For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, December 10, 2009 USDL-09-1503 

Technical information: (202) 691-5700 • ep-info@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/emp 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

NOTE: This release was reissued on Friday, December 11, 2009, to correct the 

website address in the footnote in tables 6-10. This correction did not affect any data 

or analysis in the release. 

EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS – 2008-18 

Total employment is projected to increase by 15.3 million, or 10.1 percent, during the 2008-18 period, 

the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The projections show an aging and more racially and 

ethnically diverse labor force, and employment growth in service-providing industries. More than half of 

the new jobs will be in professional and related occupations and service occupations. In addition, occupations where a postsecondary degree or award is usually required are expected to account for one-third 

of total job openings during the projection period. Job openings from replacement needs—those which 

occur when workers who retire or otherwise leave their occupations need to be replaced—are projected 

to be more than double the number of openings due to economic growth. 

The projected growth for the 2008-18 period is larger than the increase of 10.4 million over the 1998-

2008 period, or 7.4 percent. The relatively slow growth rate for the earlier 10-year period was affected 

by the recession which began in December 2007, and the projected growth rate is higher than would 

otherwise be expected because the 2008 starting point is a recession year. 

This news release focuses on four areas for which BLS develops projections—labor force, industry 

employment, occupational employment, and education and training. 

Labor Force 

The civilian labor force is projected to grow by 12.6 million between 2008 and 2018, to 166.9 million 

persons. Slower population growth and a decreasing overall labor force participation rate are expected 

to contribute to a slowdown in labor force growth. The projected 8.2-percent increase for the 2008-18 

period is less than the 12.1-percent growth that occurred between 1998 and 2008. (See table 1.) 

As the members of the large baby boom generation grow older and continue their trend of increased 

labor force participation, the number of persons age 55 years and older in the labor force is expected to 

increase by 12.0 million, or 43.0 percent, during the 2008-18 period. Persons in the 55 years and older 

age group are projected to make up nearly one-quarter of the labor force in 2018. Young people (age 
- 2 - 

.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

1998 2008 2018 projected

Chart 1. Percent distribution of the civilian labor force by age, 1998, 

2008 and projected 2018

16‐24

25‐54

55 and older

16-24) are expected to account for 12.7 percent of the labor force in 2018, and persons in the primeage working group (age 25 to 54) to account for 63.5 percent of the 2018 labor force. (See chart 1.) 

The labor force in 2018 will be more diverse. As a result of higher population growth among minorities—due to higher birth rates and increased immigration, along with higher labor force participation 

rates by Hispanics and Asians—the share of the labor force held by minorities is projected to increase 

significantly. Whites will remain the largest race group in the labor force in 2018 (79.4 percent) despite growing by just 5.5 percent between 2008 and 2018. The number of Asians in the labor force is 

projected to increase by 29.8 percent and the number of blacks by 14.1 percent. In 2018, Asians are 

projected to comprise 5.6 percent of the labor force and blacks to make up 12.1 percent. 

Hispanics (who can be of any race) will join the labor force in greater numbers than non-Hispanics. The 

number of Hispanics in the labor force is projected to grow by 7.3 million or 33.1 percent. Their share of 

the labor force will expand from 14.3 percent in 2008 to 17.6 percent in 2018. In contrast, the number of 

persons in the labor force not of Hispanic origin is expected to grow by 4.0 percent, and their share of 

the labor force to decline to 82.4 percent. (See chart 2.) 

Industry Employment 

Projected employment growth is concentrated in the service-providing sector, continuing a long-term 

shift from the goods-producing sector of the economy. From 2008 to 2018, service-providing industries 

are projected to add 14.6 million jobs, or 96 percent of the increase in total employment. The 2 industry 

sectors expected to have the largest employment growth are professional and business services (4.2 million) and health care and social assistance (4.0 million). Goods-producing employment, as a whole, is 

expected to show virtually no growth. While employment in the construction industry is projected to 
- 3 - 

.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

1998 2008 2018 projected

Chart 2. Percent distribution of the civilian labor force by 

ethnicity, 1998, 2008, and projected 2018 

Hispanic

non-Hispanic

increase by 1.3 million, declines in manufacturing (-1.2 million) and mining (-104,000) will nearly offset this growth. By 2018, the goods-producing sector is expected to account for 12.9 percent of total 

jobs, down from 17.3 percent in 1998 and 14.2 percent in 2008. (See table 2 and chart 3.) 

