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.