Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Internet: http://www.bls.gov/emp USDL 04-1487

Technical Information: (202) 691-5700 For release: 10 A.M. EDT

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 Thursday, August 5, 2004

 

OCCUPATIONAL PROJECTIONS AND TRAINING DATA, 2004-05 EDITION

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, today published the 2004-05

edition of the Occupational Projections and Training Data bulletin. The bulletin—available online 

as well as in print—presents 2002 occupational statistics, with projections to 2012, and research that 

is useful to jobseekers, career counselors, educational planners, and others interested in occupational 

information. The 2004-05 edition also includes a new, more comprehensive analysis of educational 

requirements for different occupations.

The Occupational Projections and Training Data bulletin is a statistical and research 

supplement to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. It provides detailed information used in 

preparing the Handbook, including data on educational attainment, projected job openings and 

replacement needs, and the causes of employment change in industries and occupations. The bulletin 

also explains the analyses on which the Bureau’s occupational projections are based.

Educational Attainment

This edition of the bulletin introduces a new analysis of educational attainment within 

occupations. Occupations are grouped into broad education clusters for workers aged 25 to 44 in 

each occupation. Using data from the Current Population Survey, this information provides a clearer 

picture of the paths into occupations.

As in previous editions, this edition also lists the most significant source of postsecondary 

education or training for each occupation. To help assess the number of workers qualified for certain 

occupations, it presents data from the National Center for Education Statistics on the number of 

completions in institutional education and training programs. 

Occupational Characteristics

The bulletin contains detailed statistics about occupations in the 2002-12 national 

employment matrix. Within a single table, the bulletin describes current employment levels; 

projected employment change, growth rates, and job openings; and current data on other subjects—

such as earnings, self employment, and unemployment—that are important to many jobseekers. The 

table also ranks occupations according to several variables.

United States

Department News of Labor
Replacement Needs

Between 2002 and 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 35 million workers will 

leave their occupations permanently and will need to be replaced. These replacement needs are the 

largest source of job openings for workers entering most occupations. The bulletin estimates 

replacement needs in national employment matrix occupations and describes how replacement needs 

are calculated.

Factors Affecting Future Employment

Projections of occupational employment are based, in large part, on two factors: changes in 

industry employment and changes in the mix of occupations that industries use. This bulletin 

describes assumptions made by BLS analysts about these two factors. It includes a table showing 

projections of industry output and employment over the 2002-12 decade, together with short

narratives describing the causes of employment change.

Conversion to the North American Industrial Classification System

Because these are the first projections based on the 2002 North American Industrial 

Classification System, one chapter of this bulletin describes how classification changes were 

addressed during the projections process. 

Ordering Information

For the first time, the Occupational Projections and Training Data bulletin is available 

online at http://www.bls.gov/emp/optd/home.htm on the BLS Employment Projections Web site.

The print version of Occupational Projections and Training Data (BLS Bulletin 2572) costs 

$29 and is sold by the Government Printing Office. To order, go online to http://bookstore.gpo.gov, 

call 1-312-353-1880, or write the BLS Publications Sales Center, Room 960, 230 South Dearborn 

St., Chicago, IL 60604. 

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon 

request. Voice phone: 202-691-5700; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.