Table 9. Employment and total job openings by postsecondary education or training category, 2008-18
(In thousands)
Total job openings
Employment due to growth and
Most significant source of postsecondary Percent Change replacement needs,
education or training (1) Number distribution 2008-18 2008-18 (2)
2008 2018 2008 2018 Number Percent Number Percent
Total, all occupations........................ 150,932 166,206 100.0 100.0 15,274 10.1 50,929 100.0
First professional degree.......................... 2,001 2,354 1.3 1.4 353 17.6 746 1.5
Doctoral degree.................................... 2,085 2,430 1.4 1.5 345 16.6 743 1.5
Master's degree.................................... 2,531 2,995 1.7 1.8 464 18.3 1,008 2.0
Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience.. 6,518 7,068 4.3 4.3 550 8.4 2,106 4.1
Bachelor's degree.................................. 18,584 21,669 12.3 13.0 3,085 16.6 7,072 13.9
Associate degree................................... 6,129 7,297 4.1 4.4 1,168 19.1 2,372 4.7
Postsecondary vocational award..................... 8,787 9,951 5.8 6.0 1,164 13.2 2,927 5.7
Work experience in a related occupation............ 14,517 15,697 9.6 9.4 1,180 8.1 4,196 8.2
Long-term on-the-job training...................... 10,815 11,620 7.2 7.0 806 7.5 3,081 6.1
Moderate-term on-the-job training.................. 24,568 26,531 16.3 16.0 1,963 8.0 7,058 13.9
Short-term on-the-job training..................... 54,396 58,593 36.0 35.3 4,197 7.7 19,619 38.5
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, please see Measures
of Education and Training, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm.
2 Total job openings represent the sum of employment increases and replacement needs. If employment change is negative,
job openings due to growth are zero and total job openings equal replacements.
