Critical Occupations in The Next Economy Sally A. Hamilton, Ph. D. LeBow College of Business Drexel University

Critical Occupations in The Next Economy

Sally A. Hamilton, Ph. D.LeBow College of Business

Drexel University

The Current Economic Situation

• Forecasts concur that the recession and downturn have bottomed out….– A huge deficit in jobs still exists compared to pre-recession levels. The U.S. has

lost 5.3 million jobs(-3.8%) and California is down 6.6% over the last four year.– Overall wages have not risen over the last decade.

• Forecasts can’t seem to agree on when the local economy will recover, and what form that recovery will take.– Some estimates are that California will continue to see labor markets at the

2007 level for at least four more years.• Commercial vacancies are high- 23% in the greater Sacramento area• Over half of all college graduates can’t find employment locally in their

field• Long term unemployment is over 40%

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov; http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/cwed;

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/

http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/cwed

http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/cwed

The Current Labor Market Situation

• Regional unemployment has recently dropped slightly, from over 12% to slightly above 11%. That is good news, but still more than double the rate of 5 years ago.• The California rate is currently 11.5% and the U.S. is 11.5%

• Online job postings• The latest monthly report by the Conference Board said there were 25,600 ads posted in

Sacramento, a nearly 15 percent gain from 22,300 in April 2011. The April total was down slightly from 26,200 ads in March.

• Sacramento went from second nationwide in the number of unemployed per online advertised job vacancy to fourth in the new report, with 4.29 job seekers for every online opening

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov

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4.0%5.0%6.0%7.0%8.0%9.0%

10.0%11.0%12.0%13.0%14.0%

Monthly Unemployment (%)

Sacramento California U.S.

Employment in Sacramento Region Today• Overall employment in the region is increasing, over the last couple of months. Employment has

increased locally in local governments, professional and business services, and professional, scientific and technical services.• Some industries see continuing declines, including retail, utilities, and transportation.

• The year over picture is weaker, with a slight decrease in employment year over year. Hospitality, recreation, and good services accounted for the majority of this.• There were increases in several sectors year over year, including education and health services.


Industry Feb-12 Mar-12 Change Mar-11 Mar-12 ChangeAll Industries 803,000 807,800 4,800 810,900 807,800 -3,100Total Farm 6,500 6,900 400 7,200 6,900 -300Total NonFarm 796,500 800,900 4,400 803,700 800,900 -2,800 Mining and Logging 400 400 0 400 400 0Construction 31,600 31,900 300 33,600 31,900 -1,700Manufacturing 32,900 32,600 -300 32,600 32,600 0Trade, Transportation and Utilities 132,600 132,200 -400 130,900 132,200 1,300Information Services 16,700 16,600 -100 16,800 16,600 -200Financial Activities 46,900 46,800 -100 46,200 46,800 600Professional and Business Services 100,400 102,100 1,700 101,300 102,100 800Education and Health Services 105,100 104,900 -200 101,800 104,900 3,100Leisure and Hospitality 76,700 77,200 500 82,200 77,200 -5,000Other Services 27,800 28,500 700 27,600 28,500 900Government 225,400 227,700 2,300 230,300 227,700 -2,600

The Next Economy

• The Next Economy Task Force has identified key areas of focus for economic growth• Life Sciences and Health Services• Information and Communications Technology• Advanced Manufacturing• Clean Energy Technology• Agribusiness and Food• Education and Knowledge Creation• Knowledge Intensive Business and Financial Services

• These last two can be viewed as cutting across all other clusters

• These clusters represent combinations of economic and locational strength for our region.

• They also represent opportunities for job growth and increased employment• Based on these clusters, education providers need to be prepared for the

occupations that will see growth and help the workforce to be able to meet the future employment demand

Data source: CSER Next Economy

The Question

• We know that growth in these industry clusters will act as a crucible for further growth across all layers of the occupational pyramid.

• What are the occupations critical to supporting the region’s key economic clusters?

• The educational objective is to meet needs for skilled, solid employment that will generate job growth throughout the workforce spectrum.

