1

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 http://www.bls.gov/emp/

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-1847

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

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 projections, 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 industries 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 assistance, 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 manufacturing 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 consulting 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.)

N

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

ews United States 

Department 

of Labor 
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 bachelor’s 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 occupations 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 significant 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.)

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.)
3

• 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. Employment 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 requirements, 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 presentation 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.

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, Occupational 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 the 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.
1996 2006 2016 1996- 

2006

2006-

2016 1996 2006 2016 1996-2006

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 house-

 hold 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

Average 

annual rate of 

change

 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.

Percent distribution

 5 Wage and salary workers who hold a secondary job as a self-employed or unpaid family worker.

Table 1. Employment by major industry sector, 1996, 2006, and projected 2016

employed, unpaid family workers, and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting are from the Current Population Survey, which counts 

Population Survey. Logging workers are excluded.

 2 Includes wage and salary data from the Current Employment Statistics survey, except private households, which is from the Current

 1 Employment data for wage and salary workers are from the BLS Current Employment Statistics survey, which counts jobs, whereas self-

(In thousands)

Industry sector

Employment Change
(In thousands)

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

(In thousands)

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

(In thousands)

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).

 1 Data are from the National Employment Matrix.

Table 4. Employment by major occupational group, 2006 and projected 2016

Occupational group Employment Percent distribution Change

Industry Employment Change

Change Industry Employment

 1 Data are from the National Employment Matrix.

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

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

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

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

Office clerks, general ..................................................................Office and administrative support occupations ......... 3,200 3,604 404 12.6 Short-term on-the-job 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 trainingPostsecondary teachers ............................................................ Professional and related occupations 2 .................. 1,672 2,054 382 22.9 Doctoral degree

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners ...... Service occupations ... 3 .......................................... 2,387 2,732 345 14.5 Short-term on-the-job trainingNursing aides, orderlies, and attendants ....................................... Service occupations 3 .......................................... 1,447 1,711 264 18.2 Postsecondary vocational awardBookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks .................................Office and administrative support occupations ......... 2,114 2,377 264 12.5 Moderate-term on-the-job training

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

Child care workers .....................................................................Service occupations 3 .......................................... 1,388 1,636 248 17.8 Short-term on-the-job trainingExecutive secretaries and administrative assistants ........................ Office and administrative support occupations ......... 1,618 1,857 239 14.8 Work experience in a related occupationComputer 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 trainingElementary school teachers, except special education .....................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 1,540 1,749 209 13.6 Bachelor's degreeReceptionists and information clerks .............................................Office and administrative support occupations ......... 1,173 1,375 202 17.2 Short-term on-the-job training

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

Maids and housekeeping cleaners ................................................Service occupations 3 .......................................... 1,470 1,656 186 12.7 Short-term on-the-job trainingSecurity guards ........................................................................Service occupations 3 .......................................... 1,040 1,216 175 16.9 Short-term on-the-job trainingCarpenters ..............................................................................Construction and extraction occupations .................. 1,462 1,612 150 10.3 Long-term on-the-job trainingManagement analysts ...............................................................Management, business, and financial occupations 4 ... 678 827 149 21.9 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus

work experience

Medical assistants .....................................................................Service occupations 3 .......................................... 417 565 148 35.4 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingComputer systems analysts .........................................................Professional and related occupations 2 .................. 504 650 146 29.0 Bachelor's degree

Maintenance and repair workers, general .......................................Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ...... 1,391 1,531 140 10.1 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingNetwork systems and data communications analysts ........................Professional and related 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 trainingTeacher assistants .....................................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 1,312 1,449 137 10.4 Short-term on-the-job training

 3 Major occupational groups 31-0000 through 39-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).

Occupational group

 4 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). 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 

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,

Table 5. The 30 occupations with the largest employment growth, 2006-2016Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).

