Disability and occupational projections, Monthly Labor Review Online, October 2010

October 2010, Vol. 133, No. 10 | Return to article

Disability and occupational projections

Table 7. Occupations with the highest prevalence of people with disabilities, by major impairment, 2008 and 2018 (projected)
[Numbers in thousands]
Code	Occupation	Total employment		Change, 2008–18		People with major impairments		Median annual earnings, 2008	Earnings quartile,(1) 2008	Education and training level
Code	Occupation	2008	2018	Number	Percent	Percent with impairment listed	Change in total employment	Median annual earnings, 2008	Earnings quartile,(1) 2008	Education and training level
…	Vision impairment, top 10 occupations in prevalence	890.9	909.5	18.6	2.1	3.3	0.4	(2)	…	…
51-6041	(3)Shoe and leather workers and repairers	9.2	7.9	−1.3	−14.3	9.7	−0.1	$22,880	L	Long-term on-the-job training
51-6063	Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders	29.2	17.7	−11.5	−39.3	3.7	−0.4	25,400	L	Long-term on-the-job training
49-9098	Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers	150.9	163.5	12.6	8.3	3.4	0.4	23,830	L	Short-term on-the-job training
43-4061	Eligibility interviewers, government programs	119.5	130.5	11.0	9.2	3.4	0.4	39,310	H	Moderate-term on-the-job training
53-40XX(4)	Subway, streetcar, and other rail transportation workers	12.5	14.1	1.6	13.2	3.3	0.1	(5)	H/VH	Moderate-term on-the-job training
53-7063	Machine feeders and offbearers	140.6	109.5	−31.2	−22.2	3.3	−1.0	25,570	L	Short-term on-the-job training
43-2011	Switchboard operators, including answering service	155.2	138.3	−16.9	−10.9	3.2	−0.5	24,220	L	Short-term on-the-job training
39-3031	Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers	106.1	120.7	14.5	13.7	3.2	0.5	17,360	VL	Short-term on-the-job training
17-20XX(6)	Biomedical and agricultural engineers	18.7	30.6	11.9	63.4	3.1	0.4	(7)	VH	Bachelor's degree
53-7081	Refuse and recyclable material collectors	149.0	176.7	27.8	18.6	3.0	0.8	31,050	L	Short-term on-the-job training

…	Hearing impairment, top 10 occupations in prevalence	373.8	397.5	23.7	6.3	7.7	0.5	(2)	…	…
51-4032	(3)Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	33.0	24.2	−8.9	−26.9	19.2	−1.7	30,850	L	Moderate-term on-the-job training
39-4000	Funeral service workers	43.0	52.5	9.5	22.1	8.1	0.8	(8)	H/L	Postsecondary vocational award/short-term on-the-job training
51-4194	(3)Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	18.8	17.4	−1.4	−7.5	7.2	−0.1	31,970	L	Moderate-term on-the-job training
49-3050	Small engine mechanics	70.4	75.1	4.8	6.8	7.1	0.3	(9)	H/L	Moderate/long-term on-the-job training
45-2011	Agricultural inspectors	16.6	18.7	2.1	12.8	6.5	0.1	41,170	H	Work experience in a related occupation
47-2011	Boilermakers	20.2	24.0	3.8	18.8	6.4	0.2	52,260	VH	Long-term on-the-job training
53-40XX(4)	Subway, streetcar, and other rail transportation workers	12.5	14.1	1.6	13.2	6.1	0.1	(5)	H/VH	Moderate-term on-the-job training
33-9091	Crossing guards	69.9	76.5	6.6	9.5	6.1	0.4	22,790	L	Short-term on-the-job training
45-4020	Logging workers	66.1	70.0	3.9	5.9	6.0	0.2	(10)	H/L	Moderate-term on-the-job training
47-5021	Earth drillers, except oil and gas	23.3	25.0	1.7	7.2	5.9	0.1	38,240	H	Moderate-term on-the-job training

