CAREER ADVICE

Growth Opportunities Exist In Linn County

Good news for Linn County high school students:  According to the just-released 2002-03 Occupational Outlook Handbook, a publication of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the chart below identifies the fastest growing occupations in the United States.  It should be of particular interest to high school students in Linn County that career opportunities in each of these career titles (in both of the charts below) exist in Linn County.  The occupations in the first chart below are listed in percent order.  For example, projections are that by the year 2010, there will be a 100 percent increase in the number of computer software applications engineers, and the number of new jobs in that occupation will increase by 380,000.   

Fastest Growing Occupations 

Occupation

     Employment
Change, 2000-2010

Number      Percent

Most significant source of education or training

 

Computer software engineers, applications

380,000

100

Bachelor’s degree

Computer support specialists

490,000

97

Associate degree

Computer software engineers, systems software

284,000

90

Bachelor’s degree

Network and computer systems administrators

187,000

82

Bachelor’s degree

Network systems and data communications analysts

92,000

77

Bachelor’s degree

Desktop publishers

25,000

67

Postsecondary vocational award

Database administrators

70,000

66

Bachelor’s degree

Personal and home care aides

258,000

62

Short-term on-the-job training

Computer systems analysts

258,000

60

Bachelor’s degree

Medical assistants

187,000

57

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Social and human service assistants

147,000

54

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Physician assistants

31,000

53

Bachelor’s degree

Medical records and health information technicians

66,000

49

Associate degree

Computer and information systems managers

150,000

48

Bachelor’s or higher degree, plus work experience

Home health aides

291,000

47

Short-term on-the-job training

Physical therapist aides

17,000

46

Short-term on-the-job training

Occupational therapist aides

4,000

45

Short-term on-the-job training

Physical therapist assistants

20,000

45

Associate degree

Audiologists

6,000

45

Master’s degree

Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors

64,000

40

Postsecondary vocational award

Computer and information scientists, research

11,000

40

Doctoral degree

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

22,000

40

Short-term on-the-job training

Occupational therapist assistants

7,000

40

Associate degree

Veterinary technologists and technicians

19,000

39

Associate degree

Speech-language pathologists

34,000

39

Master’s degree

Mental health and substance abuse social workers

33,000

39

Master’s degree

Dental assistants

92,000

37

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Dental hygienists

54,000

37

Associate degree

Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten and elementary school. 

86,000

37

Bachelor’s degree

Pharmacy technicians

69,000

36

Moderate-term on-the-job training

The second chart looks at the growth in occupations in another way.  Whereas the chart above lists occupations that will have the highest percentage of growth, the chart below lists actual numbers of jobs that are expected to be created in particular careers.  For example, the number of registered nurses is expected to increase by 561,000 by the end of the year 2010, and the percentage of growth in this career is 26 percent of all occupations.

Occupations With the Largest Job Growth

 Occupation

Employment Change, 2000-2010

Number        Percent

Most significant source of education or training

 

Combined food preparation and serving workers including fast food

673,000

30

Short-term on-the-job training

Customer service representatives

631,000

32

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Registered nurses

561,000

26

Associate degree

Retail salespersons

510,000

12

Short-term on-the-job training

Computer support specialists

490,000

97

Associate degree

Cashiers, except gaming

474,000

14

Short-term on-the-job training

Office clerks, general

430,000

16

Short-term on-the-job training

Security guards

391,000

35

Short-term on-the-job training

Computer software engineers, applications

380,000

100

Bachelor’s degree

Waiters and waitresses

364,000

18

Short-term on-the-job training

General and operations managers

363,000

15

Bachelor’s or higher degree, plus work experience

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer

346,000

20

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants

323,000

24

Short-term on-the-job training

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

317,000

13

Short-term on-the-job training

Postsecondary teachers

315,000

23

Doctoral degree

Teacher assistants

301,000

24

Short-term on-the-job training

Home health aides

291,000

47

Short-term on-the-job training

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

289,000

14

Short-term on-the-job training

Computer software engineers, systems software

284,000

90

Bachelor’s degree

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

260,000

29

Short-term on-the-job training

Personal and home care aides

258,000

62

Short-term on-the-job training

Computer systems analysts

258,000

60

Bachelor’s degree

Receptionists and information clerks

256,000

24

Short-term on-the-job training

Truck drivers, light or delivery services

215,000

19

Short-term on-the-job training

Packers and packagers, hand

210,000

19

Short-term on-the-job training

Elementary school teachers, except special education

202,000

13

Bachelor’s degree

Medical assistants

187,000

57

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Network and computer systems administrators

187,000

82

Bachelor’s degree

Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education

187,000

19

Bachelor’s degree

Accountants and auditors

181,000

19

Bachelor’s degree

One of the best ways to learn if any of these careers might be in your future is to participate in a job shadow or internship.  Job shadows and internships are arranged by putting four important people together:  

  1. YOU (the student);
  2. The person at your school who works with students in school-to-career activities such as your counselor, or career development coordinator;
  3. The business that will host you; and
  4. The Workplace Learning Connection. 

YOU need to talk to the person at your school who will know exactly what to do!   Please talk to the expert at your school who can advise you how to participate in a job shadow or internship.

Alburnett Community School                  

Denise Pesek

Center Point – Urbana High School

Kim Bowen

Central City Community High School      

Martin Jacobsmeier

College Community High School

Kay Pundt

Kennedy High School    

Joyce Jeanblanc

Linn-Mar Community High School 

Gwen Rubenow

Jefferson High School    

Cyndy Hilby

Lisbon Community High School  

Tom Meyer

Marion Independent High School

Joan Young

Metro High School        

Bonnie Sovern

Mount Vernon Community High School

Wendy Anderson

North Linn Community High School        

Julie Raak

Solon Community High School   

Mike Thompson

Springville Community High School         

Becky Shay

Washington High School                       

Larry Floyd

Xavier High School        

Justin Kramer

For a list of internships, log on to www.workplace-learning.org.

Return to Career Advice Home Page


Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
424 First Avenue NE - Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401-1196
Phone 319-398-5317 - Fax 319-398-5228 - E-mail Webmaster
Partner support from: Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce,
Iowa Workforce Development, and The Workplace Learning Connection.
©2002 Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

Site developed by the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
and its high school Student Advisory Team