Georgia occupational trends in brief

Georgia Occupational Trends
in Brief
Projections to 2008
Georgia Department of Labor Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary Aids and Services Available upon Request to Individuals with Disabilities

Georgia Occupational Trends in Brief
Projections to 2008
In the year 2008, total employment in Georgia is expected to reach more than 4.9 million jobs, with over 95,000 new jobs added each year. Georgia's economy is currently growing faster than the nation's, with expected average annual job growth of 2.4 percent in the next decade, compared to 1.4 percent for the U.S.
With all of this anticipated job growth, it can sometimes be difficult to sort out which occupations will provide the best jobs in the future. In short, what are the really "hot" jobs? Many job seekers and education planners seek the answer to this question. Identifying those occupations, however, is not a simple task. Many criteria are used for determining job quality, including percent change in employment, numerical change in employment, earnings, and the number of anticipated annual job openings due to growth and replacement.
The charts in this booklet present many good occupations. The first four charts identify occupations projected to have the fastest growth, the largest total growth, the most annual job openings, and the largest employment declines, respectively, in Georgia for the 1998-2008 period. The next 11 charts show occupations by education and training category that reflect the usual requirements for entry into an occupation. The occupations in these 11 charts combine projected job growth, expected annual job openings, and average earnings to produce good jobs from several perspectives. The occupations that have it all faster than average growth, above average wages and at least 100 projected annual openings are designated as "hot" occupations. For the 1998-2008 period, these criteria were met by 71 occupations 10 percent of all occupations in Georgia.
This booklet also includes a summary of occupational projections by education and training category for all occupations examined.

3

.astest Growing Occupations
Three of the top five fastest growing occupations are associated with computer technology. Eight of the 20 are found mainly in the health services industry or are computer-related. Most of these occupations have higher than average wages.

Fastest Growing Occupations with 100 Annual Openings or More

Computer Engineers Systems Analysts
Sales Agents, Business Technical Writers
Computer Programmers Sales Agents, Advertising
Home Health Aides Paralegals
Telemktrs, Door-To-Door Sales Medical Assistants
Demonstrators and Promoters Operations Research Analysts
Pest Controllers & Assistants Guards
Human Services Workers Computer Support Specialists
Physician Assistants Central Off/PBX Instrs/Rprs
Bill & Account Collectors Speech Path/Audiologists

7.7% 7.5% 7.4% 7.3% 7.0% 6.9% 6.8% 6.8% 6.7% 6.5% 6.4% 5.9% 5.9% 5.9% 5.8% 5.8% 5.7% 5.5%

15.7% 15.5%
Annual Percent Growth

4

Largest Job Growth
Occupational growth will be very concentrated. These 20 occupations out of more than 700 are projected to account for more than 35 percent of the total employment growth over the period 1998-2008.
Four occupations that generally require at least a bachelor's degree are among these occupations -- General Managers and Top Executives, Systems Analysts, Computer Programmers, and Secondary School Teachers. Twelve of these occupations generally require short-term on-the-job training.
While most of these occupations have above average percentage growth rates, more than half of them has lower than average wages.

Occupations with the Largest Job Growth

General Mgrs & Top Execs Cashiers
Salespersons, Retail General Office Clerks
Systems Analysts Janitors & Cleaners
Guards Registered Nurses Marketing/Sales Supervisors Reception/Information Clks Waiters & Waitresses Hand Packers & Packagers Teacher Aides, Paraprof Secretaries, Ex Legal or Med Clerical Supervisors Computer Programmers Nursing Aides & Orderlies Teachers, Secondary School Truck Drivers, Heavy Truck Drivers, Light

23,340 22,740 22,080 17,770 17,690 15,520 14,450 13,780 13,750 13,680 12,930 12,740 12,060 11,810 11,340 10,950 10,430 10,290

40,450 32,250
Total Growth

5

Most Annual Openings
These 20 occupations are projected to have more than one-third of the total annual job openings to the year 2008.
More than half of these jobs requires only short-term on-the-job training, with Cashiers at the top of the list. As such, many of these jobs have below average wages.
While a large portion of these annual openings will result from job growth, overall, many more job openings will result from replacing workers who leave an occupation than from job growth.