Three of the 10 detailed industries projected to have the most employment growth are in professional 

and business services: management, scientific, and technical consulting; computer systems design; and 

employment services. Altogether, these 3 industries are expected to add 2.1 million jobs. Four of the top 

10 gainers are in health care and social assistance industries. Employment in offices of physicians, home 

health care, services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, and nursing care facilities is expected 

to grow by 2.0 million. (See table 3.) 

Of the 10 detailed industries with the largest projected employment declines, 4 are in the manufacturing 

sector and 2 each are within retail trade and information. The largest decline among the detailed industries is expected to be in department stores, with a loss of 159,000 jobs, followed by manufacturers of 

semiconductors (-146,000) and motor vehicle parts (-101,000). (See table 4.) 

Occupational Employment 

Two major occupational groups—professional and related occupations and service occupations—are 

projected to provide more than half of the total employment growth during the 2008-18 period. Production occupations are projected to decline. The 30 detailed occupations with the largest gains in employment are expected to account for nearly half of all new jobs, and 17 of these occupations are professsional and related occupations and service occupations. The detailed occupation projected to add the 

most jobs is registered nurses (582,000), followed by home health aides (461,000) and customer service 

representatives (400,000). All but 3 of the top 30 fastest-growing detailed occupations are found within 

professional and related occupations and service occupations. Seventeen of these rapidly growing 

occupations are related to healthcare or medical research. (See tables 5, 6, and 7 and chart 4.) 
- 4 - 

‐1,206

‐104

95

118

386

557

805

809

910

1,142

1,337

1,591

3,997

4,190

Manufacturing 

Mining 

Federal government 

Information 

Transportation and utilities 

Financial activities 

Educational services 

Other services 

Retail and wholesale trade 

Leisure and hospitality 

Construction 

State and local government 

Healthcare and social assistance 

Professional and business services 

Chart 3. Employment growth by major industry, 2008-18

Of the 30 detailed occupations projected to have the largest employment declines, 12 are production 

occupations and 11 are office and administrative support occupations. (See table 8.) 

Education and Training 

Occupations that usually require a postsecondary degree or award are expected to account for nearly half 

of all new jobs from 2008 to 2018 and one-third of total job openings. Among the education and training 

categories, the fastest growth will occur in occupations requiring an associate degree. (See table 9.) 

Short- and moderate-term on-the-job training are the most significant sources of postsecondary education or training for 17 of the 30 detailed occupations projected to have the largest employment 

growth. However, in terms of percent growth, 14 of the 30 fastest growing detailed occupations have 

a bachelor′s degree or higher as the most significant source of postsecondary education or training. 

(See tables 6 and 7.) 

Of the 30 detailed occupations projected to have the largest employment declines, 17 are classified as 

having short-term on-the-job training as the most significant source of education and training, and 10 

are in the moderate-term on-the-job training category. (See table 8.) 

Total job openings during the 2008-18 period are projected to be 50.9 million, and 19.6 million of these 

jobs are expected to be in the short-term on-the-job training category. Sixteen of the 30 detailed occupations with the most job openings will have short-term on-the-job training as the most significant source 

of education and training. (See tables 9 and 10.) 
- 5 - 

‐349

‐9

391

440

980

1,019

1,664

1,842

4,069

5,227

Production    

Farming, fishing, and forestry    

Transportation and material moving   

Installation, maintenance, and repair    

Sales and related    

Construction and extraction    

Management, business, and financial   

Office and administrative support    

Service    

Professional and related   

Chart 4. Employment growth by major occupational group, 2008-18

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. Employment and 

labor force measures differ in concept. Employment is a count of jobs, and persons who hold more than 

one job would be counted for each job. Labor force is a count of individuals, and a person is counted 

only once regardless of how many jobs he or she holds. 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 "Employment projections, 2008-18," Kristina Bartsch, November 2009 Monthly Labor Review. 

