Internet: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ USDL 05-2351 http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/ For release: 10 A.M. EST Technical Information: (202) 691-5700 Wednesday, December 21, 2005 Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 2006-07 EDITIONS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK AND THE CAREER GUIDE TO INDUSTRIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET The 2006-07 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 2006. 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 2006-07 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 2004-14 decade. Detailed information on the 2004-14 projections appears in five articles in the November 2005 issue of the Monthly Labor Review, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. A graphic presentation of projections highlights appears in the Winter 2005-06 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 9 out of 10 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, requirements for entry and opportunities for advancement, employment of salaried and self-employed workers, earnings, related occupations, and sources of additional information. There also is a section on job outlook that describes 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 business practices, changes in the skills that are required in the workplace, and increasing foreign competition, among others. Employment over the 2004-14 decade is expected to increase by 18.9 million, or 13 percent. Table 1 lists the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2004-14 decade for the 30 fastest growing occupations. For 23 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 22 of the 30 fastest growing occupations. Table 2 lists the numeric and percent changes in employment over the 2004-14 decade for the 30 occupations with the largest projected job growth. Short-term on-the-job training is the most significant source of postsecondary education or training for half of these occupations. 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 45 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 2004-14 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 half of all wage and salary employment growth in the economy: education and health services; and professional and business 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. Ordering Information The print versions of the 2006-07 editions of the Occupational Outlook Handbook (BLS Bulletin 2600) and the Career Guide to Industries (BLS Bulletin 2601) are expected to be available in Spring 2006. 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. For additional information, contact the Superintendent of Documents at http://www.access.gpo.gov. 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 2006-07 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-14 (Numbers in thousands) Employment change, Occupation 2004-14 Most significant source of postsecondary Number Percent education or training Home health aides 350 56 Short-term on-the-job training Network systems and data communications analysts 126 55 Bachelor's degree Medical assistants 202 52 Moderate-term on-the-job training Physician assistants 31 50 Bachelor's degree Computer software engineers, applications 222 48 Bachelor's degree Physical therapist assistants 26 44 Associate degree Dental hygienists 68 43 Associate degree Computer software engineers, systems software 146 43 Bachelor's degree Dental assistants 114 43 Moderate-term on-the-job training Personal and home care aides 287 41 Short-term on-the-job training Network and computer systems administrators 107 38 Bachelor's degree Database administrators 40 38 Bachelor's degree Physical therapists 57 37 Master's degree Forensic science technicians 4 36 Associate degree Veterinary technologists and technicians 21 35 Associate degree Diagnostic medical sonographers 15 35 Associate degree Physical therapist aides 15 34 Short-term on-the-job training Occupational therapist assistants 7 34 Associate degree Medical scientists, except epidemiologists 25 34 Doctoral degree Occupational therapists 31 34 Master's degree Preschool teachers, except special education 143 33 Postsecondary vocational award Cardiovascular technologists and technicians 15 33 Associate degree Postsecondary teachers 524 32 Doctoral degree Hydrologists 3 32 Master's degree Computer systems analysts 153 31 Bachelor's degree Hazardous materials removal workers 12 31 Moderate-term on-the-job training Biomedical engineers 3 31 Bachelor's degree Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists 55 30 Bachelor's degree Environmental engineers 15 30 Bachelor's degree Paralegals and legal assistants 67 30 Associate degree Table 2. Occupations covered in the 2006-07 Occupational Outlook Handbook with the largest job growth, 2004-14 (Numbers in thousands) Employment change, Occupation 2004-14 Most significant source of postsecondary Number Percent education or training Retail salespersons 736 17.3 Short-term on-the-job training Registered nurses 703 29.4 Associate degree Postsecondary teachers 524 32.2 Doctoral degree Customer service representatives 471 22.8 Moderate-term on-the-job training Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners 440 18.5 Short-term on-the-job training Waiters and waitresses 376 16.7 Short-term on-the-job training Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food 367 17.1 Short-term on-the-job training Home health aides 350 56.0 Short-term on-the-job training Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 325 22.3 Postsecondary vocational award General and operations managers 308 17.0 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience Personal and home care aides 287 41.0 Short-term on-the-job training Elementary school teachers, except special education 265 18.2 Bachelor's degree Accountants and auditors 264 22.4 Bachelor's degree Office clerks, general 263 8.4 Short-term on-the-job training Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 248 10.2 Short-term on-the-job training Receptionists and information clerks 246 21.7 Short-term on-the-job training Landscaping and groundskeeping workers 230 19.5 Short-term on-the-job training Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer 223 12.9 Moderate-term on-the-job training Computer software engineers, applications 222 48.4 Bachelor's degree Maintenance and repair workers, general 202 15.2 Moderate-term on-the-job training Medical assistants 202 52.1 Moderate-term on-the-job training Executive secretaries and administrative assistants 192 12.4 Moderate-term on-the-job training Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products 187 12.9 Moderate-term on-the-job training Carpenters 186 13.8 Long-term on-the-job training Teacher assistants 183 14.1 Short-term on-the-job training Child care workers 176 13.8 Short-term on-the-job training Food preparation workers 175 19.7 Short-term on-the-job training Maids and housekeeping cleaners 165 11.6 Short-term on-the-job training Truck drivers, light or delivery services 164 15.7 Short-term on-the-job training Computer systems analysts 153 31.4 Bachelor's degree Table 3. Industries covered in the 2006-07 Career Guide to Industries with projected wage and salary employment change, 2004-14 (Numbers in thousands) Employment change, 2004-14 Industry Number Percent All industries 18,615 13.9 Goods-producing industries -90 -0.4 Natural resources and mining -105 -6.3 Agriculture, forestry, and fishing -60 -5.2 Mining -27 -12.9 Oil and gas extraction -19 -6.1 Construction 792 11.4 Manufacturing -777 -5.4 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 36 8.2 Chemical manufacturing, except drugs -86 -14.4 Computer and electronic product manufacturing -94 -7.1 Food manufacturing 57 3.8 Machinery manufacturing -147 -12.8 Motor vehicle and parts manufacturing 62 5.6 Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing 76 26.1 Printing -65 -9.8 Steel manufacturing -21 -13.4 Textile, textile product, and apparel manufacturing -321 -45.8 Service-providing industries 18,704 16.9 Trade, transportation, and utilities 2,623 10.3 Automobile dealers 153 12.2 Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores 423 10.1 Grocery stores 160 6.6 Wholesale trade 476 8.4 Air transportation 45 8.8 Truck transportation and warehousing 267 14.0 Utilities -8 -1.3 Information 364 11.6 Broadcasting 35 10.7 Motion picture and video industries 63 17.1 Publishing, except software 44 6.5 Software publishers 161 67.6 Telecommunications -68 -6.5 Internet services providers, web search portals, and data processing services 108 27.8 Financial activities 849 10.5 Banking -31 -1.8 Insurance 215 9.5 Securities, commodities, and other investments 121 15.8 Professional and business services 4,566 27.8 Advertising and public relations services 95 22.4 Computer systems design and related services 453 39.5 Employment services 1,580 45.5 Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 471 60.5 Scientific research and development services 65 11.9 Education and health services 5,193 30.6 Child day care services 295 38.4 Educational services 2,123 16.6 Health care 3,564 27.3 Social assistance, except child day care 445 32.6 Leisure and hospitality 2,215 17.7 Arts, entertainment, and recreation 460 25.1 Food services and drinking places 1,451 16.4 Hotels and other accommodations 304 16.9 Other services 734 11.8 Advocacy, grantmaking, and civic organizations 1,123 10.0 Government 179 14.5 Federal Government 50 2.5 State and local government, except education and health 895 11.4 NOTE: May not add to totals because of omission of industries not covered in the Career Guide.