1996-97 Edition Occupational Outlook Handbook and Career Guide to Industries Published — 1996-03-15

For 50 years, the Occupational Outlook Handbook has provided occupational outlook information for use in counseling about the world of work. The 1996-97 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the 22nd since 1946, presents the expected employment changes in nearly 250 occupations between now and the year 2005 and the qualifications that will be needed for them. The Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, is especially geared toward junior and senior high school students, but also can be a valuable guide for people already working who want to, or need to, change their careers. Readers are told not only which occupations will provide large numbers of openings, but which will grow most rapidly, often reflecting opportunities from newer technologies. Different factors affect the nation's occupational needs. The fastest growing occupations are influenced by both changing demographics and technology. (See table 1.) The aging of the U.S.