Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Internet: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ USDL 05-2351 

 http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/ For release: 10 A.M. EST 

Technical Information: (202) 691-5700 Wednesday, December 21, 2005 

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 

2006-07 EDITIONS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK AND THE 

CAREER GUIDE TO INDUSTRIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET 

The 2006-07 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career Guide to 

Industries were issued today on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Internet site. Print versions of 

both publications are expected to be available in Spring 2006. 

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

U.S. Department of Labor, has been a nationally recognized source of career information 

since the late 1940s. The Career Guide to Industries was developed as a companion 

publication to the Handbook in the early 1990s. These publications provide comprehensive, 

up-to-date, and reliable labor market information that has helped millions of Americans plan 

their future work lives. The 2006-07 editions will help guide workers in the new century by 

presenting essential information about prospective changes in the workplace and the 

qualifications that will be needed by tomorrow's workforce. The Handbook and the Career 

Guide can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco and 

http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg, respectively. 

These publications reflect the Bureau’s latest employment projections, which cover the 

2004-14 decade. Detailed information on the 2004-14 projections appears in five articles in 

the November 2005 issue of the Monthly Labor Review, published by the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. A graphic presentation of projections highlights appears 

in the Winter 2005-06 Occupational Outlook Quarterly, accessible at: 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm. 

The Occupational Outlook Handbook 

 The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information about hundreds of 

occupations, covering 9 out of 10 jobs in the economy. For each occupation, the Handbook 

begins with a section that highlights key occupational characteristics and is followed by 

sections with information about the nature of the work, typical working conditions, 

requirements for entry and opportunities for advancement, employment of salaried and selfUnited States 

Department 

of Labor 
employed workers, earnings, related occupations, and sources of additional information. 

There also is a section on job outlook that describes each occupation's projected employment 

change over the next decade as compared to projected growth for all occupations. The job 

outlook section also provides a perspective on the various factors that can affect occupational 

projections, such as the aging of baby boomers, the increasing ethnic diversity of the labor 

force, the introduction of technological innovations, changes in business practices, changes in 

the skills that are required in the workplace, and increasing foreign competition, among 

others. 

 Employment over the 2004-14 decade is expected to increase by 18.9 million, or 13 

percent. Table 1 lists the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2004-14 

decade for the 30 fastest growing occupations. For 23 of these occupations, the most 

significant source of postsecondary education or training is an associate or higher degree. 

Computer-related and health-related occupations account for 22 of the 30 fastest growing 

occupations. Table 2 lists the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2004-14 

decade for the 30 occupations with the largest projected job growth. Short-term on-the-job 

training is the most significant source of postsecondary education or training for half of these 

occupations. 

The Career Guide to Industries 

 The Occupational Outlook Handbook's companion publication, the Career Guide to 

Industries, analyzes employment change from an industry perspective, providing information 

about 45 industries that cover 3 out of 4 wage and salary jobs in the economy. For each 

industry, the Career Guide describes the nature of the industry, typical working conditions, 

and key occupations employed in the industry. The Career Guide also discusses industry 

training practices and worker earnings. A section on the outlook for each industry compares 

the industry's projected percentage change in wage and salary employment with the overall 

percentage change in wage and salary jobs across all industries. 

 Table 3 indicates the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2004-14 

decade for each of the industries included in the Career Guide. Employment growth is 

projected to be concentrated in the service-providing sector of the economy. Within the 

service-providing sector, two industry groups are expected to account for half of all wage and 

salary employment growth in the economy: education and health services; and professional 

and business services. In the goods-producing sector, employment is expected to grow in 

construction; employment is expected to decline both in natural resources and mining and in 

manufacturing. 

Ordering Information 

 The print versions of the 2006-07 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook 

(BLS Bulletin 2600) and the Career Guide to Industries (BLS Bulletin 2601) are expected to 

be available in Spring 2006. Ordering and price information will appear at 

http://www.bls.gov/oco and http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg, respectively. 

 The print versions of the Monthly Labor Review and Occupational Outlook Quarterly 

are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The Review 
costs $49 a year; single copies are $15. The Quarterly costs $15 a year; single copies are $6. 

For additional information, contact the Superintendent of Documents at: 

http://www.access.gpo.gov. 

 The Monthly Labor Review is accessible at http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/mlrhome.htm. 

The Occupational Outlook Quarterly is accessible at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.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.
(Numbers in thousands)

Number Percent

Home health aides 350 56.0 Short-term on-the-job training

Network systems and data communications analysts 126 54.6 Bachelor's degree

Medical assistants 202 52.1 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Physician assistants 31 49.6 Bachelor's degree

Computer software engineers, applications 222 48.4 Bachelor's degree

Physical therapist assistants 26 44.2 Associate degree

Dental hygienists 68 43.3 Associate degree

Computer software engineers, systems software 146 43.0 Bachelor's degree

Dental assistants 114 42.7 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Personal and home care aides 287 41.0 Short-term on-the-job training

Network and computer systems administrators 107 38.4 Bachelor's degree

Database administrators 40 38.2 Bachelor's degree

Physical therapists 57 36.7 Master's degree

Forensic science technicians 4 36.4 Associate degree

Veterinary technologists and technicians 21 35.3 Associate degree

Diagnostic medical sonographers 15 34.8 Associate degree

Physical therapist aides 15 34.4 Short-term on-the-job training

Occupational therapist assistants 7 34.1 Associate degree

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists 25 34.1 Doctoral degree

