Changes in the number, size and type of employers within a given geographical area will affect the demand for certain occupations. Also, technological advances or changes in laws or regulations may affect the occupational mix. The survey covers nearly 830 occupations.
Employers report how many individuals they employ in each occupation.
The results generate an occupational distribution or staffing pattern for each industry. Occupational projections are then prepared by applying industry totals to occupational staffing patterns for each industry. The base year is defined as the beginning year of the forecast cycle. The target year is the ending year of the forecast cycle. In order to produce target-year occupational projections, a change factor developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is applied to each occupation.