in some industries can affect 

a particular occupation significantly. The number of 

jobs for computer programmers, for example, is highly 

dependent on growth of the software industry. However, 

many occupations—such as accountants, customer service 

representatives, and human resources specialists—are in 

nearly every industry.

Employment growth in industries depends on 

industry output (the total amount produced) and 

worker productivity (how much each worker produces). 

Labor-saving technologies and methods can improve 

productivity but limit employment growth even as output 

increases. For example, output in the travel arrangement 

and reservation services industry is projected to increase, 

but employment is projected to decline. Technological 

advancements, such as online reservation systems, are 

likely to reduce the number of workers needed to offer 

travel services.

Industries shown in the charts are defined primarily 

according to the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which the federal government 

uses to sort establishments into industry categories. 

In most of the charts, industries are categorized into 

one of two groups: goods producing or service providing. 

Service-providing industries are projected to account 

for the most job growth between 2012 and 2022, adding 

about 14.1 million jobs. In goods-producing industries, 

employment is projected to stay about the same, adding 

about 1.2 million jobs over the decade. Examples of establishments for these industries are in the table on page 30.

Industry employment
Industry employment

30 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Industry sector Examples

Goods-producing industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting Soybean farming, beef cattle ranching and farming, logging

Construction Residential building construction, land subdivision, roofing contractors

Manufacturing Flour milling, breweries, footwear manufacturing

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction Natural gas liquid extraction, coal mining, stone mining and quarrying

Service-providing industries

Educational services (private) Elementary and secondary schools, flight training, fine arts schools

Federal government Postal service, federal electric utilities, federal defense government compensation

Financial activities Commercial banking, consumer lending, insurance agencies and brokerages

Health care and social assistance Home health care services, nursing and residential care facilities, 

child day care services

Information Newspaper publishers, sound recording studios, television broadcasting

Leisure and hospitality Bed-and-breakfast inns, spectator sports, amusement and theme parks

Other services Car washes, barber shops, parking lots and garages

Professional and business services Computer systems design and related services, office administrative services, 

employment services

Retail trade Furniture stores, meat markets, electronic shopping 

State and local government Local government passenger transit, state government enterprises, state and local 

government capital services

Transportation and warehousing Urban transit systems, taxi services, marine cargo handling

Utilities Electric power generation, natural gas distribution, sewage treatment facilities

Wholesale trade Office equipment, industrial supplies, confectionary merchant wholesalers

Industry sectors analyzed for the 2012–22 projections, with examples of establishments
Industry employment

31 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Employment, 2012

The percent distribution of employment is each industry sector’s share of total employment in 2012. Four industry 

sectors—healthcare and social assistance, professional and business services, state and local government, and 

retail trade—accounted for nearly half of all employment.

Service-providing industries Goods-producing industries Nonwage and salary employment

1, Mining

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Financial activities

Professional and business services

Educational services

Health care and

social assistance

Leisure and

hospitality

Other services

State and local 

government

Federal 

government

Self-employed and 

unpaid family workers

Retail trade

Information

4 7

8

4

10

5

12

2

12

9

4

2

13

2

3

1, Agriculture, forestry, 

fishing and hunting

Transportation and 

warehousing

<1, Utilities

Percent distribution of employment by major industry sector, 2012
Industry employment

32 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Percent change in employment

This chart shows the rate at which jobs are expected to be added or lost over the 2012–22 decade in each major 

industry sector. The health care and social assistance sector and the construction sector are projected to continue 

growing more than twice as fast as the average for all industries. In construction, projected rapid employment growth 

represents the continued recovery of significant job losses that occurred during the 2007–09 recession.

Percent change in employment of wage and salary workers by industry sector, projected 2012–22

Average, all wage and salary workers = 11%

Health care and social assistance

Other services

Mining

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

State and local government

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Information

Manufacturing

Utilities

Federal government

Transportation and warehousing

Leisure and hospitality

Educational services

Professional and business services

Financial activities

Construction

29%

29

20

19

15

11

10

9

8

7

7

5

-2

-2

-5

-14

-10

Service-providing industries

Goods-producing industries
Industry employment

33 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Numeric change in employment

This chart shows how many jobs are expected to be gained or lost between 2012 and 2022 in each major industry 

sector. Employment growth is projected in health care and social assistance because of advances in medicine and 

technology that allow people to live longer and to seek treatment for diseases.