…	Mobility impairment, top 10 occupations in prevalence	1,548.7	1,899.5	350.8	22.7	6.6	22.9	(2)	…	…
51-6041	(3)Shoe and leather workers and repairers	9.2	7.9	−1.3	−14.3	9.8	−0.1	22,880	L	Long-term on-the-job training
43-2011	Switchboard operators, including answering service	155.2	138.3	−16.9	−10.9	7.9	−1.3	24,220	L	Short-term on-the-job training
33-9091	Crossing guards	69.9	76.5	6.6	9.5	7.5	0.5	22,790	L	Short-term on-the-job training
39-3021	Motion picture projectionists	10.8	10.9	0.1	0.6	7.2	0.0	19,680	VL	Short-term on-the-job training
41-9010	Models, demonstrators, and product promoters	105.0	112.7	7.7	7.3	6.6	0.5	(11)	L	Moderate-term on-the-job training
39-9021	Personal and home care aides	817.2	1,193.0	375.8	46.0	6.5	24.6	19,180	VL	Short-term on-the-job training
51-7041	Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood	52.6	53.4	0.8	1.4	6.4	0.0	25,820	L	Moderate-term on-the-job training
41-9091	Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers	181.6	154.7	−26.9	−14.8	5.8	−1.6	20,990	VL	Short-term on-the-job training
53-3099	Motor vehicle operators, all other	79.6	86.3	6.7	8.4	5.5	0.4	24,910	L	Short-term on-the-job training
43-4011	(3)Brokerage clerks	67.6	65.8	−1.8	−2.6	5.5	−0.1	38,710	H	Moderate-term on-the-job training

…	Cognitive impairment, top 10 occupations in prevalence	2,380.0	2,411.0	30.8	1.3	6.6	3.7	(2)	…	…
51-9030	Cutting workers	99.4	92.6	−6.8	−6.9	8.8	−0.6	(12)	L	Short/moderate-term on-the-job training
35-9021	Dishwashers	522.9	583.4	60.4	11.6	8.5	5.1	17,040	VL	Short-term on-the-job training
53-7081	Refuse and recyclable material collectors	149.0	176.7	27.8	18.6	8.3	2.3	31,050	L	Short-term on-the-job training
49-9095	(3)Manufactured building and mobile home installers	10.3	10.9	0.5	5.2	8.1	0.0	28,250	L	Moderate-term on-the-job training
51-9192	Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders3	18.0	17.4	−0.6	−3.5	6.2	−0.0	23,980	L	Moderate-term on-the-job training
53-7064	Packers and packagers, hand	758.8	724.8	−34.0	−4.5	6.1	−2.1	19,060	VL	Short-term on-the-job training
53-7063	Machine feeders and offbearers	140.6	109.5	−31.2	−22.1	5.7	−1.8	25,570	L	Short-term on-the-job training
51-9196	Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders	103.3	81.0	−22.2	−21.5	5.6	−1.2	33,080	H	Moderate-term on-the-job training
39-3031	Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers	106.1	120.7	14.5	13.7	5.3	0.8	17,360	VL	Short-term on-the-job training
35-90XX(13)	Miscellaneous food preparation and serving related workers, including dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers	471.6	494.0	22.4	4.8	5.2	1.2	(14)	VL	Short-term on-the-job training
Footnotes: (1) Key: H = high, L = low, VH = very high, VL = very low. (2) Not available. (3) The American Community Survey sample size is less than 100 for this occupation. (4) The 53-40XX ACS aggregated code comprises Standard Occupational Codes 53-4041 (subway and streetcar operators) and 53-4099 (all other rail transportation workers) (5) Median earnings for the two occupations in this aggregated occupation are $53,220 for subway and streetcar operators, and $43,930 for all other rail transportation workers. (6) The 17-20XX ACS aggregated code comprises Standard Occupational Codes 17-2021 (agricultural engineers) and 17-2031 (biomedical engineers). (7) Median earnings for the two occupations in this occupational group are $77,400 for biomedical engineers and $68,730 for agricultural engineers. (8) Median earnings for the two occupations in this aggregated occupation are $38,100 for embalmers and $22,110 for funeral attendants. (9) Median earnings for the three occupations in this occupational group are $34,520 for motorboat mechanics, $31,360 for motorcycle mechanics, and $28,920 for outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics. (10) Median earnings for the four occupations in this aggregated occupation are $30,490 for fallers, $31,580 for logging equipment operators, $32,520 for log graders and scalers, and $33,190 for all other logging workers. (11) Median earnings for the two occupations in this occupational group are $23,260 for demonstrators and product promoters, and $27,410 for models. (12) Median earnings for the two occupations in this occupational group are $23,670 for hand cutters and trimmers, and $28,800 for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders. (13) The 35-90XX ACS aggregated code comprises Standard Occupational Codes 35-9011 (dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers) and 35-9099 (all other food preparation and serving related workers). (14) Median earnings for the two occupations in this aggregated occupation are $16,740 for dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers, and $19,530 for all other food preparation and serving workers.
NOTE: Details do not necessarily sum to totals because of rounding.

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