Technical Information: (202) 691-5715 USDL 01-469 Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 For release: 10 A.M. EST December 17, 2001 Internet: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ http://www.bls.gov/cgi/ 2002-03 EDITIONS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK AND THE CAREER GUIDE TO INDUSTRIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET The 2002-03 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career Guide to Industries were issued today on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Internet site. The print versions of these publications are expected to be available in January 2002. 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 for more than 50 years. Since the early 1990s, the Career Guide to Industries has been a companion publication. They provide comprehensive, up-to- date, and reliable labor market information that has helped millions of Americans plan their future work lives. The 2002-03 editions will help guide workers in this new century, presenting essential information about prospective changes in the workplace and the qualifications that will be needed by tomorrow's workforce. The Handbook and the Guide can be accessed at www.bls.gov/oco/ and www.bls.gov/cgi/ on the Internet. The Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career Guide to Industries can assist students as well as experienced workers, including those seeking to change careers or re-enter the labor force. The publications provide information that reflects the Bureau’s latest employment projections covering the 2000-2010 period. More detailed information on the 2000-2010 projections appears in four articles in the November 2001 Monthly Labor Review. A graphic presentation of the highlights of the projections is featured in the Winter 2001-02 Occupational Outlook Quarterly. (More information on these BLS publications appears below.) The Occupational Outlook Handbook The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information on hundreds of occupations, covering nearly 90 percent of the jobs in the economy. The nature of the work and the typical working conditions for persons in each occupation are discussed, in addition to the requirements for entry and opportunities for advancement. This information can be helpful in making career decisions that utilize completed education and training. For each occupation, the Handbook begins with a section that highlights key occupational characteristics and includes sections with current information on earnings, employment of salaried and self-employed workers, related occupations, and sources of additional information. The projected employment change relative to overall growth projected for all occupations over the next decade is described and, in some cases, the ease or difficulty of finding a job. Various factors affect the need for specific occupations. A growing, aging, and increasingly diverse population will demand a changing mix of goods and services. The skills of the workforce needed to fulfill these demands will likewise continue to change, as employers incorporate technological innovations and revise business practices to optimize their efficiency. Jobs are expected to increase by 22.2 million over the 2000-2010 period, a 15 percent increase. Occupations that require more education or training generally are projected to grow the fastest. Table 1 lists the numerical and percent change in employment over the 2000-2010 period for the 30 fastest growing occupations; most require an associate or higher degree, and computer-related and health-related occupations comprise 27 out of the 30. The most new jobs generally arise in the largest occupations. Table 2 lists the numerical and percent change in employment over the 2000-2010 period for the 30 occupations with the largest projected job growth. Sixteen of these occupations require the least amount of training--short-term on-the-job training--and account for over one-fourth of all new jobs expected to be created between 2000 and 2010. Occupational coverage in the 2002-03 edition of the Handbook is the first to incorporate the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, the Federal Government’s latest universal occupational classification system. Information on the SOC is available at www.bls.gov/soc/ on the Internet. 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 on 42 industries that cover 3 out of 4 wage and salary jobs in the economy. The Career Guide describes the nature of the industry, typical working conditions, and key occupations employed in the industry. For each industry, the Guide discusses training and education levels, earnings of workers, and employment projections and outlook for the 2000-2010 period. Occupations discussed in the Occupational Outlook Handbook that are important in each industry are listed. Industries are divided into goods-producing or service-producing. Table 3 indicates the numerical and percent change in employment over the 2000-2010 period for all industries included in the Career Guide. Employment growth is projected to be concentrated in the service-producing sector of the economy. Within the service-producing sector, four industry groups are expected to account for almost half of all wage and salary employment growth in the economy: health services, business services, education services, and engineering and management services. In the goods-producing sector, employment is expected to grow in construction and manufacturing, while employment in mining is expected to decline. Ordering Information The print versions of the 2002-03 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook (BLS Bulletin 2540) and the Career Guide to Industries (BLS Bulletin 2541) are expected to be available in January 2002. Ordering and price information will appear at www.bls.gov/oco/ and www.bls.gov/cgi/ on the Internet. The Monthly Labor Review and Occupational Outlook Quarterly are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The Review costs $43 a year; single copies are $13. The Quarterly costs $14 a year; single copies are $5.50. Make checks payable to the Superintendent of Documents. The Monthly Labor Review is accessible at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/mlrhome.htm on the Internet. The Occupational Outlook Quarterly is accessible at www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm on the Internet. Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339. Table 1. Fastest growing occupations covered in the 2002-03 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2000-2010 (Employment in thousands of jobs) Employment change, Occupation 2000-2010 Most significant source of education or training Number Percent Computer software engineers, applications 380 100 Bachelor's degree Computer support specialists 490 97 Associate degree Computer software engineers, systems software 284 90 Bachelor's degree Network and computer systems administrators 187 82 Bachelor's degree Network systems and data communications analysts 92 77 Bachelor's degree Desktop publishers 25 67 Postsecondary vocational award Database administrators 70 66 Bachelor's degree Personal and home care aides 258 62 Short-term on-the-job training Computer systems analysts 258 60 Bachelor's degree Medical assistants 187 57 Moderate-term on-the-job training Social and human service assistants 147 54 Moderate-term on-the-job training Physician assistants 31 53 Bachelor's degree Medical records and health information technicians 66 49 Associate degree Computer and information systems managers 150 48 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience Home health aides 291 47 Short-term on-the-job training Physical therapist aides 17 46 Short-term on-the-job training Occupational therapist aides 4 45 Short-term on-the-job training Physical therapist assistants 20 45 Associate degree Audiologists 6 45 Master's degree Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors 64 40 Postsecondary vocational award Computer and information scientists, research 11 40 Doctoral degree Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers 22 40 Short-term on-the-job training Occupational therapist assistants 7 40 Associate degree Veterinary technologists and technicians 19 39 Associate degree Speech-language pathologists 34 39 Master's degree Mental health and substance abuse social workers 33 39 Master's degree Dental assistants 92 37 Moderate-term on-the-job training Dental hygienists 54 37 Associate degree Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school 86 37 Bachelor's degree Pharmacy technicians 69 36 Moderate-term on-the-job training Table 2. Occupations covered in the 2002-03 Occupational Outlook Handbook with the largest job growth, 2000-2010 (Employment in thousands of jobs) Employment change, Occupation 2000-2010 Most significant source of education or training Number Percent Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food 673 30 Short-term on-the-job training Customer service representatives 631 32 Moderate-term on-the-job training Registered nurses 561 26 Associate degree Retail salespersons 510 12 Short-term on-the-job training Computer support specialists 490 97 Associate degree Cashiers, except gaming 474 14 Short-term on-the-job training Office clerks, general 430 16 Short-term on-the-job training Security guards 391 35 Short-term on-the-job training Computer software engineers, applications 380 100 Bachelor's degree Waiters and waitresses 364 18 Short-term on-the-job training General and operations managers 363 15 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer 346 20 Moderate-term on-the-job training Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 323 24 Short-term on-the-job training Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners 317 13 Short-term on-the-job training Postsecondary teachers 315 23 Doctoral degree Teacher assistants 301 24 Short-term on-the-job training Home health aides 291 47 Short-term on-the-job training Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 289 14 Short-term on-the-job training Computer software engineers, systems software 284 90 Bachelor's degree Landscaping and groundskeeping workers 260 29 Short-term on-the-job training Personal and home care aides 258 62 Short-term on-the-job training Computer systems analysts 258 60 Bachelor's degree Receptionists and information clerks 256 24 Short-term on-the-job training Truck drivers, light or delivery services 215 19 Short-term on-the-job training Packers and packagers, hand 210 19 Short-term on-the-job training Elementary school teachers, except special education 202 13 Bachelor's degree Medical assistants 187 57 Moderate-term on-the-job training Network and computer systems administrators 187 82 Bachelor's degree Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education 187 19 Bachelor's degree Accountants and auditors 181 19 Bachelor's degree Table 3. Industries covered in the 2002-03 Career Guide to Industries with projected wage and salary employment change, 2000-2010 (Employment in thousands of jobs) Employment change, 2000-2010 Industry Number Percent All industries 21,977 16 Goods-producing industries 1,745 6 Agriculture, mining, and construction 1,167 12 Agricultural production -28 -3 Agricultural services 425 39 Construction 825 12 Mining and quarying -32 -14 Oil and gas extraction -23 -7 Manufacturing 577 3 Aerospace manufacturing 104 19 Apparel and other textile products -103 -16 Chemical manufacturing, except drugs -32 -4 Drug manufacturing 75 24 Electronic equipment manufacturing 103 7 Food processing -50 -3 Motor vehicle and equipment manufacturing 87 9 Printing and publishing -3 0 Steel manufacturing -49 -22 Textile mill products -29 -5 Service-producing industries 20,232 19 Transportation, communications, and public utilities 1,255 18 Air transportation 319 25 Cable and other pay television services 109 51 Public utilities 42 5 Radio and television broadcasting 25 10 Telecommunications 143 12 Trucking and warehousing 407 22 Wholesale and retail trade 3,869 13 Department, clothing, and accessory stores 168 4 Eating and drinking places 1,486 18 Grocery stores 174 6 Motor vehicle dealers 145 12 Wholesale trade 776 11 Finance, insurance, and real estate 687 9 Banking -31 -2 Insurance 151 6 Securities and commodities 152 20 Services 13,719 27 Advertising 98 32 Amusement and recreation services 597 35 Child-care services 298 42 Computer and data processing services 1,805 86 Educational services 1,603 14 Health services 2,817 25 Hotels and other lodging places 255 13 Management and public relations services 460 42 Motion picture production and distribution 82 29 Personnel supply services 1,913 49 Social services, except child care 927 42 Government 702 7 Federal Government -145 -8 State and local government 856 11