January 05, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

New and emerging occupations at the start of the 21st century

In 2001, most new and emerging (N&E) occupations were in establishments with fewer than 100 employees, while the largest establishments accounted for the smallest percentage of N&E occupations.

[Chart data—TXT]

No single industry dominated in the creation and growth of new and emerging occupations; more than one-half were distributed among human services, transportation, communications, business and personal services, and a wide variety of wholesale and retail trade activities.

Some of the N&E occupations reported in 2001 included:

• Metal stud framer and epoxy floor installer. New building systems, particularly in commercial construction, and increased use of new materials explain the appearance of new occupations in the construction industry.
• Distance learning coordinator, home-school liaison, and technology infusion specialist. These workers deal with the use of new telecommunications applications and other technologies to deliver education. 
• Bill review nurse. Nurses continue to be employed in areas other than those directly related to providing clinical care services. Many of the new jobs for nurses primarily involve controlling medical costs. 

These data are from the Occupational Employment Statistics program. To learn more, see "New and emerging occupations," by Jerome Pikulinski in the December 2004 Monthly Labor Review.