Projections for Sacramento Region

Occupational TitlePercent growth

rate, 10 yrsAnnual New

JobsAnnual Replacement

NeedsAnnual Total

JobsMedian Annual Salary

Total, All Occupations 10.5 11,018 22,330 33,348 $39,567Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 24.8 1,020 845 1,865 $81,557

Healthcare Support Occupations 27.0 557 243 800 $29,645

Computer and Mathematical Occupations 14.4 438 541 979 $76,177Business and Financial Operations Occupations 11.3 735 1,303 2,038 $59,762Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations 18.7 272 416 688 $67,419Education, Training, and Library Occupations 15.1 1,116 1,599 2,715 $50,420Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 13.1 965 2,625 3,590 $19,446

Architecture and Engineering Occupations 10.9 209 381 590 $82,718


Health and Life Sciences OccupationsAcupuncturistsAnesthesiologistsExercise PhysiologistsBacteriologistsBehavioral Health TechniciansBiochemistsBiological ScientistsBiological TechniciansBiomaterials EngineersBiomedical EngineersBiomedical Equipment TechniciansMedical ResearchersCardiologistsChemistsChild and Family CounselorsChiropractorsDietitiansLaboratory Technologists and TechniciansCounselorsSurgeonsDentists, Dental SurgeonsDiagnostic Related Technologists and TechniciansDietitians and NutritionistsEmergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

Life ScientistsMedical and Health Services ManagersHealth Information TechniciansMedical ScientistsLaboratory TechnologistsNurse PractitionersRespiratory Therapy TechniciansEpidemiologistsFamily and General PractitionersForensic PsychologistsHealth Diagnosing and Treating PractitionersHealth EducatorsHealth Practitioner Support Technologists and TechniciansSocial WorkersOccupational Therapy and Physical Therapists, Assistants and AidesOptometristsPharmacistsPublic Health OfficialsPsychologistsRegistered Nurses- all specialties

Health and Life Sciences

OccupationAnnual growth rate %

Annual new jobs

Annual replacement

Total Annual Job Growth

Annual Wages

Education and Training Levels

Occupational and Physical Therapists 4.2 11 20 31 $145,938 ProfessionalDentists 1.7 22 28 50 $126,985 ProfessionalPharmacists 1.8 22 19 41 ProfessionalPhysicians and Surgeons 1.9 3 2 5 $50,858 Professional

Chiropractors 2.1 3 2 5 $50,858 ProfessionalPsychiatrists 2.3 5 4 9 $50,858 Professional

Surgeons 2.5 24 15 39 $165,516 ProfessionalFamily and General Practitioners 2.9 15 9 24 $94,973 ProfessionalAnesthesiologists 2.9 4 6 10 $90,467 ProfessionalOptometrists 2.9 8 5 13 ProfessionalMedical Scientists 4.7 77 33 110 $87,787 ProfessionalMental Social Workers 1.4 9 14 23 $41,471 Master’sMental Health Counselors 1.7 13 14 27 $60,126 Master’sSpeech-Language Pathologists 2.2 17 13 30 $75,765 Master’sCounselors 2.4 8 7 15 $30,818 Master’sOccupational Therapists 3.0 16 10 26 $88,138 Master’sPhysical Therapists 3.3 33 12 45 $86,545 Master’sMedical and Health Services Managers 1.9 39 40 79 $98,459 Bachelors PlusMedical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists 1.7 12 13 25 $62,969 BachelorsDietitians and Nutritionists 2.3 12 18 30 $67,901 BachelorsMedical and Public Health Social Workers 2.4 12 13 25 $62,106 Bachelors

Health and Life Sciences


Annual new jobs

Annual replacement


Annual Wages


Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians 1.6 18 20 38 $41,903 AssociatesDiagnostic Medical Sonographers 1.7 4 3 7 $82,572 AssociatesRadiologic Technologists and Technicians 2.2 19 12 31 $72,687 AssociatesMedical Records and Health Information Technicians 2.3 16 13 29 $40,198 AssociatesRegistered Nurses 2.6 393 261 654 $92,678 AssociatesRespiratory Therapists 2.6 20 13 33 $70,015 AssociatesDental Hygienists 3.8 67 36 103 $94,088 AssociatesPhysical Therapist Assistants 3.9 9 3 12 $56,441 AssociatesHealthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, 2.0 14 15 29 $50,117 Voc EdHealth Technologists and Technicians 2.1 64 93 157 $54,611 Voc EdLicensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 2.2 31 19 50 $35,985 Voc EdMassage Therapists 2.8 161 76 237 $35,226 Voc EdOpticians, Dispensing 1.8 52 60 112 $37,963 OJTSocial and Human Service Assistants 3.2 46 36 82 $38,867 OJTPharmacy Technicians 3.6 101 31 132 $29,365 OJTDental Assistants 3.9 7 5 12 $41,239 OJTMedical Equipment Repairers 1.7 28 17 45 $35,487 OJTHealthcare Support Workers 1.9 5 3 8 $33,829 OJTNursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants 2.0 10 6 16 $27,875 OJTHome Health Aides 4.6 12 4 16 $23,887 OJT

