Table 6. The 30 fastest-growing occupations, 2006-2016

Table 6.  The 30 fastest-growing occupations, 2006-2016
(In thousands)

                                                                                                                    Most significant source of
           Occupation                              Occupational group              Employment        Change           postsecondary education
                                                                                                                           or training (1)
                                                                                  2006    2016    Number   Percent
Network systems and data communications         Professional and related
 analysts ..................................     occupations (2) ..............    262     402      140      53.4        Bachelor's degree

Personal and home care aides ...............    Service occupations (3) .......    767   1,156      389      50.6        Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                          training

Home health aides ..........................    Service occupations (3) .......    787   1,171      384      48.7        Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                          training
Computer software engineers, applications ..    Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    507     733      226      44.6        Bachelor's degree

Veterinary technologists and technicians ...    Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............     71     100       29      41.0        Associate degree

Personal financial advisors ................    Management, business, and
                                                 financial occupations (4) ....    176     248       72      41.0        Bachelor's degree

Makeup artists, theatrical and performance .    Service occupations (3) .......      2       3        1      39.8        Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                                                          award

Medical assistants .........................    Service occupations (3) .......    417     565      148      35.4        Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                                                          job training

Veterinarians ..............................    Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............     62      84       22      35.0        First professional degree

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder         Professional and related
 counselors ................................     occupations (2) ..............     83     112       29      34.3        Bachelor's degree


Skin care specialists ......................    Service occupations (3) .......     38      51       13      34.3        Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                                                          award

Financial analysts ........................     Management, business, and
                                                 financial occupations (4) ....    221     295       75      33.8        Bachelor's degree

Social and human service assistants .......     Professional and related                                                 Moderate-term on-the-
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    339     453      114      33.6         job training

Gaming surveillance officers and gaming                                                                                  Moderate-term on-the-
 investigators ............................     Service occupations (3) .......      9      12        3      33.6         job training

Physical therapist assistants ..............    Service occupations (3) .......     60      80       20      32.4        Associate degree

Pharmacy technicians .......................    Professional and related                                                 Moderate-term on-the-
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    285     376       91      32.0         job training

Forensic science technicians ................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............     13      17        4      30.7        Bachelor's degree

Dental hygienists ...........................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    167     217       50      30.1        Associate degree

Mental health counselors ....................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ..............    100     130       30      30.0        Master's degree

Mental health and substance abuse social        Professional and related
 workers ....................................    occupations (2) .............     122     159       37      29.9        Master's degree


Marriage and family therapists ..............   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2)..............      25      32        7      29.8        Master's degree

Dental assistants ...........................   Service occupations (3)            280     362       82      29.2        Moderate-term on-the-
                                                                                                                          job training

Computer systems analysts ...................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) .............     504     650      146      29.0        Bachelor's degree

Database administrators .....................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) .............     119     154       34      28.6        Bachelor's degree


Computer software engineers, systems            Professional and relate
 software ...................................    occupations (2) .............     350     449       99      28.2        Bachelor's degree

Gaming and sports book writers and runners ..   Service occupations (3)             18      24        5      28.0        Short-term on-the-job
                                                                                                                          training

Environmental science and protection            Professional and related
 technicians, including health ..............    occupations (2) .............      36      47       10      28.0        Associate degree

Manicurists and pedicurists .................   Service occupations (3)             78     100       22      27.6        Postsecondary vocational
                                                                                                                          award

Physical therapists .........................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ............      173     220       47      27.1        Master's degree

Physician assistants ........................   Professional and related
                                                 occupations (2) ........           66      83       18      27.0        Master's degree

   1 An occupation is placed into 1 of 11 categories that best describes the postsecondary education or training needed by most workers to
become fully qualified in that occupation.  For more information about the categories, see Occupational Projections and Training Data,
2006-07 edition,Bulletin 2602 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2006) and Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2008-09 edition,
Bulletin 2702 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming).
   2 Major occupational groups 15-0000 through 29-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   3 Major occupational groups 31-0000 through 39-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
   4 Major occupational groups 11-0000 through 13-0000 in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).





Last Modified Date: December 04, 2007

Data from: Bureau of Labor Statistics