by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, and other sources,
recently released 10-year employment projections show total
employment in the U.S. growing by 14 percent through 2008, which is slightly lower than the 17 percent
growth in employment during the 1988-1998 period.
Service-producing industries (health care, tourism, retail, education, etc.) will account for the vast majority of the employment growth.
In the goods-producing sector, only construction will see growth, partly offsetting declines in manufacturing and mining.
Professional specialty occupations (such as computer system analysts) and service workers (such as cashiers) -– on the opposite ends
of the educational attainment and earnings spectrum –- are expected to more than 9 million jobs, about 45 percent of total projected job
growth over the ten-year period.
The five fastest occupations are all technology related: computer engineers, computer support specialists, systems analysts, database
administrator, and desktop publishing specialists – adding about 1.5 million jobs to the workforce.
Other groups/occupations with the largest job growth include general managers and top executives, administrative positions, and
marketing and sales jobs.
By 2008, it is projected that the workforce will be much more diverse, with White/Caucasians (non-Hispanics) accounting for
approximately 70 percent, Hispanics accounting for 13 percent, African-Americans accounting for 12 percent, and Asians and
others accounting for 6 percent.
The following is a list of the top 20 occupations with the highest expected growth through 2008 -- and beyond. Follow the links to learn more about the
occupations, as well as find links to job sites that provide job listings and/or allow resume postings:
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search
terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
Dr. Randall Hansen is currently Webmaster of Quintessential Careers, as
well as publisher of its electronic newsletter, QuintZine.
He writes a biweekly career advice column under the name,
The Career Doctor. He is also a tenured, associate professor
of marketing in the School of Business Administration at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.
He is a published career expert -- and has been for the last ten years. He is co-author, with
Katharine Hansen, of Dynamic Cover Letters. And he has been an employer
and consultant dealing with hiring and firing decisions for the past fifteen years.
He can be reached at randall@quintcareers.com.