More Information 

The 10-year projections of industry and occupational employment, labor force, and economic growth 

are widely used in career guidance, in education and training program planning, and in studying longrange employment trends. The projections, which are updated every 2 years, provide information to 

individuals who are making decisions regarding education and training, entering the job market, or 

changing careers. 

More detailed information on the 2008-18 projections appears in five articles in the November 2009 

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 www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/mlrhome.htm. 

The 2010-11 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career Guide to Industries will 

feature the 2008-18 projections in assessing job prospects, work activities, wages, education and training 
- 6 - 

requirements, and more for numerous occupations and industries. The updated Handbook and Career 

Guide will be available online on December 17, 2009, at www.bls.gov/oco and www.bls.gov/oco/cg/, 

respectively. A graphic presentation of the highlights of the projections appears in the Winter 2009-10 

issue of the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, available online on December 10, 2009, at 

www.bls.gov/ooq. 

Tables with detailed, comprehensive statistics used in preparing the projections are available online at 

www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm and projections methodology can be accessed at 

www.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm. 

Print versions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook and Occupational Outlook Quarterly are sold by 

the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20401. To order, visit 

www.bls.gov/emp/ep_current_publications.htm. 

Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. 

Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Services: (800) 877-8339.
Table 1. Civilian labor force by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin, 1998, 2008, and projected 2018

(In thousands)Total, 16 years and older .........

... 137,673 154,287 166,911 16,614 12,624 12.1 8.2 100.0 100.0 100

Age, years:

16 to 24 .............................. 21,894 22,032 21,131 138 -901 .6 -4.1 15.9 14.3 1225 to 54 .............................. 98,718 104,396 105,944 5,678 1,548 5.8 1.5 71.7 67.7 6355 and older ........................ 17,061 27,857 39,836 10,796 11,979 63.3 43.0 12.4 18.1 23

Sex: Men .................................

... 73,959 82,520 88,682 8,561 6,162 11.6 7.5 53.7 53.5 53

 Women .............................. 63,714 71,767 78,229 8,053 6,462 12.6 9.0 46.3 46.5 46Race: White ................................. 115,415 125,635 132,490 10,220 6,855 8.9 5.5 83.8 81.4 79 Black ................................. 15,982 17,740 20,244 1,758 2,504 11.0 14.1 11.6 11.5 12 Asian ................................. 6,278 7,202 9,345 924 2,143 14.7 29.8 4.6 4.7 5 All other groups 1 .................. – 3,710 4,832 – 1,122 – 30.2 – 2.4 2

Ethnicity: Hispanic origin ..................... 14,317 22,024 29,304 7,707 7,280 53.8 33.1 10.4 14.3 17 Other than Hispanic origin ...... 123,356 132,263 137,607 8,907 5,344 7.2 4.0 89.6 85.7 82 White non-Hispanic............

... 101,767 105,210 106,834 3,443 1,624 3.4 1.5 73.9 68.2 64

2008-

2018

2008 2018

 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 

(2b) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders. NOTE: Dash indicates no data collected for category. Details may not sum to totals because of rounding.

