One of the greatest tools for students and job-seekers searching for occupational information and projections comes from the U.S. government in the form of the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, has been the Federal Government's Premier career guidance publication for more than 50 years. The Handbook provides comprehensive, up-to-date, and reliable labor market information that has helped millions of Americans plan their future work lives.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information on more than 250 occupations. The Handbook discusses the nature of the work and the typical working conditions for persons in each occupation. In addition, it gives details on the requirements for entry and the opportunities for advancement. This information may be helpful in making career decisions that utilize one's education and training. Each occupational statement discusses projected job growth relative to the entire economy over the next decade and, in some cases, the ease or difficulty of finding a job. Users also will find current information on earnings, employment of salaried and self-employed workers, related occupations, and sources of additional information. Each statement begins with a section on significant points that highlights key occupational characteristics.
Various factors affect the need for specific occupations. A growing, aging, and increasingly diverse population will demand a changing mix of goods and services. The skills of the workforce needed to fulfill these demands will likewise continue to change, as employers incorporate technological innovations and revise business practices to optimize their efficiency.
Although the Occupational Outlook Handbook targets junior and senior high school students, it also can assist college students and experienced workers, including those seeking to change careers or re-enter the labor force. All successful workers need to make informed decisions and react quickly in an economy impacted by global competition, technological innovation, and shifts in occupational structure. The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides information that reflects the needs of the present as well as the future labor force.
Ordering Copies: Copies of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, can be purchased from the BLS Publications Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago, IL 60690-2145, phone (312) 353-1880, or the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, phone (202) 512-1800.
The Handbook is available on the Bureau's Office of Employment Projections Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/emp/. The Monthly Labor Review also is accessible on the Internet: http://stats.bls.gov/opub/mlr/mlrhome.htm.