Numeric change in employment of wage and salary workers by industry sector, 

 projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

3,483

1,622

1,289

1,091

929

751

675

649

470

327

121

-25

-56

-65

-550

-408

Health care and social assistance 4,994

Educational services

Other services

Wholesale trade

Transportation and warehousing

Mining

Utilities

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Information

Manufacturing

Retail trade

State and local government

Financial activities

Professional and business services

Construction

Leisure and hospitality

Federal government

Service-providing industries

Goods-producing industries
Industry employment

34 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Fastest growing industries

This chart shows how fast industries are expected to add jobs over the 2012–22 decade. Many of these industries are 

related to health care. Employment in professional and business services sectors also is projected to grow quickly 

due to an increased use of complex technologies—and a need for workers who understand those technologies.

Percent growth in employment of wage and salary workers by detailed industry, projected 2012–22

Home health care services

Individual and family services

Office administrative services

Construction

Facilities support services

Software publishers

Employment services

Nursing and residential care facilities

Child day care services

Offices of health practitioners

Management, scientific, and

technical consulting services

Computer systems design and

related services

Cement and concrete product 

manufacturing

Outpatient, laboratory, and other

ambulatory care services

Junior colleges, colleges, universities, 

and professional schools

Other professional, scientific, and 

technical services

Commercial and industrial machinery 

and equipment rental and leasing

Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood 

product manufacturing

Other educational services

Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles

60%

54

45

41

38

35

34

31

31

31

29

26

26

25

25

24

24

24

24

23

Average, all wage and salary workers = 11%

Service-providing industries

Goods-producing industries
Industry employment

35 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Most new jobs

These industries are projected to add the most new jobs between 2012 and 2022. Industries that are projected to 

have large numeric growth usually already have the highest levels of employment. All of the projected growth in 

construction is to regain jobs that were lost during the 2007–09 recession, but these 1.6 million jobs are still not 

expected to be enough to return construction employment to its prerecession level. Five other industries projected to 

gain the most jobs are related to health care.

Numeric growth in employment of wage and salary workers by detailed industry, 

 projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Construction

Offices of health practitioners

Retail trade

Food services and drinking places

Hospitals

Employment services

Wholesale trade

Services to buildings and dwellings

Child day care services

Accommodation

Home health care services

Computer systems design and 

related services

Management, scientific, and

technical consulting services

General local government educational 

services compensation

Junior colleges, colleges, universities, 

and professional schools

Outpatient, laboratory, and other 

ambulatory care services

Architectural, engineering, and 

related services

Securities, commodity contracts, & 

other financial investments & related

Nursing and residential care facilities

Individual and family services

1,091

888

815

782

761

716

712

609

522

470

456

187

182

197

272

279

433

454

1,226

1,622

Service-providing industries

Goods-producing industries
Industry employment

36 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2013–14 • www.bls.gov/ooq

Most job losses

These industries are projected to have the largest declines in the number of jobs between 2012 and 2022. Nearly half 

are manufacturing industries, which together are projected to lose more than 400,000 jobs. A decline in industry 

employment is usually the result of falling demand for specific goods and services, increased imports that reduce 

domestic production, or the use of technology that improves worker productivity. Even with decreases in employment, 

however, some openings are expected because of the need to replace workers who leave the industry permanently. 

Numeric decline in employment of workers by detailed industry, 

 projected 2012–22, in thousands of jobs

Communications equipment manufacturing 

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 

Semiconductor and other electronic 

component manufacturing 

Plastics product manufacturing 

Computer and peripheral equipment 

manufacturing 

Couriers and messengers 

Telecommunications

Textile mills and textile product mills 

Apparel manufacturing 

Animal production*

Crop production*

State government enterprises 

Other miscellaneous manufacturing 

Postal Service

Air transportation 

Navigational, measuring, electromedical, 

and control instruments manufacturing 

General federal defense government 

compensation 

Electric power generation, transmission, 

and distribution

General federal non-defense government 

compensation 

Newspaper, periodical, book, and

directory publishers

-180

-169

-144

-105

-86

-57

-58

-70

-52

-52

-51

-46

-40

-39

-33

-31

-31

-31

-44

-45

* This detailed industry includes self-employed and unpaid 

family workers in addition to wage and salary workers.

Service-providing industries

Goods-producing industries