Occupation

Employment Change Most significant source of 

postsecondary education or training 1
Table 6. The 30 fastest-growing occupations, 2006-2016

(In thousands)

2006 2016 Percent Number

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

Personal and home care aides ................................................. Service occupations ... 3 .......................................... 767 1,156 50.6 389 Short-term on-the-job trainingHome health aides ...................................................................Service occupations 3 .......................................... 787 1,171 48.7 384 Short-term on-the-job trainingComputer software engineers, applications ................................. Professional and related occupations 2 .................. 507 733 44.6 226 Bachelor's degree

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skin care specialists ............................................................... Service occupations 3 .......................................... 38 51 34.3 13 Postsecondary vocational awardFinancial analysts .................................................................. Management, business, and financial occupations 4 ... 221 295 33.8 75 Bachelor's degree

Social and human service assistants ..........................................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 339 453 33.6 114 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingGaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators .................. Service occupations 3 .......................................... 9 12 33.6 3 Moderate-term on-the-job training

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

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

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

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

Mental health counselors .........................................................Professional and related occupations 2 .................. 100 130 30.0 30 Master's degreeMental health and substance abuse social workers ........................Professional and related occupations 2 .................. 122 159 29.9 37 Master's degreeMarriage and family therapists ...................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 25 32 29.8 7 Master's degree

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

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

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

Computer software engineers, systems software ...........................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 350 449 28.2 99 Bachelor's degreeGaming and sports book writers and runners .................................Service occupations 3 .......................................... 18 24 28.0 5 Short-term on-the-job training

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

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

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

Physician assistants ............................................................... Professional and related occupations 2 .................. 66 83 27.0 18 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 

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,

Most significant source of 

postsecondary education or training 1 Occupation

Employment Change

Occupational group

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)

Change

2006 2016 Number

Retail salespersons ..............................................................

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

Cashiers, except gaming ......................................................

...Sales and related occupations .............................. 3,500 3,382 -118 1,664 1,664 Short-term on-the-job 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 support occupations .........

... 2,202 2,747 545 613 1,158 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Registered nurses ...............................................................

...Professional and related occupations 4 ..................

... 2,505 3,092 587 413 1,001 Associate degree

Office clerks, general ............................................................

...Office and administrative support occupations .........

... 3,200 3,604 404 587 991 Short-term on-the-job training

Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food ........................................................................

...Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 2,503 2,955 452 475 927 Short-term on-the-job training

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand ...............

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

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners ... Service occupations ... 3 .......................................

... 2,387 2,732 345 457 802 Short-term on-the-job training

Postsecondary teachers ......................................................... Professional and related occupations 4 ..................

... 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 auditing clerks ...........................

...Office and administrative support occupations .........

... 2,114 2,377 264 331 594 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Elementary school teachers, except special education ...............

...Professional and related occupations 4 ..................

... 1,540 1,749 209 336 545 Bachelor's degree

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer ....................................

...Transportation and material moving occupations ...... 1,860 2,053 193 330 523 Moderate-term on-the-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 administrative assistants ..................... Office and administrative support occupations .........

... 1,618 1,857 239 258 497 Work experience in a related occupation

Receptionists and information clerks .......................................

...Office and administrative support occupations .........

... 1,173 1,375 202 287 489 Short-term on-the-job training

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products ..........................................

...Sales and related occupations .............................. 1,562 1,693 131 345 476 Work experience in a 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 5 ... 1,274 1,500 226 224 450 Bachelor's degree

General and operations managers ..........................................

...Management, business, and financial occupations 5 ... 1,720 1,746 26 415 441 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop ...

...Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 533 587 54 370 424 Short-term on-the-job training

First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers ...............

...Sales and related occupations .............................. 1,676 1,747 71 352 423 Work experience in a related occupation

Stock clerks and order fillers ................................................... Office and administrative support occupations .........

... 1,705 1,574 -131 405 405 Short-term on-the-job training

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants .................................... Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 1,447 1,711 264 130 393 Postsecondary vocational award

Security guards ..................................................................

...Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 1,040 1,216 175 211 387 Short-term on-the-job training

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers ..............................

...Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 1,220 1,441 221 161 382 Short-term on-the-job training

First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers ...............................................................

...Office and administrative support occupations .........

... 1,418 1,500 82 293 374 Work experience in a related occupation

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,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).

