Table 7. The 30 occupations with the fastest projected employment growth, 2010-20
Table 7. The 30 occupations with the fastest projected employment growth, 2010-20
(In thousands)
Occupation Occupational group Employment Change Pre-employment During employment
2010 2020 Number Percent Typical education needed Work experience Typical on-the-job training(3)
for entry(1) in a related
occupation(2)
Personal care aides Personal Care and Service Occupations 861.0 1,468.0 607.0 70.5 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Home health aides Healthcare Support Occupations 1,017.7 1,723.9 706.3 69.4 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Biomedical engineers Architecture and Engineering Occupations 15.7 25.4 9.7 61.7 Bachelor's degree None None
Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and
tile and marble setters Construction and Extraction Occupations 29.4 47.0 17.6 60.1 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Helpers--carpenters Construction and Extraction Occupations 46.5 72.4 25.9 55.7 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Veterinary technologists and technicians Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations 80.2 121.9 41.7 52.0 Associate's degree None None
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers Construction and Extraction Occupations 19.1 28.4 9.3 48.6 High school diploma or
equivalent None Apprenticeship
Physical therapist assistants Healthcare Support Occupations 67.4 98.2 30.8 45.7 Associate's degree None None
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and
steamfitters Construction and Extraction Occupations 57.9 84.2 26.3 45.4 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Meeting, convention, and event planners Business and Financial Operations Occupations 71.6 102.9 31.3 43.7 Bachelor's degree Less than 1 year None
Diagnostic medical sonographers Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations 53.7 77.1 23.4 43.5 Associate's degree None None
Occupational therapy assistants Healthcare Support Occupations 28.5 40.8 12.3 43.3 Associate's degree None None
Physical therapist aides Healthcare Support Occupations 47.0 67.3 20.3 43.1 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Glaziers Construction and Extraction Occupations 41.9 59.6 17.7 42.4 High school diploma or
equivalent None Apprenticeship
Interpreters and translators Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Occupations 58.4 83.1 24.6 42.2 Bachelor's degree None Long-term on-the-job training
Medical secretaries Office and Administrative Support Occupations 508.7 718.9 210.2 41.3 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Market research analysts and marketing specialists Business and Financial Operations Occupations 282.7 399.3 116.6 41.2 Bachelor's degree None None
Marriage and family therapists Community and Social Service Occupations 36.0 50.8 14.8 41.2 Master's degree None Internship/residency
Brickmasons and blockmasons Construction and Extraction Occupations 89.2 125.3 36.1 40.5 High school diploma or
equivalent None Apprenticeship
Physical therapists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations 198.6 276.0 77.4 39.0 Doctoral or professional
degree None None
Dental hygienists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations 181.8 250.3 68.5 37.7 Associate's degree None None
Bicycle repairers Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Occupations 9.9 13.6 3.7 37.6 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Audiologists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations 13.0 17.8 4.8 36.8 Doctoral or professional
degree None None
Health educators Community and Social Service Occupations 63.4 86.6 23.2 36.5 Bachelor's degree None None
Stonemasons Construction and Extraction Occupations 15.6 21.4 5.7 36.5 High school diploma or
equivalent None Apprenticeship
Cost estimators Business and Financial Operations Occupations 185.4 252.9 67.5 36.4 Bachelor's degree None None
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations 100.0 136.5 36.4 36.4 Doctoral or professional
degree None None
Mental health counselors Community and Social Service Occupations 120.3 163.9 43.6 36.3 Master's degree None Internship/residency
Pile-driver operators Construction and Extraction Occupations 4.1 5.6 1.5 36.0 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Veterinarians Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations 61.4 83.4 22.0 35.9 Doctoral or professional
degree None None
1 Represents the typical education level needed to enter the occupation.
2 Indicates if work experience in a related occupation is commonly considered necessary by employers for entry, or is a commonly accepted substitute for formal types of training.
3 Indicates the typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation.
NOTE: For more information about the education, work experience, and on-the-job training categories assigned to occupations, see www.bls.gov/emp/ep_education_training_system.htm.
Last Modified Date: February 01, 2012