Occupations with the Most Annual Openings

Cashiers General Mgrs & Top Execs
Salespersons, Retail General Office Clerks Waiters & Waitresses Comb Food Prep/Serv Wkrs
Janitors & Cleaners Secretaries, Ex Legal or Med
Guards Food Preparation Workers
Registered Nurses Systems Analysts
Hand Packers & Packagers Marketing/Sales Supervisors
Clerical Supervisors Teachers, Secondary School
Reception/Information Clks Teachers, Elementary
Bookkpng, Accntng, Audit Clks Truck Drivers, Heavy

3,300 3,080 2,690 2,520 2,490 2,410 2,300 2,290 2,170 2,150 2,060 2,000 1,960 1,940 1,770

4,660 4,430

6,480 5,900

8,040

Annual Openings

6

Largest Declines

While many occupations in the preceding charts will benefit from changing circumstances over the 10-year projection period, others will be negatively affected. These occupations are projected to decline due to a variety of factors, including office automation and other technological advances, concentration in industries that are declining and foreign competition.
Four of these occupations are in textiles and apparel and two are in telephone communications. Two are in clerical jobs with increasingly automated duties. Two are in the printing and publishing industry and have resulted from the conversion to desktop publishing technology (electronic pagination). Three are in information technology and are the result of switching from mainframe computers to personal computers.

Occupations with the Largest Declines in Employment

-7,080

-4,630

Decline in Jobs

-1,310 -1,040 -800 -690 -430 -420 -410 -370 -360 -330 -320 -270 -250 -230 -220 -210 -210 -180 -180

Sewing Mach Oprs, Garment Textile Mach Oprs/Tndrs Bank Tellers Production Inspectors, Graders Station Intlrs/Reprs, Telephone Computer Operators, Exc Periphrl Machine Tool Cutting Ops, M/P Directory Assistance Operators Mail Machine Operators Paste-up Workers Textile Draw-Out Mach Oprs Typists, Incl Word Processing Peripheral EDP Equipment Oprs Farm Wkrs, Ex Agri Serv Typeset & Compose Ops Child Care Workers, Private Housekeepers/Butlers, Private Marking Clerks Procurement Clerks Machine Forming Ops, M/P Custom Tailors & Sewers

7

.irst Professional Degree
These occupations generally require completion of at least three years of full-time academic study beyond the bachelor's degree. In Georgia, only nine occupations require this level of education.
Of these nine occupations, four are projected to be "hot" in the period 1998-2008. All nine occupations earn higher than average wages, but Physicians, Lawyers, Clergy, and Veterinarians and Veterinary Inspectors can all expect above average growth and significant annual openings as well.

Occupations that Generally Require a First Professional Degree

* Hot Physicians * Hot Lawyers

Pharmacists

190

Dentists
*Hot Vets & Vet Inspectors * Hot Clergy

170 100 100

Chiropractors

90

Optometrists 40

Podiatrists 10

790 600
Annual Openings

8

Doctoral Degree
These occupations generally require completion of at least three years of full-time academic work beyond the bachelor's degree. Completion of this program is required for entry into six occupations in academia and the physical, biological and social sciences.
Employment change is highly concentrated among occupations that usually require a doctoral degree. College and University Faculty account for almost 90 percent of the projected annual openings in this category, the smallest of all the education and training categories. This occupation is projected to be "hot" over the next 10 years, as these jobholders can expect higher than average job growth, above average wages and a substantial number of annual openings.

Occupations that Generally Require a Doctoral Degree
*Hot College and University Faculty

1,260

Biological Scientists

90

Medical Scientists 50

Life Scientists 20

Physicists & Astronomers

10

Mathematical 2 Scientists

Annual Openings

9

Masters Degree
These occupations generally require completion of one or two years of full-time study beyond the bachelor's degree. Overall, eleven occupations require this level of education in Georgia.
Of the eight occupations in this category that have at least 100 projected annual openings, six get the "hot" label. All 11 occupations in this category have above average expected earnings, but several are relatively small and slow-growing.