Age, sex, race, and ethnicity

Level Change Percent change Percent distribution 

1998 2008 2018 1998 1998- 2008 2008- 2018 1998- 2008
(In thousands)

1998 2008 2018 1998-2008 2008-2018 1998 2008 2018 1998-200

Total 1............................................................ 140,564 150,932 166,206 10,368 15,274 100.0 100.0 100.0 0.7 

Nonagriculture wage and salary 2........................ 126,625 137,815 152,443 11,190 14,629 90.1 91.3 91.7 .9 Goods-producing, excluding agriculture............... 24,274 21,363 21,390 -2,911 27 17.3 14.2 12.9 -1.3 

 Mining......................................................... 565 717 613 152 -104 .4 .5 .4 2.4 

 Construction................................................ 6,149 7,215 8,552 1,066 1,337 4.4 4.8 5.1 1.6  Manufacturing................................................ 17,560 13,431 12,225 -4,128 -1,206 12.5 8.9 7.4 -2.6 

Service-providing ............................................. 102,351 116,452 131,053 14,101 14,601 72.8 77.2 78.8 1.3 

 Utilities......................................................... 613 560 500 -54 -59 .4 .4 .3 -.9 

 Wholesale trade............................................. 5,795 5,964 6,220 169 256 4.1 4.0 3.7 .3 

 Retail trade................................................... 14,610 15,356 16,010 747 654 10.4 10.2 9.6 .5 

 Transportation and warehousing........................ 4,168 4,505 4,950 337 445 3.0 3.0 3.0 .8 

 Information................................................... 3,218 2,997 3,115 -222 118 2.3 2.0 1.9 -.7  Financial activities.......................................... 7,462 8,146 8,703 683 557 5.3 5.4 5.2 .9  Professional and business services.................. 15,147 17,778 21,968 2,632 4,190 10.8 11.8 13.2 1.6  Educational services....................................... 2,233 3,037 3,842 804 805 1.6 2.0 2.3 3. Health care and social assistance..................... 12,214 15,819 19,816 3,605 3,997 8.7 10.5 11.9 2.6 

 Leisure and hospitality.................................... 11,232 13,459 14,601 2,227 1,142 8.0 8.9 8.8 1.8  Other services............................................. 5,750 6,333 7,142 583 809 4.1 4.2 4.3 1.0  Federal government....................................... 2,772 2,764 2,859 -8 95 2.0 1.8 1.7 .0 

 State and local government.............................. 17,137 19,735 21,327 2,598 1,591 12.2 13.1 12.8 1.4 

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting 3............ 2,528 2,098 2,020 -430 -78 1.8 1.4 1.2 -1.8 

Agriculture wage and salary.............................. 1,373 1,210 1,206 -163 -3 1.0 .8 .7 -1.3 Agriculture self-employed and unpaid family workers...................................................... 1,155 889 814 -267 -75 .8 .6 .5 -2.6 

Nonagriculture self-employed and unpaid family

 workers......................................................... 9,342 9,313 9,943 -30 631 6.6 6.2 6.0 .0 

Secondary wage and salary jobs in agriculture

 and private household industries 4..................... 172 182 192 9 10 .1 .1 .1 .5 

Secondary jobs as a self-employed or unpaid

 family worker 5................................................ 1,897 1,524 1,607 -372 83 1.3 1.0 1.0 -2.2 

5 Wage and salary workers who hold a secondary job as a self-employed or unpaid family worker.1 Employment data for wage and salary workers are from the BLS Current Employment Statistics survey, which counts jobs, whereas self-employed, unpaid family wo

agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting are from the Current Population Survey (household survey), which counts workers.

2 Includes wage and salary data from the Current Employment Statistics survey, except private households, which is from the Current Population Survey. Logging wor

excluded.

3 Includes agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting data from the Current Population Survey, except logging, which is from the Current Employment Statistics survey. 

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.

