Internet: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ USDL 04-290 http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/ For release: 10 A.M. EST Technical Information: (202) 691-5700 Friday, February 27, 2004 Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 2004-05 EDITIONS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK AND THE CAREER GUIDE TO INDUSTRIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET The 2004-05 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career Guide to Industries were issued today on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Internet site. Print versions of both publications are expected to be available in Spring 2004. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, has been a nationally recognized source of career information since the late 1940s. The Career Guide to Industries was developed as a companion publication to the Handbook in the early 1990s. These publications provide comprehensive, up-to-date, and reliable labor market information that has helped millions of Americans plan their future work lives. The 2004-05 editions will help guide workers in the new century by presenting essential information about prospective changes in the workplace and the qualifications that will be needed by tomorrow's workforce. The Handbook and the Career Guide can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco and http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg, respectively. These publications reflect the Bureau's latest employment projections, which cover the 2002-12 decade. Detailed information on the 2002-12 projections appears in five articles in the February 2004 issue of the Monthly Labor Review, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. A graphic presentation of projection highlights appears in the Winter 2003-04 Occupational Outlook Quarterly, accessible at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm. The Occupational Outlook Handbook The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information about hundreds of occupations, covering 7 out of 8 jobs in the economy. For each occupation, the Handbook begins with a section that highlights key occupational characteristics and is followed by sections with information about the nature of the work, typical working conditions, employment of salaried and self-employed workers, requirements for entry and opportunities for advancement, earnings, related occupations, and sources of additional information. There also is a section on job outlook that provides each occupation's projected employment change over the next decade as compared to projected growth for all occupations. The job outlook section also provides a perspective on the various factors that can affect occupational projections, such as the aging of baby boomers, the increasing ethnic diversity of the labor force, the introduction of technological innovations, changes in the skills that are required in the workplace, and increasing foreign competition, among others. Employment over the 2002-12 decade is expected to increase by 21.3 million, or 14.8 percent. Table 1 lists the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2002-12 decade for the 30 fastest growing occupations. For 19 of these occupations, the most significant source of postsecondary education or training is an associate or higher degree. Computer-related and health-related occupations account for 21 of the 30 fastest growing occupations. Table 2 lists the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2002-12 decade for the 30 occupations with the largest projected job growth. The most significant source of postsecondary education or training for half of these occupations is short- term on-the-job training. The Career Guide to Industries The Occupational Outlook Handbook's companion publication, the Career Guide to Industries, analyzes employment change from an industry perspective, providing information about 42 industries that cover 3 out of 4 wage-and-salary jobs in the economy. For each industry, the Career Guide describes the nature of the industry, typical working conditions, and key occupations employed in the industry. The Career Guide also discusses industry training practices and worker earnings. A section on the outlook for each industry compares the industry's projected percentage change in wage and salary employment with the overall percentage change in wage and salary jobs across all industries. Table 3 indicates the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2002-12 decade for each of the industries included in the Career Guide. Employment growth is projected to be concentrated in the service-providing sector of the economy. Within the service-providing sector, two industry groups are expected to account for almost half of all wage-and-salary employment growth in the economy: professional and business services and education and health services. In the goods-producing sector, employment is expected to grow in construction; employment is expected to decline both in natural resources and mining and in manufacturing. Industrial coverage in the 2004-05 edition of the Career Guide is the first to incorporate the 2002 North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). Information on the NAICS is available at http://www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm. Ordering Information The print versions of the 2004-05 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook (BLS Bulletin 2570) and the Career Guide to Industries (BLS Bulletin 2571) are expected to be available in Spring 2004. Ordering and price information will appear at http://www.bls.gov/oco and http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg, respectively. The print versions of the Monthly Labor Review and Occupational Outlook Quarterly are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The Review costs $49 a year; single copies are $15. The Quarterly costs $15 a year; single copies are $6. Make checks payable to the Superintendent of Documents. The Monthly Labor Review is accessible at http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/mlrhome.htm. The Occupational Outlook Quarterly is accessible at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm. Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339. Table 1. Fastest growing occupations covered in the 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-12 (Employment in thousands of jobs) Employment change, Occupation 2002-12 Most significant source of postsecondary Number Percent education or training Medical assistants 215 59 Moderate-term on-the-job training Network systems and data communications analysts 106 57 Bachelor's degree Physician assistants 31 49 Bachelor's degree Social and human service assistants 149 49 Moderate-term on-the-job training Home health aides 279 48 Short-term on-the-job training Medical records and health information technicians 69 47 Associate degree Physical therapist aides 17 46 Short-term on-the-job training Computer software engineers, applications 179 46 Bachelor's degree Computer software engineers, systems software 128 45 Bachelor's degree Physical therapist assistants 22 45 Associate degree Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors 81 44 Postsecondary vocational award Database administrators 49 44 Bachelor's degree Veterinary technologists and technicians 23 44 Associate degree Hazardous materials removal workers 16 43 Moderate-term on-the-job training Dental hygienists 64 43 Associate degree Occupational therapist aides 4 43 Short-term on-the-job training Dental assistants 113 42 Moderate-term on-the-job training Personal and home care aides 246 40 Short-term on-the-job training Self-enrichment education teachers 80 40 Work experience in a related occupation Computer systems analysts 184 39 Bachelor's degree Occupational therapist assistants 7 39 Associate degree Environmental engineers 18 38 Bachelor's degree Postsecondary teachers 603 38 Doctoral degree Network and computer systems administrators 94 37 Bachelor's degree Environmental science and protection technicians, including health 10 37 Associate degree Preschool teachers, except special education 153 36 Postsecondary vocational award Computer and information systems managers 103 36 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience Physical therapists 48 35 Master's degree Occupational therapists 29 35 Bachelor's degree Respiratory therapists 30 35 Associate degree Table 2. Occupations covered in the 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Handbook with the largest job growth, 2002-12 (Employment in thousands of jobs) Employment change, Occupation 2002-12 Most significant source of postsecondary Number Percent education or training Registered nurses 623 27 Associate degree Postsecondary teachers 603 38 Doctoral degree Retail salespersons 596 15 Short-term on-the-job training Customer service representatives 460 24 Moderate-term on-the-job training Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food 454 23 Short-term on-the-job training Cashiers, except gaming 454 13 Short-term on-the-job training Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners 414 18 Short-term on-the-job training General and operations managers 376 18 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience Waiters and waitresses 367 18 Short-term on-the-job training Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 343 25 Short-term on-the-job training Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer 337 19 Moderate-term on-the-job training Receptionists and information clerks 325 29 Short-term on-the-job training Security guards 317 32 Short-term on-the-job training Office clerks, general 310 10 Short-term on-the-job training Teacher assistants 294 23 Short-term on-the-job training Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products 279 19 Moderate-term on-the-job training Home health aides 279 48 Short-term on-the-job training Personal and home care aides 246 40 Short-term on-the-job training Truck drivers, light or delivery services 237 23 Short-term on-the-job training Landscaping and groundskeeping workers 237 22 Short-term on-the-job training Elementary school teachers, except special education 223 15 Bachelor's degree Medical assistants 215 59 Moderate-term on-the-job training Maintenance and repair workers, general 207 16 Moderate-term on-the-job training Accountants and auditors 205 19 Bachelor's degree Computer systems analysts 184 39 Bachelor's degree Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education 180 18 Bachelor's degree Computer software engineers, applications 179 46 Bachelor's degree Management analysts 176 30 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience Food preparation workers 172 20 Short-term on-the-job training First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers 163 9 Work experience in a related occupation Table 3. Industries covered in the 2004-05 Career Guide to Industries with projected wage and salary employment change, 2002-12 (Employment in thousands of jobs) Employment change, 2002-12 Industry Number Percent All industries 21,603 16 Goods-producing industries 772 3 Natural resources and mining -84 -5 Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting -24 -2 Oil and gas extraction -34 -28 Mining -32 -15 Construction 1,014 15 Manufacturing -157 -1 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing -83 -18 Apparel manufacturing -245 -69 Chemical manufacturing, except drugs -106 -17 Computer and electronic product manufacturing -189 -12 Food manufacturing 72 5 Motor vehicle and parts manufacturing 29 3 Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing 68 23 Printing 24 3 Steel manufacturing -34 -20 Textile mills and products -152 -31 Service-providing industries 20,831 19 Trade, transportation, and utilities 3,600 14 Automobile dealers 158 13 Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores 344 8 Grocery stores 133 5 Wholesale trade 638 11 Air transportation 67 12 Truck transportation and warehousing 422 23 Utilities -34 -6 Information 632 18 Broadcasting 28 9 Motion picture and video industries 112 31 Publishing, except software -11 -1 Software publishers 174 68 Telecommunications 80 7 Financial activities 590 10 Banking 112 6 Insurance 168 8 Securities, commodities, and other investments 124 15 Professional and business services 4,866 30 Advertising and public relations services 84 19 Computer systems design and related services 635 55 Employment services 1,764 54 Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 406 55 Education and health services 6,875 26 Child day care services 316 43 Educational services 2,489 20 Health services 3,501 28 Social assistance, except child day care 597 47 Leisure and hospitality 2,135 18 Arts, entertainment, and recreation 497 28 Food services and drinking places 1,337 16 Hotels and other accommodations 301 17 Public administration 808 8 Federal Government, excluding the postal service 50 3 State and local government, except education and health 759 10 NOTE: Detail may not add to totals due to omission of industries not covered in the Career Guide.