Table 1. The 30 fastest growing occupations covered in the 2008-2009 Occupational Outlook Handbook

Table 1.  The 30 fastest growing occupations covered in the 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook
(Numbers in thousands)

                                                  Employment change                                   
           Occupation                                  2006-16               Most significant source of
                                                                              postsecondary education
                                                   Number   Percent                  training (1)

Network systems and data communications ....         140      53.4             Bachelor's degree

Personal and home care aides ...............         389      50.6             Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                training

Home health aides ..........................         384      48.7             Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                training

Computer software engineers, applications ..         226      44.6             Bachelor's degree

Veterinary technologists and technicians ...          29      41.0             Associate degree

Personal financial advisors ................          72      41.0             Bachelor's degree

Makeup artists, theatrical and performance .           1      39.8             Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                award

Medical assistants .........................         148      35.4             Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                job training

Veterinarians ..............................          22      35.0             First professional degree

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder
 counselors ................................          29      34.3             Bachelor's degree

Skin care specialists ......................          13      34.3             Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                award

Financial analysts .........................          75      33.8             Bachelor's degree

Social and human service assistants ........         114      33.6             Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                job training

Gaming surveillance officers and gaming                                        Moderate-term on-the-
 investigators .............................           3      33.6              job training

Physical therapist assistants ..............          20      32.4             Associate degree

Pharmacy technicians .......................          91      32.0             Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                job training

Forensic science technicians ................          4      30.7             Bachelor's degree

Dental hygienists ...........................         50      30.1             Associate degree

Mental health counselors ....................         30      30.0             Master's degree

Mental health and substance abuse social
 workers ....................................         37      29.9             Master's degree


Marriage and family therapists ..............          7      29.8             Master's degree

Dental assistants ...........................         82      29.2             Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                job training

Computer systems analysts ...................        146      29.0             Bachelor's degree

Database administrators .....................         34      28.6             Bachelor's degree

Computer software engineers, systems
 software ...................................         99      28.2             Bachelor's degree

Gaming and sports book writers and runners ..          5      28.0             Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                training

Environmental science and protection
 technicians, including health...............         10      28.0             Associate degree

Manicurists and pedicurists .................         22      27.6             Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                award

Physical therapists .........................         47      27.1             Master's degree

Physician assistants ........................         18      27.0             Master's degree

   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, see Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2006-07 edition, Bulletin 2602
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2006) and Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2008-09
edition, Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).

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