Occupational therapists 31 33.6 Master's degree

Preschool teachers, except special education 143 33.1 Postsecondary vocational award

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians 15 32.6 Associate degree

Postsecondary teachers 524 32.2 Doctoral degree

Hydrologists 3 31.6 Master's degree

Computer systems analysts 153 31.4 Bachelor's degree

Hazardous materials removal workers 12 31.2 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Biomedical engineers 3 30.7 Bachelor's degree

Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists 55 30.5 Bachelor's degree

Environmental engineers 15 30.0 Bachelor's degree

Paralegals and legal assistants 67 29.7 Associate degree

(Numbers in thousands)

Number Percent

Retail salespersons 736 17.3 Short-term on-the-job training

Registered nurses 703 29.4 Associate degree

Postsecondary teachers 524 32.2 Doctoral degree

Customer service representatives 471 22.8 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners 440 18.5 Short-term on-the-job training

Waiters and waitresses 376 16.7 Short-term on-the-job training

Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food 367 17.1 Short-term on-the-job training

Home health aides 350 56.0 Short-term on-the-job training

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 325 22.3 Postsecondary vocational award

General and operations managers 308 17.0 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience

Personal and home care aides 287 41.0 Short-term on-the-job training

Elementary school teachers, except special education 265 18.2 Bachelor's degree

Accountants and auditors 264 22.4 Bachelor's degree

Office clerks, general 263 8.4 Short-term on-the-job training

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 248 10.2 Short-term on-the-job training

Receptionists and information clerks 246 21.7 Short-term on-the-job training

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers 230 19.5 Short-term on-the-job training

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer 223 12.9 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Computer software engineers, applications 222 48.4 Bachelor's degree

Maintenance and repair workers, general 202 15.2 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Medical assistants 202 52.1 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Executive secretaries and administrative assistants 192 12.4 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical

 and scientific products 187 12.9 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Carpenters 186 13.8 Long-term on-the-job training

Teacher assistants 183 14.1 Short-term on-the-job training

Child care workers 176 13.8 Short-term on-the-job training

Food preparation workers 175 19.7 Short-term on-the-job training

Maids and housekeeping cleaners 165 11.6 Short-term on-the-job training

Truck drivers, light or delivery services 164 15.7 Short-term on-the-job training

Computer systems analysts 153 31.4 Bachelor's degree

Table 1. Fastest growing occupations covered in the 2006-07 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-14

Most significant source of postsecondary 

education or training

Occupation

Employment 

change, 2004-14 Most significant source of postsecondary 

education or training

Occupation

Employment 

change, 2004-14

Table 2. Occupations covered in the 2006-07 Occupational Outlook Handbook with the largest job growth, 2004-14
(Numbers in thousands)

Number Percent

All industries 18,615 13.9

Goods-producing industries -90 -0.4

Natural resources and mining -105 -6.3

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing -60 -5.2

Mining -27 -12.9

Oil and gas extraction -19 -6.1

Construction 792 11.4

Manufacturing -777 -5.4

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 36 8.2

Chemical manufacturing, except drugs -86 -14.4

Computer and electronic product manufacturing -94 -7.1

Food manufacturing 57 3.8

Machinery manufacturing -147 -12.8

Motor vehicle and parts manufacturing 62 5.6

Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing 76 26.1

Printing -65 -9.8

Steel manufacturing -21 -13.4

Textile, textile product, and apparel manufacturing -321 -45.8

Service-providing industries 18,704 16.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2,623 10.3

Automobile dealers 153 12.2

Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores 423 10.1

Grocery stores 160 6.6

Wholesale trade 476 8.4

Air transportation 45 8.8

Truck transportation and warehousing 267 14.0

Utilities -8 -1.3

Information 364 11.6

Broadcasting 35 10.7

Motion picture and video industries 63 17.1

Publishing, except software 44 6.5

Software publishers 161 67.6

Telecommunications -68 -6.5

Internet services providers, web search portals, and data processing services 108 27.8

Financial activities 849 10.5

Banking -31 -1.8

Insurance 215 9.5

Securities, commodities, and other investments 121 15.8

Professional and business services 4,566 27.8

Advertising and public relations services 95 22.4

Computer systems design and related services 453 39.5

Employment services 1,580 45.5

Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 471 60.5

Scientific research and development services 65 11.9

Education and health services 5,193 30.6

Child day care services 295 38.4

Educational services 2,123 16.6

Health care 3,564 27.3

Social assistance, except child day care 445 32.6

Leisure and hospitality 2,215 17.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation 460 25.1

Food services and drinking places 1,451 16.4

Hotels and other accommodations 304 16.9

Other services 734 11.8

Advocacy, grantmaking, and civic organizations 1,123 10.0

Government 179 14.5

Federal Government 50 2.5

State and local government, except education and health 895 11.4

NOTE: May not add to totals due to omission of industries not covered in the Career Guide .

Table 3. Industries covered in the 2006-07 Career Guide to Industries with projected wage and salary 

employment change, 2004-14

Employment change, 

2004-14 Industry