Table 2. Employment by major industry sector, 1998, 2008, and projected 2018

Industry sector

Employment Change Percent distribution Average 

c
(In thousands)

2008 2018 

Management, scientific, and technical consulting services...............Professional and business services......... 1,009 1,84

Offices of physicians...............................................................Health care and social assistance......... 2,266 3,03

Computer systems design and related services........................... Professional and business services......... 1,450 2,10

Other general merchandise stores.............................................Retail trade....................................... 1,490 2,09Employment services...............................................................Professional and business services......... 3,144 3,74Local government, excluding education and hospitals.....................Government....................................... 5,819 6,30Home health care services...................................................... Health care and social assistance......... 958 1,39Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.....................Health care and social assistance......... 585 1,01

Nursing care facilities...............................................................Health care and social assistance......... 1,614 2,00Full-service restaurants............................................................Accommodation and food services......... 4,598 4,94

1 Data are from the National Employment Matrix.

(In thousands)

2008 2018 

Department stores..................................................................Retail trade....................................... 1,557 1,39

Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing.........Manufacturing.................................... 432 28

Motor vehicle parts manufacturing.............................................Manufacturing.................................... 544 44Postal service........................................................................Government....................................... 748 65Printing and related support activities..........................................Manufacturing.................................... 594 49Cut and sew apparel manufacturing.......................................... Manufacturing.................................... 155 6Newspaper publishers............................................................Information....................................... 326 24

Support activities for mining......................................................Mining............................................. 328 25Gasoline stations.................................................................. Retail trade....................................... 843 76

Wired telecommunications carriers.............................................Information....................................... 666 59

1 Data are from the National Employment Matrix.

Table 3. The 10 industries with the largest wage and salary employment growth, 2008-18 1

Industry Employment 

Sector

Table 4. The 10 industries with the largest wage and salary employment declines, 2008-18 1

Industry Sector Employment 
(In thousands)

2008 2018 2008 2018 Percent Nu

Total, all occupations ................................................... 166,206 150,932 100.0 100.0 10.1 15

Management, business, and financial occupations 1 ............ 17,411 15,747 10.4 10.5 10.6 1

Professional and related occupations 2 ........................... 36,280 31,054 20.6 21.8 16.8 5

Service occupations 3 ................................................... 33,645 29,576 19.6 20.2 13.8 4

Sales and related occupations ...................................... 15,903 16,883 10.5 10.2 6.2 

Office and administrative support occupations .................. 25,943 24,101 16.0 15.6 7.6 1

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ........................ 1,026 1,035 .7 .6 -.9 

Construction and extraction occupations ......................... 8,829 7,810 5.2 5.3 13.0 1Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ............... 6,238 5,798 3.8 3.8 7.6 Production occupations ................................................. 9,734 10,083 6.7 5.9 -3.5 

Transportation and material moving occupations ............... 10,217 9,826 6.5 6.1 4.0 

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

Table 5. Employment by major occupational group, 2008 and projected 2018

Occupational group Employment Percent distribution Change

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

2008 2018 Number Percent

Registered nurses......................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 2,619 3,200 582 22.2 Associate d

Home health aides......................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 922 1,383 461 50.0 Short-term o

Customer service representatives.................................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 2,252 2,652 400 17.7 Moderate-te

Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food......................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 2,702 3,096 394 14.6 Short-term o

Personal and home care aides.......................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 817 1,193 376 46.0 Short-term o

Retail salespersons................................................... Sales and related occupations ................................. 4,489 4,864 375 8.4 Short-term o

Office clerks, general...................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 3,024 3,383 359 11.9 Short-term o

Accountants and auditors.............................................Management, business, and financial occupations 4 ... 1,291 1,570 279 21.7 Bachelor's d

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants........................ Service occupations 3 ............................................. 1,470 1,746 276 18.8 Postsecond

Postsecondary teachers............................................. Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 1,699 1,956 257 15.1 Doctoral deConstruction laborers...................................................Construction and extraction occupations .................. 1,249 1,505 256 20.5 Moderate-te

Elementary school teachers, except special education......Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 1,550 1,794 244 15.8 Bachelor's d

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer...........................Transportation and material moving occupations ......... 1,798 2,031 233 13.0 Short-term o

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers.....................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 1,206 1,423 217 18.0 Short-term o

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks..................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 2,064 2,276 212 10.3 Moderate-te