Information and Communications Technology Occupations

• Database and Systems Administrators and Network Architects

• Administrators, Computer Systems Hardware

• Architects, Computer Network• Computer Support Specialists• Computer User Support Specialists• Computer Network Support

Specialists• Computer Laboratory Technicians• Mathematical Science

Occupations• Health Informatics

• Computer and Information Research Scientists

• Computational Theory Scientists• Computer and Information

Analysts• Analysts, Information Security• Software Developers and

Programmers• Architects, Computer Systems

Software• Designers, Web• Computer Hardware Designers• Computer Hardware Engineers

Information and Communications Technology


Annual new jobs

Annual replacement


Annual Wages


Computer and Information Systems Managers 1.2 23 31 54 $109,870 BachelorsComputer and Mathematical Occupations 1.4 438 541 979 $76,177

Certification/ Associates

Computer Software Engineers, Applications 2.9 96 28 124 $82,742


Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software 1.8 77 35 112 $89,750


Database Administrators 1.6 12 12 24 $71,901Certification/

AssociatesNetwork and Computer Systems Administrators 1.9 38 32 70 $74,018


Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts 4.4 70 29 99 $72,505


Advanced Manufacturing

• A survey of U.S. manufacturing employers found that 80 percent of respondents said that they had a serious problem finding qualified candidates for the highly technical world of modern manufacturing. (National Association of Manufacturers) http://www.doleta.gov/brg/indprof/Manufacturing_profile.cfm• Jobs in the Advanced Manufacturing industry require a variety of skill sets.

• Workers need the production skills to set up, operate, monitor and control the manufacturing process.• They need the process design and development skills to continuously

improve production processes. • They need skills in health and safety to maintain a safe work environment.• They need skills in maintenance, installation and repair to maintain and

optimize complex equipment and systems. • They need knowledge of supply chain logistics in order to plan and monitor

the movement and storage of materials and products.• Finally, manufacturing workers need skills in quality assurance and

continuous improvement to ensure that products and processes meet quality requirements.

http://www.doleta.gov/brg/indprof/Manufacturing_profile.cfm



Advanced Manufacturing Occupations

• Logisticians• Operations Research Analysts• Analysts, Operations• Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineers• Chemists and Chemical Engineers• Electrical and Electronics Engineers• Circuit Design Engineers• Efficiency Engineers• Metal Engineers• Mechanical Engineers

• Mining and Geological Engineers

• Electro-Mechanical Technicians

• Industrial Engineers• Drafters, Engineering Technicians,

and Mapping Technicians• Industrial Engineering Technicians• Plant and System Operators• Ceramic Scientists• Crude Testers• Assembly Line Supervisors• Assemblers and Fabricators• Metal Workers and Plastic Workers• Machinists• Petroleum Engineers

Advanced Manufacturing

OccupationAnnual growth rate

Annual new jobs

Annual replacement

Total Annual Job Growth Annual Wages


Engineers 1.1 140 251 391 $86,679 BachelorsMathematical Scientists 1.3 22 50 72 $71,205 MastersOperations Research Analysts 1.3 21 46 67 $71,205 Masters

Geoscientists 1.9 12 20 32 $73,179 MastersManagement Analysts 1.2 75 110 185 $66,339 Bachelors PlusCivil Engineers 1.6 71 75 146 $97,149 Bachelors

Purchasing Agents 1.7 26 41 67 $56,060 BachelorsMechanical Engineers 1.1 9 23 32 $83,285 BachelorsLogisticians 1.9 7 8 15 $72,722 BachelorsIndustrial Engineers 1.7 6 9 15 $76,679 BachelorsElectrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment 1.7 4 4 8 $74,949 Voc EdProduction Workers 1.5 10 15 25 $27,623 OJTMixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 1.8 9 9 18 $30,512 OJTExtruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 1.3 1 3 4 $29,205 OJT

Clean Energy Technology

• In July, President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors released a report saying that the stimulus package had saved or created over 330 000 clean-energy jobs in the first half of this year. Those jobs mainly went to electricians, solar photovoltaic installers, wind-turbine technicians, etc.

