TEXT Table 1. Fastest growing occupations covered in the 1996-97 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1994-2005. Table 2. Occupations covered in the 1996-1997 Occupational Outlook Handbook Technical Information: (202) 606-5700 USDL: 96-78 Media Contact: (202) 606-5902 For release: Immediate Friday, March 15, 1996 50 YEARS IN PRINT: 1996-97 EDITION OF THE OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK PUBLISHED For 50 years, the Occupational Outlook Handbook has provided occupational outlook information for use in counseling about the world of work. The 1996-97 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the 22nd since 1946, presents the expected employment changes in nearly 250 occupations between now and the year 2005 and the qualifications that will be needed for them. The Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, is especially geared toward junior and senior high school students, but also can be a valuable guide for people already working who want to, or need to, change their careers. Readers are told not only which occupations will provide large numbers of openings, but which will grow most rapidly, often reflecting opportunities from newer technologies. Different factors affect the nation's occupational needs. The fastest growing occupations are influenced by both changing demographics and technology. (See table 1.) The aging of the U.S. population, as well as medical advancements, are driving the need for homemaker-home health aides and many other health occupations. The continuing spread of computer technology provides the impetus for rapid growth for computer scientists and systems analysts. On the other hand, large numbers of persons will be required in more traditional jobs, such as teachers, retail salespersons, janitors, and cashiers. Table 2 shows the occupations with the largest job growth. Many of these occupations are not projected to grow especially rapidly, but because they employ many people, they are expected to provide large numbers of job openings. It is noteworthy that, because both homemaker-home health aides and computer scientists and systems analysts are big occupations, they happen to head both the list of fastest growing and the list of occupations with the largest job growth. To help make decisions about courses to take, training or schooling beyond high school, or post-graduate study, the Handbook also describes for each occupation what workers do on the job, the training and education needed, earnings, and working conditions. The 1996-97 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes introductory chapters providing an overview of the factors underlying job prospects and describing additional sources of career-related materials. The first Handbook, called "Occupational Outlook Information," issued in August 1946, was prepared at the request and under the financial support of the Veteran's Administration to make information available to World War II veterans about the need for general education and for trained personnel in various occupations. In answer to many requests, an Occupational Outlook Handbook was published in the spring of 1949 and made available for sale to the public. Subsequent editions of the Handbook were published in 1951, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, and biennially in even numbered years since 1966. Readers interested in the economic assumptions underlying the specific industry and occupational employment projections should consult Bulletin 2472, Employment Outlook: 1994-2005, Job Quality and Other Aspects of Projected Employment Growth. Chapter I of this bulletin presents highlights of the projections. Chapter II identifies the industry-occupational concentration of employment change, 1994-2005. Chapter III looks at the educational requirements of jobs. Chapter IV examines job quality as measured by earnings. Chapter V relates projections of jobs to changes in the composition of the labor force. Both the Handbook and the bulletin can be purchased from the BLS Publications Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago, IL 60690-2145, phone (312) 353-1880, or the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, phone (202) 512-1800. The 512-page 1996-97 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook with a soft cover costs $32; a hard cover version is $38. Employment Projections: 1994-2005, Job Quality and Other Aspects of Projected Employment Growth, Bulletin 2472, costs $5.50. Payment can be made by VISA, MasterCard, GPO Account, or check or money order. Make checks payable to the Superintendent of Documents. Table 1. Fastest growing occupations covered in the 1996-97 Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1994-2005. Change in employment, 1994-2005 Percent Numerical Homemaker-home health aides 107 640,000 Computer scientists and systems analysts 91 755,000 Physical therapy assistants and aides 83 64,000 Occupational therapy assistants and aides 82 13,000 Physical therapists 80 81,000 Human services workers 75 125,000 Services sales representatives 72 441,000 Occupational therapists 72 39,000 Medical assistants 59 121,000 Paralegals 58 64,000 Medical record technicians 56 45,000 Special education teachers 53 206,000 Correctional officers 51 158,000 Operations research analysts 50 22,000 Guards 48 415,000 Speech-language pathologists and audiologists 46 39,000 Private detectives and investigators 44 24,000 Surgical technologists 43 19,000 Dental assistants 42 79,000 Dental hygienists 42 53,000 General office clerks 41 26,000 Teacher aides 39 364,000 Securities and financial services sales representatives 37 90,000 Emergency medical technicians 36 49,000 Respiratory therapists 36 26,000 Management analysts and consultants 35 82,000 Radiologic technologists 35 59,000 Employment interviewers 35 27,000 Social workers 34 187,000 Preschool teachers and child-care workers 33 358,000 Restaurant and food service managers 33 192,000 Table 2. Occupations covered in the 1996-1997 Occupational Outlook Handbook with the largest job growth, 1994-2005. Change in employment, 1994-2005 Percent Numerical Computer scientists and systems analysts 91 755,000 Homemaker-home health aides 107 640,000 School teachers--Kindergarten, elementary, and secondary 22 634,000 Retail sales workers 14 584,000 Janitors and cleaners and cleaning supervisors 18 582,000 Cashiers 19 562,000 Food and beverage service workers 12 537,000 Chefs, cooks, and other kitchen workers 16 502,000 Registered nurses 25 473,000 Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers 10 471,000 General managers and top executives 15 466,000 Services sales representatives 72 441,000 Guards 48 415,000 Nursing aides and psychiatric aides 29 400,000 Secretaries 12 390,000 Teacher aides 39 364,000 Preschool teachers and child-care workers 33 358,000 Information clerks 24 355,000 Receptionists 31 318,000 Truckdrivers 10 299,000 Adjusters, investigators, and collectors 22 285,000 Clerical supervisors and managers 19 261,000 Engineers 19 246,000 General maintenance mechanics 18 231,000 Special education teachers 53 206,000 Licensed practical nurses 28 197,000 Restaurant and food service managers 33 192,000 Social workers 34 187,000 Lawyers and judge 25 183,000 Financial managers 24 182,000