Executive secretaries and administrative assistants......... Office and administrative support occupations ............ 1,594 1,799 204 12.8 Work experManagement analysts................................................ Management, business, and financial occupations 4 ... 747 925 178 23.9 Bachelor's o

Computer software engineers, applications.....................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 515 690 175 34.0 Bachelor's d

Receptionists and information clerks..............................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 1,139 1,312 173 15.2 Short-term o

Carpenters...............................................................Construction and extraction occupations .................. 1,285 1,450 165 12.9 Long-term o

Medical assistants......................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 484 648 164 33.9 Moderate-te

First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers......................................Office and administrative support occupations ............ 1,457 1,618 160 11.0 Work exper

Network systems and data communications analysts.........Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 292 448 156 53.4 Bachelor's d

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses............Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 754 909 156 20.7 PostsecondSecurity guards.........................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 1,077 1,229 153 14.2 Short-term o

Waiters and waitresses................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 2,382 2,533 152 6.4 Short-term oMaintenance and repair workers, general........................Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ...... 1,361 1,509 148 10.9 Moderate-te

Physicians and surgeons.............................................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 661 806 144 21.8 First profess

Child care workers......................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 1,302 1,444 142 10.9 Short-term o

Teacher assistants......................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ..................... 1,313 1,448 135 10.3 Short-term o

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

Table 6. The 30 occupations with the largest employment growth, 2008-18

Occupation Occupational group

Employment Change Most s

 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 occu

categories, see Measures of Education and Training, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm.

 2 Major occupational groups 15-0000 through 29-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). 3 Major occupational groups 31-0000 through 39-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
Table 7. The 30 fastest-growing occupations, 2008-18

(In thousands)

2008 2018 Percent Number

Biomedical engineers......................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 16 28 72.0 12 Bach

Network systems and data communications analysts............Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 292 448 53.4 156 Bach

Home health aides.........................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 922 1,383 50.0 461 ShortPersonal and home care aides..........................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 817 1,193 46.0 376 ShortFinancial examiners...................................................... Management, business, and financial occupations 4 ...... 27 38 41.2 11 Bach

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists...........................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 109 154 40.4 44 Docto

Physician assistants......................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 75 104 39.0 29 Maste

Skin care specialists......................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 39 54 37.9 15 PostsBiochemists and biophysicists..........................................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 23 32 37.4 9 Docto

Athletic trainers............................................................ Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 16 22 37.0 6 Bach

Physical therapist aides...................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 46 63 36.3 17 ShortDental hygienists............................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 174 237 36.1 63 Assoc

Veterinary technologists and technicians........................... Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 80 108 35.8 29 Assoc

Dental assistants............................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 295 401 35.8 106 Mode

Computer software engineers, applications........................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 515 690 34.0 175 BachMedical assistants.........................................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 484 648 33.9 164 ModePhysical therapist assistants.............................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 64 85 33.3 21 Assoc

Veterinarians............................................................... Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 60 79 33.0 20 First pSelf-enrichment education teachers................................. Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 254 335 32.1 81 Work 

Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation.................................Management, business, and financial occupations 4 ...... 260 341 31.1 81 Long-Occupational therapist aides.............................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 8 10 30.7 2 Short

Environmental engineers................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 54 71 30.6 17 Bach

Pharmacy technicians................................................... Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 326 426 30.6 100 Mode

Computer software engineers, systems software..................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 395 515 30.4 120 BachSurvey researchers.........................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 23 31 30.4 7 Bach

Physical therapists.........................................................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 186 242 30.3 56 Maste

Personal financial advisors............................................. Management, business, and financial occupations 4 ...... 208 271 30.1 63 BachEnvironmental engineering technicians..............................Professional and related occupations 2 ........................ 21 28 30.1 6 Assoc

Occupational therapist assistants.......................................Service occupations 3 ............................................. 27 35 29.8 8 AssocFitness trainers and aerobics instructors........................... Service occupations 3 ............................................. 261 338 29.4 77 Posts

 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). 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 

about the categories, see Measures of Education and Training, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm.

