Table 6. The 30 occupations with the largest projected employment growth, 2010-20
(In thousands)
Occupation Occupational group Employment Change Pre-employment During employment
2010 2020 Number Percent Typical education needed Work experience Typical on-the-job training(3)
for entry(1) in a related
occupation(2)
Registered nurses Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 2,737.4 3,449.3 711.9 26.0 Associate's degree None None
Retail salespersons Sales and Related Occupations 4,261.6 4,968.4 706.8 16.6 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Home health aides Healthcare Support Occupations 1,017.7 1,723.9 706.3 69.4 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Personal care aides Personal Care and Service Occupations 861.0 1,468.0 607.0 70.5 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Office clerks, general Office and Administrative Support Occupations 2,950.7 3,440.2 489.5 16.6 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Combined food preparation and serving workers,
including fast food Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 2,682.1 3,080.1 398.0 14.8 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Customer service representatives Office and Administrative Support Occupations 2,187.3 2,525.6 338.4 15.5 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 1,604.8 1,934.9 330.1 20.6 High school diploma or
equivalent 1 to 5 years Short-term on-the-job training
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 2,068.2 2,387.3 319.1 15.4 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Postsecondary teachers Education, Training, and Library Occupations 1,756.0 2,061.7 305.7 17.4 Doctoral or professional
degree None None
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants Healthcare Support Occupations 1,505.3 1,807.2 302.0 20.1 Postsecondary non-degree award None None
Childcare workers Personal Care and Service Occupations 1,282.3 1,544.3 262.0 20.4 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks Office and Administrative Support Occupations 1,898.3 2,157.4 259.0 13.6 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Cashiers Sales and Related Occupations 3,362.6 3,612.8 250.2 7.4 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Elementary school teachers, except special education Education, Training, and Library Occupations 1,476.5 1,725.3 248.8 16.8 Bachelor's degree None Internship/residency
Receptionists and information clerks Office and Administrative Support Occupations 1,048.5 1,297.0 248.5 23.7 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
cleaners Occupations 2,310.4 2,556.8 246.4 10.7 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Occupations 1,151.5 1,392.3 240.8 20.9 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing,
except technical and scientific products Sales and Related Occupations 1,430.0 1,653.4 223.4 15.6 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Construction laborers Construction and Extraction Occupations 998.8 1,211.2 212.4 21.3 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Medical secretaries Office and Administrative Support Occupations 508.7 718.9 210.2 41.3 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
First-line supervisors of office and administrative
support workers Office and Administrative Support Occupations 1,424.4 1,627.8 203.4 14.3 High school diploma or
equivalent 1 to 5 years None
Carpenters Construction and Extraction Occupations 1,001.7 1,197.6 196.0 19.6 High school diploma or
equivalent None Apprenticeship
Waiters and waitresses Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 2,260.3 2,456.2 195.9 8.7 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Security guards Protective Service Occupations 1,035.7 1,230.7 195.0 18.8 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Teacher assistants Education, Training, and Library Occupations 1,288.3 1,479.3 191.1 14.8 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Accountants and auditors Business and Financial Operations Occupations 1,216.9 1,407.6 190.7 15.7 Bachelor's degree None None
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 752.3 920.8 168.5 22.4 Postsecondary non-degree award None None
Physicians and surgeons Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 691.0 859.3 168.3 24.4 Doctoral or professional
degree None Internship/residency
Medical assistants Healthcare Support Occupations 527.6 690.4 162.9 30.9 High school diploma or
equival None Moderate-term on-the-job training
1 Represents the typical education level needed to enter the occupation.
2 Indicates if work experience in a related occupation is commonly considered necessary by employers for entry, or is a commonly accepted substitute for formal types of training.
3 Indicates the typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation.
NOTE: For more information about the education, work experience, and on-the-job training categories assigned to occupations, see www.bls.gov/emp/ep_education_training_system.htm
