Two major occupational groups--professional and related occupations and service occupations--are projected to provide more than half of the total employment growth during the 2008-18 period. Production occupations are projected to decline.
The 30 detailed occupations with the largest gains in employment are expected to account for nearly half of all new jobs, and 17 of these occupations are professional and related occupations and service occupations. The detailed occupation projected to add the most jobs is registered nurses (582,000), followed by home health aides (461,000) and customer service representatives (400,000). All but 3 of the top 30 fastest-growing detailed occupations are found within professional and related occupations and service occupations. Seventeen of these rapidly growing occupations are related to healthcare or medical research.
Of the 30 detailed occupations projected to have the largest employment declines, 12 are production occupations and 11 are office and administrative support occupations.