Mos

Occupation 

Employment Change

Occupational group
(In thousands)

2008 2018 Number Percent

Farmers and ranchers...........................................................................Management, business, and financial occupations 2 ...... 986 -79 -8.0 L

907

Sewing machine operators.....................................................................Production occupations ........................................... 212 -72 -33.7 M

141

Order clerks....................................................................................... Office and administrative support occupations ............... 246 -64 -26.1 S

182

Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators......Office and administrative support occupations ............... 180 -55 -30.3 S

125

File clerks.............................................................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............... 212 -50 -23.4 S

163

Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks.........................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............... 751 -49 -6.6 S

701

Telemarketers......................................................................................Sales and related occupations ................................. 342 304 -38 -11.1 S

First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers...............Production occupations .......................................... 681 646 -36 -5.2 WOffice and administrative support workers, all other.......................................Office and administrative support occupations ............... 307 -36 -11.6 S

271

Packers and packagers, hand..................................................................Transportation and material moving occupations ......... 759 725 -34 -4.5 S

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic................................................................................ Production occupations ............................................. 237 -33 -14.1 M

204

Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers..........................................Production occupations ............................................. 213 -31 -14.7 S

182

Machine feeders and offbearers...............................................................Transportation and material moving occupations ......... 141 110 -31 -22.2 S

Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers......Sales and related occupations ................................. 182 155 -27 -14.8 SInformation and record clerks, all other......................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............... 227 -27 -11.8 S

200

Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders................................. Production occupations .......................................... 103 -22 -21.5 M

81

Computer operators..............................................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............... 110 -21 -18.6 M

90

Machinists.......................................................................................... Production occupations .......................................... 422 -19 -4.6 L

402

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand.................................Transportation and material moving occupations ......... 2,317 2,299 -19 -.8 S

Miscellaneous agricultural workers............................................................Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .................. 807 -18 -2.3 S

789

Data entry keyers.................................................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............... 284 -17 -6.1 M

267

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers....................................Production occupations .......................................... 465 448 -17 -3.6 M

Switchboard operators, including answering service.................................... Office and administrative support occupations ............... 155 -17 -10.9 S

138

Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service........................Office and administrative support occupations ............... 141 -17 -11.8 S

125

Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.................................................................................Production occupations .......................................... 56 41 -15 -26.7 M

Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.................................................................Production occupations .......................................... 93 78 -15 -15.9 MTextile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders.......................................................................................Production occupations .......................................... 35 21 -14 -40.7 MPostal service clerks..............................................................................Office and administrative support occupations ............... 76 62 -14 -18.0 S

Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............Production occupations .......................................... 86 73 -13 -14.7 M

Photographic processing machine operators................................................Production occupations .......................................... 51 39 -13 -24.3 S

 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

categories, see Measures of Education and Training, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm.

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

Table 8. The 30 occupations with the largest employment declines, 2008-18

Occupation Occupational group

Employment Change 
(In thousands)

2008 2018 2008 2018 Number Percent 

 Total, all occupations .......................................... 150,932 166,206 100.0 100.0 15,274 10.1 

First professional degree ........................................ 2,001 2,354 1.3 1.4 353 17.6 Doctoral degree .................................................... 2,085 2,430 1.4 1.5 345 16.6 

Master's degree ................................................... 2,531 2,995 1.7 1.8 464 18.3 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience ...... 6,518 7,068 4.3 4.3 550 8.4 Bachelor's degree ................................................... 18,584 21,669 12.3 13.0 3,085 16.6 

Associate degree .................................................... 6,129 7,297 4.1 4.4 1,168 19.1 

Postsecondary vocational award .............................. 8,787 9,951 5.8 6.0 1,164 13.2 Work experience in a related occupation ..................... 14,517 15,697 9.6 9.4 1,180 8.1 

Long-term on-the-job training .................................... 10,815 11,620 7.2 7.0 806 7.5 Moderate-term on-the-job training .............................. 24,568 26,531 16.3 16.0 1,963 8.0 Short-term on-the-job training .................................... 54,396 58,593 36.0 35.3 4,197 7.7 Table 9. Employment and total job openings by postsecondary education or training category, 2008-18

2 Total job openings represent the sum of employment increases and replacement needs. If employment change is negative, job 

growth are zero and total job openings equals replacements.