Occupations that Generally Require a Master's Degree

* Hot Social Workers, Med & Psyc
*Hot Voc.& Educ. Counselors

Librarians, Professional
* Hot Physical Therapists *Hot Speech Path/Audiologist
* Hot Psychologists

Nursing Instructors

*Hot Operations Research Analysts

Urban & Regional Planners

30

Statisticians

20

Curatrs/Archiv/Museum

Techs

10

270 220 210 170 140 140 110 110
Annual Openings

10

11

Summary of Occupational Projections By Education and Training Level Generally Required for Entry
Georgia, 1998-2008

Education/Training/Experience Generally Required for Entry to Associated Occupations

1998

Projected 2008 Employment Change 1998-2008 Annual Openings*

No. of

Occu-

Percent

Percent Numerical Percent Growth

Percent

pations Employment of Tolal Employment of Tolal change of Tolal Rate Number of Total

Bachelor's or higher degree

147

First professional degree

10

Doctoral degree

17

Master's degree

13

Work experience plus Bachelor's or higher degree 18

Bachelor's degree

89

816,370 46,470 22,640 26,430
291,000 429,830

20.4% 1.2 0.6 0.7 7.3 10.8

1,079,800 59,820 30,670 35,410
371,440 582,460

21.8% 1.2 0.6 0.7 7.5 11.8

263,430 13,350 8,030 8,980 80,440
152,630

27.7% 1.4 0.8 0.9 8.5
16.0

32.3% 28.7 35.5 34.0 27.6 35.5

42,060 2,110 1,410 1,420
13,190 23,930

21.9% 1.1 0.7 0.7 6.9
12.5

Postsecondary but less than Bachelor's Associate degree Post-secondary vocational training

63

252,960 6.3%

321,680 6.5%

68,720 7.2% 27.2% 12,160 6.3%

30

109,940 2.8

146,160 3.0

36,220 3.8

32.9

5,540 2.9

33

143,020 3.6

175,520 3.5

32,500 3.4

22.7

6,620 3.5

All other(no-formal post-sec. educ. required)

560

Work experience in related occupation

51

Long-term on-the-job training(more than 1 year)

130

Moderate-term on-the-job training(1-12months)

216

Short-term on-the-job training(less than 1 month) 163

2,927,520 276,490 366,970 684,280
1,599,780

73.2% 6.9 9.2 17.1 40.0

3,546,770 331,910 440,300 790,410
1,984,150

71.7% 6.7 8.9
16.0 40.1

619,250 55,420 73,330
106,130 384,370

65.1% 5.8 7.7 11.2
40.4

21.2% 20.0 20.0 15.5 24.0

137,470 11,440 15,740 26,160 84,130

71.7% 6.0 8.2
13.6 43.9

Total

770

3,996,850 100.0%

4,948,250 100.0%

951,400 100.0% 23.8% 191,690 100.0%

*Annual openings figures include openings due both to employment growth and to replacement of workers leaving an occupation. Note: Percents may not sum to totals due to rounding.

Work Experience plus a Bachelors or Higher Degree

These occupations generally require completion of a four-year academic program or higher degree beyond high school, plus related occupational experience. Most occupations in this category are managerial occupations that require experience in a related non-managerial occupation. Seventeen occupations normally require this type of preparation in Georgia.
General Managers and Top Executives is the leading "hot" occupation in this category. It will account for 50 percent of new jobs and 49 percent of annual openings in this education and training category. Of all occupations, it is projected to have the largest job growth.
Eight other occupations in this group also have earned the label of "hot" for the 1998-2008 period.

Occupations that Generally Require Work Experience Plus a Bachelor's or Higher Degree

*Hot General Mgrs & Top Execs

*Hot Financial Managers

910

*Hot Market/Adver/Public Rel Mgrs

890

*Hot Engineer, Math, Nat Sci Mgrs

860

Administrative Services Mgrs

550

*Hot Education Administrators

530

Communi, Transp, Util Mgrs
*Hot Personnel/Training/Lab Rel Mgrs *Hot Artists/Commercial Artists
Purchasing Managers
*Hot Medicine & Health Service Mgrs *Hot Management Analysts

400 380 360 310 290 240

Farm Managers 140

Govt Chief Exec & Legislators 80

Adjudicators, Hearing Officers 30

Judges & Magistrates 20

Broadcast News Analysts 10

6,480 Annual Openings

12

Bachelors Degree
These occupations generally require completion of a four-year or five-year academic program beyond high school. In Georgia, 89 occupations have this as the most significant source of training.
All 26 occupations on this list have earned the Labor Department's designation of "hot" for the coming period. Of the 49 jobs in this category having more than 100 expected annual openings, these 26 have it all fast growth, good wages and significant annual openings.
Four of the five fastest growing occupations in Georgia -- Computer Engineers, Systems Analysts, Technical Writers, and Computer Programmers -- are in this category.