• The Clean Edge survey, which was published last October, found that the top five clean-tech jobs sectors are solar, biofuels and biomaterials, conservation and efficiency, the smart grid, and wind power. • An entry-level geothermal power engineer gets a median salary of

about US $71 800. • The median salary for a midlevel hardware design engineer in the

smart-grid industry is $87 700, while a midlevel design engineer in solar PV made $65 000. http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/renewable-energy-renewable-jobs

http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/renewable-energy-renewable-jobs



Clean Energy Technology Occupations

• Industrial Engineer• Industrial Production Managers• Landscape Architect• LEED Accredited Professionals• Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineers• Power System Operations and Engineering• Solar and PV Installation• Solar Energy Engineer and Systems Design• Solar Inverter Systems Engineer• Solar Lab Plant Operations• Solar Systems Installer• Solar/PV Fabrication, Installation & Testing• Sustainable Assemblers• Water and Wastewater Management and

Engineering

• Alternative Fuel and Hybrid Technician

• Architect Green Building and Design‐• Plant Operations• Civil Engineer/Civil Engineering

Technician• Control System Applications Engineer • Electrical/Electronic

Engineer/Technician• Energy Engineer/Energy

Infrastructure Engineer• Energy Manager and Analyst• Environmental Engineer or Technician• Environmental Health and Safety

Managers• Green Building Construction and

Design• Hazardous Materials Removal Worker

Clean Energy Technology


Annual new jobs

Annual replacement



Engineering Managers 1.3 17 27 44 $121,209 Bachelors PlusEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists 1.4 27 55 82 $75,875 BachelorsEnvironmental Engineers 2.3 11 10 21 $80,485 Bachelors

Architects 1.2 14 19 33 $90,778 BachelorsEngineers 1.1 140 251 391 $86,679 BachelorsEnvironmental Engineering Technicians 2.4 5 4 9 $47,099 Voc Ed

Mechanics and Installers 1.9 20 18 38 $45,506 OJTWater and Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators 2.3 13 13 26 $61,964 OJTHazardous Materials Removal Workers 1.2 2 5 7 $37,067 OJTRefuse and Recyclable Material Collectors 1.6 21 37 58 $41,740 OJTElectrical Installers and Repairers 1.4 5 13 18 $83,121 OJTPower Plant Operators 1.2 2 6 8 $80,159 OJT

Agriculture and Food Occupations

• Agrichemical specialist• Agricultural Engineer• Agricultural Mechanic or Technician• Biological Engineer• Commodity Buyer• Crop consultant• Crop Insurance• Entomologist• Environmental scientist • Extension officer• Farm manager• Feed Production• Fisheries scientist• Food broker• Food Processing• Food technology specialist• Forest science specialist• Grain Merchandiser• Greenhouse manager• Greenhouse technician• Integrated pest management• Irrigations technologist

• Mechanical Engineer• Nursery operator• Organic certification• Organic chemist• Organic dairy production• Organic food processing• Organic product development• Organic researcher• Pest controller• Plant and animal breeding specialist• Plant and animal nutritionist• Plant Manager• Plant Pathology biologist• Precision Ag Technician• Research technologist• Sales• Seed producer• Soil chemist• Soil conservationist• Soil microbiologist• Weed scientist• Wetland specialist

Agriculture and Food

OccupationAnnual growth rate

Annual new jobs

Annual replacement


Annual Wages


Natural Sciences Managers 1.8 11 18 29 $101,657 Bachelors PlusHydrologists 0.7 1 4 5 $98,142 Master’sChemists 0.4 3 28 31 $63,818 Master’s

Conservation Scientists 0.5 2 4 6 $68,805 Bachelors PlusBiological Scientists, All Other 2.0 8 11 19 $72,808 BachelorsSoil and Plant Scientists 2.0 5 9 14 $74,940 BachelorsFood Scientists and Technologists 2.7 3 4 7 $75,020 Bachelors

Engineering Technicians 1.3 6 9 15 $55,102 AssociatesFarm Equipment Mechanics 1.7 2 2 4 $40,464 Voc EdFood Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 1.3 965 2,625 3,590 $19,446 OJT

Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers 1.9 278 309 587 $18,946 OJTHosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop 1.3 28 152 180 $19,207 OJTMeat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers 1.6 7 14 21 $26,635 OJTFood Processing Workers 1.2 37 90 127 $24,000 OJTAgricultural Workers, All Other 0.4 2 7 9 $27,679 OJT

Role of Education in Supporting the Next Economy

• How can educators support and help meet the occupational needs of the Next Economy?