Employment Change 

Number Percent distribution 2008-2018

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

qualified in that occupation. For more information about the categories, please see Measures of Education and Training, on the Intwww.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm.

Most significant source of postsecondary education 

and training1
Table 10. The 30 occupations with the largest number of total job openings due to growth and replacements, 2008-18

(In thousands)

Change

2008 2018 Number

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

...Sales and related occupations ...........................

... 3,550 3,676 126 1,594 1,720 Short-ter

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

...Sales and related occupations ...........................

... 4,489 4,864 375 1,252 1,627 Short-ter

Waiters and waitresses...............................................................Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 2,382 2,533 152 1,315 1,466 Short-ter

Customer service representatives................................................

...Office and administrative support occupations ......... 2,252 2,652 400 709 1,108 Moderate

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

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

... 2,619 3,200 582 458 1,039 Associate 

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

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

... 2,702 3,096 394 573 967 Short-ter

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

...Office and administrative support occupations ......... 3,024 3,383 359 412 771 Short-ter

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

...Transportation and material moving occupations ...

... 2,317 2,299 -19 746 746 Short-ter

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

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

... 1,550 1,794 244 352 597 Bachelor

Stock clerks and order fillers........................................................

...Office and administrative support occupations ......... 1,859 1,993 134 428 563 Short-ter

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

...Transportation and material moving occupations ...

... 1,798 2,031 233 322 555 Short-ter

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners......

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

... 2,375 2,479 104 449 553 Short-ter

Postsecondary teachers............................................................

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

... 1,699 1,956 257 296 553 Doctoral 

Home health aides.....................................................................Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 922 1,383 461 92 553 Short-ter

Child care workers....................................................................

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

... 1,302 1,444 142 381 523 Short-ter

General and operations managers................................................ Management, business, and financial occupations 5 ... 1,733 1,731 -2 502 502 Bachelor

Accountants and auditors..........................................................

...Management, business, and financial occupations 5 ... 1,291 1,570 279 218 498 Bachelor

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

...Office and administrative support occupations ......... 1,457 1,618 160 329 489 Work exp

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

...Office and administrative support occupations ......... 1,139 1,312 173 307 480 Short-ter

Personal and home care aides....................................................

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

... 817 1,193 376 102 478 Short-ter

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks.................................

...Office and administrative support occupations ......... 2,064 2,276 212 248 460 Moderate

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

... 1,540 1,641 101 357 458 Work exp

First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers...................... Sales and related occupations ...........................

... 1,686 1,774 88 362 450 Work exp

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop.........Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 525 574 49 386 435 Short-ter

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants.......................................

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

... 1,470 1,746 276 146 422 Postseco

Executive secretaries and administrative assistants........................

...Office and administrative support occupations ......... 1,594 1,799 204 215 419 Work exp

Teacher assistants....................................................................

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

... 1,313 1,448 135 278 413 Short-ter

Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education... Professional and related occupations 4 ..................

... 1,088 1,184 96 316 412 Bachelor

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses..........................

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

... 754 909 156 236 391 Postseco

Security guards..........................................................................Service occupations 3 .......................................

... 1,077 1,229 153 222 374 Short-ter

 1 Total job openings represent the sum of employment increases and replacements. If employment change is negative, job openings due to growth are zero and total job openings equal replacements. 

replacement needs, see Estimating Occupational Replacement Needs, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm.

 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 

Education and Training," on the Internet at www.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm.

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

Mo

 Occupation Occupational group

 Employment Replacement 

needs

Total job 

openings due to 

growth and 

replacements 1