*Hot Occupations that Generally Require a Bachelor's Degree

Syste m s An a lysts T eachers, Secondary School
T eacher s, Elem en tar y Com puter Program mers T e a ch e r s, S p e cia l E d u ca tio n T e a ch e r s, P r e sch o o l,Ed u c S e r vs
C om puter Engineer s P e r so n n e l/T r a in /L a b R e l S p e cs Social W or ker s, Exc M ed, Psych E le ctr ica l & E le ctr o n ic E n g in e e rs
Aircr a ft Pilo ts/F lig h t En g r s T eachers, Knder, Educ Serv
D esigner s, Ex Inte rior M e ch a n ica l E n g in e e r s C ivil E n g in e e r s, In cl T r a ffic
W rite r s & E d ito rs P u b lic R e la tio n s S p e cia lists S e cu r itie s/F in a n cia l, S a le s
T e ch n ica l W r ite r s E m p lo ym e n t In te r vie w e r s In str u ctio n a l C o o r d in a to r s
S a le s E n g in e e r s Ph ysicia n A ssista n ts A r ch ite cts, E x L n d scp e & M a r in e
In te r io r D e sig n e rs C r e d it A n a lysts

550 520 480 310 300 280 260 250 240 220 200 180 180 170 130 130 130 120 100

880 810 770

1,680

2,300 2,060 1,960

A n n u a l O p e n in g s

13

Associates Degree

These occupations generally require completion of a two-year academic program beyond high school. In all, there are 29 occupations that usually require an associate's degree.
Health occupations account for more than 70 percent of the projected annual openings among occupations in this category. These openings are being driven by Registered Nurses, a "hot" occupation projected to have the eighth largest job growth of any occupation in Georgia.
This list contains the 12 occupations having at least 100 expected annual openings in this category. Nine of the 12 have earned the designation of "hot" for also having both above average growth and above average wages. Four of the nine "hot" occupations are in the health services field.
Occupations with 100 Annual Openings or More that Generally Require an Associate's Degree

*Hot Registered Nurses *Hot Electrical & Electronic Techns
*Hot Paralegals
*Hot Dental Hygienists

490 290 260

Medical Records Technicians

210

*Hot Respiratory Therapists

200

*Hot Computer Support Specialists

170

Phys, Corrct Therapy Assts 160

*Hot Radiologic Techs, Hospitals

140

Med/Clinical Lab Technicians 130
*Hot Civil Engineering Technicians 130 *Hot Industrial Engineering Techns 110

2,410 Annual Openings

14

Post-secondary Vocational Training
These occupations generally require completion of a vocational training program provided in post-secondary vocational schools. In Georgia, workers in 33 occupations generally qualify for jobs by completing vocational training programs.
Eighteen occupations in this category are projected to have at least 100 annual openings. Only five will also have faster than average growth and above average earnings thus their designation as "hot" for the 1998-2008 period.

Occupations with 100 Annual Openings or More that Generally Require Postsecondary Vocational Training

Licensed Practical Nurses
*Hot Automotive Mechanics *Hot Central Off/PBX Instrs/Rprs
Hairdressers & Hairstylists
*Hot Drafters
Emergency Medical Technicians
Travel Agents
Legal Secretaries
Computer Programmer Aides
Medical Secretaries
Sales Agents, Real Estate
*Hot Aircraft Mechanics
Surgical Technologists
Electronics Reprs, Commerc/Ind
Station Intlrs/Reprs, Telephone
* Hot Data Processing Eqp Reprs
Elec Home Entertain Eqp Rprs
Photographers

480 440 410 350 310 300 290 250 250 130 130 120 110 110 100 100

1,160 1,090
Annual Openings

15

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

These occupations generally require skills obtained through work experience in a related occupation. This category includes several supervisory occupations as well as occupations in which skills may be developed from hobbies or other activities besides current or past employment or from service in the Armed Forces. There are 51 occupations in this category.
Supervisory occupations will account for more than eight out of every 10 projected annual openings in this category. The list of 18 with at least 100 expected annual openings contain four "hot" occupations expected to also have fast growth and high wages.

