Fastest Growing Occupations

Hot Netw ork Systems and Data Communications
Analysts
Hot Computer Softw are Engineers, Applications
Home Health Aides
Medical Assistants
Hot Physician Assistants Hot Computer Softw are Engineers, Systems
Softw are
Hot Database Administrators Hot Netw ork and Computer Systems Administrators
Hot Computer Systems Analysts
Dental Assistants
Hot Dental Hygienists Hot Sales Representatives, Wholesale and
Manuf ac turing Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
Personal and Home Care Aides

4.5% 4.5% 4.3% 4.2% 4.1% 4.0% 4.0% 3.8% 3.7% 3.5% 3.5% 3.3% 3.2% 3.0% 2.9%

These fast-growing occupations will have better employment prospects than occupations with slow or declining employment. Also, conditions will be more favorable for mobility and advancement.
Six of the 15 are found mainly in health services and six are computer-related.
Six of these occupations do not require any formal education beyond high school.
Nine of the occupations have been designated as "HOT" on a statewide basis over the projections decade.

Occupations with the Most Annual Openings

Retail Salespersons
Cashiers
Comb Food Prep & Serv Workers, Incl Fast Food
Waiters & Waitresses
Laborers & Freight, Stock, & Material Movers, Hand
Hot Sales Reps, Whlsl & Mfg, Exc Tech & Scientific
Products Team Assemblers
Customer Service Representatives
Hot General & Operations Managers
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer
Hot Registered Nurses
Stock Clerks & Order Fillers
Child Care Workers Textile Wind, Tw ist, & Draw Out Machine Setters,
Operators, & Tenders
Hot Elementary School Teachers, Exc Special Ed

180 180 170 170 170 160 160 150 150 140

290 280 270

560 440

Most of the annual openings in this list will result from the need to replace workers who change jobs rather than from new job creation.
Seven require short-term on-the-job training of one month or less.
One of these jobs is found mainly in textile manufacturing, a key industry in this area.
Four of the occupations have been designated as "HOT" on a statewide basis over the projections decade.
Although these occupations have many projected annual openings, more than half of them pay less than average wages.

Georgia Area Workforce Trends
Projections to 2014
WIA Area #1 NW Georgia
This area is made up of 15 counties in northwest Georgia in and around the cities of Dalton and Rome. It includes the following counties: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker and Whitfield.
Workforce Information & Analysis Division
Georgia Department of Labor Michael L. Thurmond Commissioner

Total Industry Growth

Total employment in WIA Area #1 is expected to grow from almost 296,000 jobs in 2004 to almost 333,000 by the year 2014. This equates to more than 3,700 new jobs added each year. This area is home to the largest concentration of tufted carpet producers in the United States. Over the last ten years, it produced more than half the carpet and textile mill products in Georgia. In addition to the textile industry, other key industries include educational services, health services, food manufacturing, truck transportation, plastics and rubber products manufacturing, electrical equipment manufacturing, furniture manufacturing, and primary metal manufacturing.

The top ten industries in this area with the most job growth are listed below.

Educational Services

4,570

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods

4,490

Food Services & Drinking Places

4,400

Administrative & Support Services

3,820

General Merchandise Stores

3,650

Ambulatory Health Care Services
Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
Local Government, Exc Education & Hospitals
Self -Employed & Unpaid Fam Wkrs

2,740 2,710 2,080 1,640

Specialty Trade Contractors

1,410

Industry Rate of Growth
While the area's economy is currently not growing as fast as Georgia's overall, it is growing at essentially the same rate as the nation's economy. Area job growth is expected to be 1.2 percent per year, while Georgia's job growth is expected to be 1.7 percent per year.
The ten fastest growing industries in this area are listed below.

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, & Related Industries
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
Publishing Industries
General Merchandise Stores
Administrative & Support Services
Ambulatory Health Care Services
Electronics & Appliance Stores
Social Assistance Building Material & Garden Equipment &
Supplies Dealers Museums, Historical Sites, & Similar
Institutions Securs, Comm Contracts, & Other Finan
Investmts & Related

4.9% 4.5% 4.0% 3.4% 3.4% 3.3% 3.0% 2.9% 2.7% 2.7%

7.8%

For copies of the Georgia Career Planner, Georgia Workforce Trends or this publication,
call 404/232-3875 or contact your local Department of Labor office.

Occupations with the Most Job Growth

Retail Salespersons Comb Food Prep & Serv Workers, Incl Fast
Food Customer Service Representatives
Waiters & Waitresses
Hot General & Operations Managers
Hot Registered Nurses Hot Sales Reps, Whlsl & Mfg , Exc Tech &
Scientific Products Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer
Cashiers Laborers & Freight, Stock, & Material Movers,
Hand Janitors & Cleaners, Exc Maids &
Housekeeping Cleaners Hot Elem School Teachers, Exc Special Education
Child Care Workers
Teacher Assistants
Supvrs of Retail Sales Workers

1,100 1,070 930 870 870 870 860 780 670 660 610 610 560 530

2,560

These 15 occupations out of more than 700 - are projected to add over 13,500 jobs over the next 10 years, more than one-third of all projected job growth in Northwest Georgia.
Eight occupations require short-term on-the-job training of one month or less and three require a college degree.
Four of these occupations have been designated as "HOT" during the projections period, as they are fast-growing, high-paying, and have at least 100 expected annual job openings on a statewide basis.