• Success will be comprised of a partnership between employers, K-12 education, vocational education and community colleges, and public and private universities and colleges.

• Focus. Pick a given cluster or occupational area and focus on improving outcomes in those areas, matching occupations to your key competencies.

• Be nimble. Be able to cut across bureaucracy to address needs quickly.

Role of Education in Supporting the Next Economy

• A key success factor is the ability of educators and educational institutions to provide students with experiential education.

• To do this, educators need to actively and genuinely engage in the world around them, provide solid leadership, and work across silos to build partnerships for success.

Appendix

Business and Financial Services Occupations

• Business Operations Specialists• Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators• Financial Specialists• Accountants and Auditors• Appraisers and Assessors• Budget Analysts• Credit Analysts• Financial Analysts and Advisors• Analysts, Insurance• Financial Examiners• Bank Examiners• Credit Counselors and Loan Officers• Agents, Mortgage Loan• Tax Examiners, Collectors and Preparers, and Revenue Agents• Financial Specialists, Miscellaneous• Actuaries• Financial Clerks

Knowledge Intensive Business Services


Annual new jobs

Annual replacement



Financial Specialists 1.1 273 421 694 $65,393 Masters

Business Operations Specialists 1.1 462 882 1,344 $68,223 Masters

Market Research Analysts 2.2 31 39 70 $60,653 Masters

Loan Counselors 2.7 3 1 4 $42,400 Bachelors

Personal Financial Advisors 2.2 53 25 78 $49,967 BachelorsEmployment, Recruitment, and Placement Specialists 1.8 19 27 46 $50,536 Bachelors

Credit Analysts 1.4 6 7 13 $56,031 BachelorsCompensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists 2.0 16 22 38 $61,608 Bachelors

Cost Estimators 1.9 35 41 76 $61,670 Bachelors

Accountants and Auditors 1.5 104 114 218 $63,553 Bachelors

Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Specialists, All Other 1.9 42 55 97 $63,842 Bachelors

Financial Examiners 4.6 5 2 7 $67,704 Bachelors

Budget Analysts 1.4 13 15 28 $68,243 Bachelors

Financial Analysts 1.8 27 27 54 $73,329 BachelorsBilling and Posting Clerks and Machine Operators 1.4 36 44 80 $33,760 OJT

Bill and Account Collectors 1.7 43 48 91 $33,835 OJT

Procurement Clerks 1.2 3 10 13 $41,106 OJT

Education and Knowledge Creation

• Postsecondary Teachers- includes college professors, professional schools• Fellows, Teaching• Vocational Educators• Military Science Teachers• Preschool, Primary, Secondary, and Special Education School Teachers• Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors• Self-Enrichment Education Teachers• Citizenship Teachers• Public Relations• Interpreters• Librarians

Education and Knowledge Creation


Annual new jobs

Annual replacement



Postsecondary Teachers 1.7 263 276 539 $81,198 DoctorateLibrarians, Curators, and Archivists 1.0 13 46 59 $66,012 Master’s

Survey Researchers 3.0 8 7 15 $35,592 MastersPrimary, Secondary, and Special Education School Teachers 1.4 511 864 1,375 $59,300 Bachelors PlusOther Teachers and Instructors 1.9 135 107 242 $34,692 Bachelors Plus

Training and Development Specialists 1.9 22 30 52 $57,568 Bachelors

Education Administrators 2.7 8 9 17 $80,306 Bachelors

Public Relations Specialists 2.1 51 59 110 $71,126 Bachelors

Social Science Research Assistants 2.0 4 9 13 $38,082 Voc Ed

Interpreters and Translators 2.2 15 17 32 $38,209 OJT

Documents

Critical Occupations in The Next Economy Sally A. Hamilton, Ph. D. LeBow College of Business Drexel University