Table 10. The 30 occupations with the largest projected number of total job openings due to growth and replacements, 2010-20
(In thousands)
Occupation Occupational group Employment Change Replacement Total job Pre-employment During employment
2010 2020 Number Percent needs openings due Typical education needed Work experience Typical on-the-job training(4)
to growth and for entry(2) in a related
replacements(1) occupation(3)
Retail Salespersons Sales and Related Occupations 4,261.6 4,968.4 706.8 16.6 1,251.9 1,958.7 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Cashiers Sales and Related Occupations 3,362.6 3,612.8 250.2 7.4 1,525.7 1,775.9 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Waiters and Waitresses Food Preparation and Serving Related
Occupations 2,260.3 2,456.2 195.9 8.7 1,128.4 1,324.3 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Registered Nurses Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations 2,737.4 3,449.3 711.9 26.0 495.5 1,207.4 Associate's degree None None
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers,
Including Fast Food Food Preparation and Serving Related
Occupations 2,682.1 3,080.1 398.0 14.8 748.5 1,146.5 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 16.6 522.0 1,011.5 High school diploma or
equivalent None 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 15.4 661.1 980.2 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 15.5 621.2 959.6 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Home Health Aides Healthcare Support Occupations 1,017.7 1,723.9 706.3 69.4 131.2 837.5 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and
Housekeeping Cleaners Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Occupations 2,310.4 2,556.8 246.4 10.7 435.6 682.0 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 68.2 675.2 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Childcare Workers Personal Care and Service Occupations 1,282.3 1,544.3 262.0 20.4 403.8 665.8 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 20.6 319.3 649.4 High school diploma or
equivalent 1 to 5 year Short-term on-the-job training
Postsecondary Teachers Education, Training, and Library Occupations 1,756.0 2,061.7 305.7 17.4 280.4 586.1 Doctoral or professional
degree None None
First-Line Supervisors of Office and
Administrative Support Workers Office and Administrative Support Occupations 1,424.4 1,627.8 203.4 14.3 381.0 584.4 High school diploma or
equivalent 1 to 5 year None
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special
Education Education, Training, and Library Occupations 1,476.5 1,725.3 248.8 16.8 324.4 573.2 Bachelor's degree None Internship/residency
Receptionists and Information Clerks Office and Administrative Support Occupations 1,048.5 1,297.0 248.5 23.7 317.1 565.6 High school diploma or
equivalent 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 15.6 336.5 559.9 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers Sales and Related Occupations 1,619.5 1,755.5 136.0 8.4 377.7 513.7 High school diploma or
equivalent 1 to 5 year None
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants Healthcare Support Occupations 1,505.3 1,807.2 302.0 20.1 194.1 496.1 Postsecondary non-degree
award None None
Teacher Assistants Education, Training, and Library Occupations 1,288.3 1,479.3 191.1 14.8 290.5 481.6 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 13.6 208.8 467.8 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers Office and Administrative Support Occupations 1,787.4 1,808.3 20.9 1.2 444.1 465.0 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Accountants and Auditors Business and Financial Operations Occupations 1,216.9 1,407.6 190.7 15.7 261.4 452.1 Bachelor's degree None None
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Occupations 1,151.5 1,392.3 240.8 20.9 203.6 444.4 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
General and Operations Managers Management Occupations 1,767.1 1,848.6 81.6 4.6 328.5 410.1 Associate's degree 1 to 5 year None
Carpenters Construction and Extraction Occupations 1,001.7 1,197.6 196.0 19.6 212.3 408.3 High school diploma or
equivalent None Apprenticeship
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants,
Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Office and Administrative Support Occupations 2,032.2 2,150.8 118.5 5.8 272.5 391.0 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Occupations 1,289.0 1,431.0 142.0 11.0 237.1 379.1 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Food Preparation Workers Food Preparation and Serving Related
Occupations 813.7 897.9 84.1 10.3 293.0 377.1 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
1 Total job openings represent the sum of employment increases and replacements. If employment change is negative, job openings due to growth are zero and total job openings equal replacements. For more
information about occupational replacement needs, see "Estimating Occupational Replacement Needs," on the Internet at www.bls.gov/emp/ep_replacements.htm.
2 Represents the typical education level needed to enter the occupation.
3 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.
4 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.