.The Service Industry: Occupations Expected to Grow and Thrive.
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In our economy, there are three primary industrial categories: the first are indus- tries involved with extraction, such
as mining, agriculture and fishing. Secondary industries are those involved with, or closely related to, manufacturing.
And, the third category are industries providing a service.
Today we will look at five occupations with the largest employment in 2004, and the five fastest growing
occupations anticipated between 2004 and 2014. These jobs are in the services sector. Also, we will consider
whether or not growth of employment in the services industry category may be increasing the numbers of low-paid
and/or unstable jobs in our economy.
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The top five occupations with the largest employment within
the service sector are:
1. Retail sales. Retail sales had 4,256,100 workers in 2004. Retail sales persons
sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel in a retail
establishment.
This occupation comprises about 27.7 percent of 15,330,200 workers in sales and
related occupations nationally, and is relatively low paying with an average annual
wage of less than $19,600.
2. Cashiers, except cashiers involved in gaming, come in second in occupations
with the most workers with 3,469,400 jobs in 2004. Cashiers receive and disburse
money in establishments other than financial institutions. Their work usually involves
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use of electronic scanners and cash registers and often involves processing credit or debit card transactions and
validating checks.
They too earn low wages averaging less than $19,600 per year and come in a very low 514 on the fastest growing
occupation list. Cashiers can expect a growth rate of 3.0 percent or 107,600 jobs 2014.
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3. Office clerks, at 3,137,800 jobs nationwide, is third on our list of largest number of jobs within an occupation.
This occupation commands higher wages then the retail sales persons or cashiers. Typically earning between
$19,710 and $27,380 per year, they perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office
clerical occupation. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual
establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, word processing, office
machine operation, and filing. Office clerks rank a low 404 on the fastest growing occupation list
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4. Laborers and material movers supply 2,430,200 persons to this occupation, a little over half the rate of
persons involved in retail sales. Laborers manually move freight, stock, or other materials or perform other unskilled
general labor. This occupational category Includes all unskilled manual laborers not involving the use of power
equipment nor are they "construction laborers" or "construction trades helpers".
Yet again we find the pay for this occupation low with an annual wage of less than $19,600. They rank 372 on the
fastest growing occupation list.
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5. Registered nurses comprise over 2,393,600 workers and is the fifth largest occupational group. They assess
patient health problems and needs, and maintain medical records. Registered nurses administer nursing care to ill,
injured, conva-lescent, or disabled patients and may advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention
or provide case management.
Even though registered nurses are in the top five largest occupational groups, they are number thirty-three in the list
of fastest growing occupations. The minimum education required for a registered nurse is an associates degree
followed by state licensing or registration. The pay is over $41,820 per year.
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The top five occupations with the fastest employment growth within the service
sector are:
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1. Even though retail sales is currently the occupation with the largest employment, the fastest growing occupation in
terms of percent growth (56 percent) is home health aides -- another low paying occupation. Home health aides
will grow from 624,000 to 973,700 workers who provide routine, personal health care, such as bathing, dressing, or
grooming, to elderly, convalescent, or disabled persons in the home of patients or in a residential care facility.
While retail sales fall way down to 171 on America's Career InfoNet's fastest growth list of 559 occupations, we
can't let percentages fool us. In absolute numbers, retail sales is expected to grow by 735,800 jobs and home health
aides, 349,700.
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2. Network systems and data communications analysts take the number 2 spot in anticipated growth with a rate
of 55% or 126,200 jobs over the 2004 number of 231,300. They analyze, design, test, and evaluate network
systems, perform network analysis, and research and recommend network data communications hardware and
software.
Now it is here where we see some light at the end of the pay-scale tunnel! Network systems and data
communications analysts can expect to earn over $41,820 per year. A bachelor's degree is usually required for this
occupation.
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3. Medical assistants, are the third fastest growing occupation with an anticipated growth rate of 52 percent from
387,100 to 588,600 total jobs by 2014. Medical assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under
the direction of physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records,
billing, and coding for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical
histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
Like the office clerks above they usually earn between $19,710 and $27,380 per year.
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4. Physician assistants. There were 62,000 physician assistants in 2004. By 2014 there should be 50%
more--92,700. Physician assistants provide health care services typically performed by a physician, under the
supervision of a physician. They may conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, counsel patients, and in some
cases, prescribe medication. A physician assistant must graduate from an accredited educational program for
physician assistants.
Like network analysts, the pay for physician assistants is good. They usually earn over $41,820 per year.
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5. Computer software engineers, applications round out our list of occupations and is the fifth most active
occupation in terms of growth. In 2004 there were 459,800 persons doing this work. In 2014, we expect 682,200, or
a 48 percent increase. Computer software engineers develop, create, and modify general computer applications
software or specialized utility programs. They design software or customize software for client use and may analyze
and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part
of a team.
As with registered nurses, the pay is good and the future looks bright. Computer software engineers can expect to
earn over $41,820 per year.
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Conclusion:
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"The fastest growing occupations do not necessarily provide the largest number of jobs. Even though an occupation
is expected to grow rapidly, it may provide fewer openings than a slower growing, larger occupation." * Three out of
the above five fastest growing occupations pay good wages. However, they also require special skills, training and
more than a high school diploma to qualify.
Retail sales, home health aides, cashiers, laborers, and office clerks represent a substantial and growing portion of
workers in the services sector that are receiving low pay. However, most workers' salaries are set by the supply of
available workers and the demand for these workers in a competitive environment. The less education and training
required for a job, the greater the supply of workers. The supply of applicants for unskilled work exceeds the
demand and is but one of a number of reasons for the low wages and instability in an industry.
Other factors affecting wages are increased productivity through advances in technology , automation, inexpensive
imports reducing demand, downsizing and cost cutting within an industry, a downturn in the economy...the list goes
on.
The way for more workers to find a good career and a better income in our competitive world is by emphasizing to
them the value of education and training beyond high school to gain and enhance work skills demanded in our
twenty-first century society. Also, we must clearly partner education, economic development, and employment to
open up career opportunities and fill good paying challenging jobs..
* Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 1996-07
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In the next issue we will look at the health care industry.
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