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Career Resource Guide
Download a PDF version.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) resources to set your career exploration in motion.
On this page:
- How can BLS help me explore careers?
- BLS career tools
- Career materials on BLS Classroom
- More career resources
How can BLS help me explore careers?
Whether you are gearing up to enter the workforce, exploring different career paths and options, or educating others on the world of work, BLS has the information to assist with your career journey! Those resources range from on job, pay, and employment data and publications to assist you in making better informed career decisions. We’re here to help!
BLS career tools
The Occupational Outlook Handbook and Career Outlook are helpful tools for students, career counselors, jobseekers, and others.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) is the government’s leading career resource about the job market. The OOH provides information that covers most jobs in the economy. It highlights key characteristics of occupations, such as job duties, work environment, wages, number of jobs, job outlook, and the education and training that jobseekers need.
Video: Using the Occupational Outlook Handbook for Your Career Search
Career Outlook
This publication highlights occupations and industries in a variety of ways, including interviews with workers in unusual careers and charts showing expected employment change in industries. Career Outlook articles include information on employment projections, pay, typical education and training required, and more.
Career Outlook has four departments:
- Feature articles present an in-depth look on a range of career topics.
- You’re a what? explores unusual occupations through the work of someone in that occupation.
- Interview with a… describes, in question and answer format, one worker’s career path.
- Data on display is a graphic presentation of data on employment and other topics.
Career Outlook supplements the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
These are just a sample of featured articles that appeared in this publication:
Career materials on BLS Classroom
BLS Classroom
The BLS Classroom webpage is devoted to helping people discover valuable information about the economy and careers. Below are some of the Classroom resources geared towards learning about careers.
Career exploration
Using this resource, current and future jobseekers can explore careers based on their interests. They will learn about the education and skills necessary for various careers, as well as the pay, job outlook, work environment, and more.
Choosing a career
This classroom activity is designed to encourage students to begin thinking about their future careers. This activity engages learners in the first stages of career exploration, enhances their understanding of the requirements for various careers, and empowers them to start designing a path to reach their destination.
Periodic Table of STEM Occupations
Our interactive Periodic Table of STEM Occupations allows career seekers to browse pay and employment data for a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics based occupations.
Posters
Posters showcasing occupational data are available. They feature topics such as occupations by industry, the relationship between employment and educational attainment, and fastest job growth. Did we mention these posters are FREE?
Videos
Watch videos exploring different careers, including architect, dentist, and veterinarian.
More career resources
Check out these other helpful websites.
CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop offers many useful resources to explore careers; find training and employment opportunities; develop career goals; help with resume writing, applications, and interviews; compare wages by metropolitan areas; and find your perfect job!
USAJOBS
Interested in working for the U.S. federal government? USAJOBS connects jobseekers with federal employment opportunities across the United States and around the world.
O*NET
In addition to detailed information for nearly 1,000 occupations, O*NET has assessment tools that help guide you towards careers that best fit your interests and skills.
My Next Move
My Next Move lists the fastest growing occupations according to your interests and gives information on the skills and training needed to perform the job.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are opportunities to gain paid work experience, work with a mentor, receive classroom instruction, and earn nationally recognized credentials.
Job Corps
Job Corps helps eligible young people ages 16 through 24 complete their high school education, trains them for meaningful careers, and assists them with obtaining employment.
State labor market information offices
State governments have organizations that provide information about jobs and pay.
Need more help?
For additional assistance, information, or copies of this material in a pamphlet form, please feel free to contact our information specialists:
Telephone: 202-691-5200
Email: blsdata_staff@bls.gov
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