Occupation

Net 

replacement 

needs

Total job 

openings due 

to growth and 

net 

replacements 1

Most significant source of postsecondary 

education or training 2

2 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

Employment

1 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

Occupational group

5 Major occupational groups 11-0000 through 13-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).

Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).

3 Major occupational groups 31-0000 through 39-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).4 Major occupational groups 15-0000 through 29-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
(In thousands)

2006 2016 Number Percent

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

Cashiers, except gaming ........................................................................Sales and related occupations ................................. 3,500 3,382 -118 -3.4 Short-term on-the-job trainingPackers and packagers, hand ..................................................................Transportation and material moving occupations ......... 834 730 -104 -12.4 Short-term on-the-job training

File clerks .............................................................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 234 137 -97 -41.3 Short-term on-the-job trainingFarmers and ranchers ...........................................................................Management, business, and financial occupations 2 ... 1,058 969 -90 -8.5 Long-term on-the-job training

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

Sewing machine operators .....................................................................Production occupations .......................................... 233 170 -63 -27.2 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingElectrical and electronic equipment assemblers ..........................................Production occupations .......................................... 213 156 -57 -26.8 Short-term on-the-job trainingCutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic ....................................................................................... Production occupations .......................................... 272 231 -40 -14.9 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingTelemarketers .......................................................................................Sales and related occupations ................................. 395 356 -39 -9.9 Short-term on-the-job trainingInspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers ....................................Production occupations .......................................... 491 457 -35 -7.0 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingFirst-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers ...............Production occupations .......................................... 699 665 -34 -4.8 Work experience in a related occupationComputer operators ..............................................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 130 98 -32 -24.7 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingPhotographic processing machine operators ................................................Production occupations .......................................... 49 25 -25 -49.8 Short-term on-the-job training

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

Machine feeders and offbearers ...............................................................Transportation and material moving occupations ......... 148 125 -22 -15.2 Short-term on-the-job trainingPackaging and filling machine operators and tenders ....................................Production occupations .......................................... 386 365 -21 -5.4 Short-term on-the-job trainingWord processors and typists .................................................................. Office and administrative support occupations ............ 179 158 -21 -11.6 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingPaper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders ................................. Production occupations .......................................... 113 93 -21 -18.2 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingFarmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse ...........................Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............... 603 583 -20 -3.4 Short-term on-the-job training

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

Computer programmers ........................................................................ Professional and related occupations 3 ..................... 435 417 -18 -4.1 Bachelor's degreeMail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service ........................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 152 134 -18 -11.6 Short-term on-the-job trainingPostal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators ......Office and administrative support occupations ............ 198 181 -17 -8.4 Short-term on-the-job trainingGrinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic .....................................................................Production occupations .......................................... 101 85 -16 -15.7 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingLathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic ............................................................................................. Production occupations .......................................... 68 52 -16 -23.3 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Prepress technicians and workers ............................................................Production occupations .......................................... 71 56 -15 -21.1 Postsecondary vocational awardSwitchboard operators, including answering service .................................... Office and administrative support occupations ............ 177 163 -15 -8.4 Short-term on-the-job training

Data entry keyers .................................................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 313 299 -15 -4.7 Moderate-term on-the-job trainingBindery workers ....................................................................................Production occupations .......................................... 65 51 -14 -21.8 Short-term on-the-job training

Table 8. The 30 occupations with the largest employment declines, 2006-2016(Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).

Occupation

Employment Most significant source of postsecondary 

education or training 1

Change

Occupational group

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).

 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 
(In thousands)

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

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).

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

(In thousands)

1996- 2006- 1996- 2006- 1996- 2006-

2006 2016 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 origin ...... 121,169 130,734 137,343 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

NOTE: Dash indicates no data collected for category.

2016

 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.

1996 2006 2016

Table 9. Employment and total job openings by postsecondary education and training category

Number

Annual growth rate 

(percent) Level Change Percent change Percent distribution

Age, sex, race, and ethnicity

1996 2006

Most significant source

of postsecondary

education and training 1

 1 An occupation is placed into 1 of 11 categories that best describes the postsecondary education or training needed by most workers

Employment Change

Percent distribution 2006-2016