Occupations with 100 Annual Openings or More that Generally Require Work Experience in a Related Occupation

* Hot Marketing/Sales Supervisors *Hot Clerical Supervisors
First Line Superv: Production
First Line Superv: Const,Extrac
*Hot Food Service & Lodging Mgrs
First Line Superv: Mech.&Repair
*Hot Instructors, Adult (Non-VocEd)
Production Inspectors, Graders
Teachers & Instructors, VocED
First Line Superv: Help Laborers Institut Cleaning Supervrs
New Accts Clerks, Banking
First Line Superv: Transport Inspectors & Compliance Offics
Mining & Related Managers
Police/Detective Supervrs Brokers, Real Estate
Electrical/Electronic Assemblrs

670 650 620 590 340 320 280 230 210 170 150 150 150 110 110 100

2,170 2,150
Annual Openings

16

Long-term on-the-job Training
These occupations generally require more than 12 months of on-thejob training or a combination of work experience and formal classroom instruction. This category includes occupations that generally require formal or informal apprenticeships lasting up to four years. In Georgia, 130 occupations rely on this type of training.
All ten occupations on this list of those requiring long-term on-the-job training are expected to have more than 100 annual openings as well as faster than average job growth for the coming period. Of these 10 jobs, four have set themselves apart by also having better than average wages, thereby earning the designation of "hot" for 1998-2008.

Fast-growing Occupations with 100 Annual Openings or More that Generally Require Long-term on-the-job Training

Cooks, Restaurant
*Hot Electricians
Correction Officers
Police Patrol Officers
*Hot Flight Attendants *Hot Telephone/Cable TV Instlr/Rprs
Heat, A/C, Refrig Mechanics
Machinery Mechanics: Textile
*Hot Producers, Directors, Actors
Sheriffs & Deputy Sheriffs

1,050

800

710

660

620

550

420

300

220 100

Annual Openings

17

Moderate-term on-the-job Training

These occupations generally require one to twelve months of combined on-the-job experience and informal training, which can include observing experienced workers. Overall, there are 216 occupations in this category, the largest of any category in the state.
The occupations in this list are projected to grow faster than average and have at least 100 annual openings for the period 1998-2008. They will account for about 45 percent of the new jobs and about 25 percent of the projected annual openings for all occupations requiring this level of training.
Very few jobs requiring moderate-term on-the-job training can be classified as "hot." Of the 18 in this list, only two meet these criteria for the period to 2008.
Fast-growing Occupations with 100 Annual Openings or More that Generally Require Moderate-term on-the-job Training

Telemktrs, Door-To-Door Sales
*Hot Sales Agents, Business *Hot Sales Agents, Advertising
Medical Assistants Data Entry Keyers, Exc Composing
Pest Controllers & Assistants Instructors & Coaches, Sports
Dental Assistants Human Services Workers
Bakers, Bread & Pastry Dispatchers, Exc Police/Fire/Amb
Demonstrators and Promoters Insulation Workers Tax Preparers
Surveying/Mapping Techns Plast/Mold Mach Oprs/Tndrs Extrude/Draw Setrs/Oprs M/P

480 430 400 330 310 290 270 270 170 170 160 140 100

990 850 700 640
Annual Openings

18

Short-term on-the-job Training

These occupations generally require up to one month of on-the-job training. In these occupations workers can achieve average job performance in just a few days or weeks by working with and observing experienced employees and by asking questions. This training category was considered the appropriate level of training for 162 occupations in the state.
The chart below shows the 20 fast-growing occupations with the most annual openings in this category. These will account for roughly 57 percent of the new jobs and 48 percent of the projected annual openings during this period.

Although all these are good occupations from the standpoint of many expected job openings and rapid job growth, none of them has an average hourly wage greater than the statewide average. Consequently, none of these occupations can be classified as truly "hot" for the period 1998-2008.

Fast-growing Occupations with 100 Annual Openings or More that Generally Require Short-term on-the-job Training

Cashiers General Office Clerks Waiters & Waitresses
Janitors & Cleaners Guards
Hand Packers & Packagers Reception/Information Clks
Nursing Aides & Orderlies Teacher Aides, Paraprof
Truck Drivers, Light Cooks, Fast Food
Laborers, Landscp/Groundskeep Bill & Account Collectors Child Care Workers Home Health Aides Counter & Rental Clerks
Meat, Poultry, Fish Cutters Bus Drivers, School File Clerks
Vehicle Washers/Eq Cleaners

3,080 2,520 2,290 2,000 1,630 1,600 1,550 1,180 1,150 1,110 950 910 850 780 770 640 540

4,660 4,430

8,040 Annual Openings

19

Notes