This file represents Table 3, Fastest growing occupations, 2002-2012, in "Occupational employment projections to 2012," published in the February 2004 Monthly Labor Review.

Table 3. Fastest growing occupations, 2002-12
[Numbers in thousands of jobs]

2000 Standard Occupation Classification code and title	Employment		Change		Quartile rank by 2002 median annual earnings (1)	Most significant source of postsecondary education or training (2)
	2002	2012	Number	Percent
31-9092 Medical assistants	365	579	215	59	3	Moderate-term on-the-job training
15-1081 Network systems and data communications analysts	186	292	106	57	1	Bachelor's degree
29-1071 Physician assistants	63	94	31	49	1	Bachelor's degree
21-1093 Social and human service assistants	305	454	149	49	3	Moderate-term on-the-job training
31-1011 Home health aides	580	859	279	48	4	Short-term on-the-job training
29-2071 Medical records and health information technicians	147	216	69	47	3	Associate degree
31-2022 Physical therapist aides	37	54	17	46	3	Short-term on-the-job training
15-1031 Computer software engineers, applications	394	573	179	46	1	Bachelor's degree
15-1032 Computer software engineers, systems software	281	409	128	45	1	Bachelor's degree
31-2021 Physical therapist assistants	50	73	22	45	2	Associate degree
39-9031 Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors	183	264	81	44	3	Postsecondary vocational award
15-1061 Database administrators	110	159	49	44	1	Bachelor's degree
29-2056 Veterinary technologists and technicians	53	76	23	44	3	Associate degree
47-4041 Hazardous materials removal workers	38	54	16	43	2	Moderate-term on-the-job training
29-2021 Dental hygienists	148	212	64	43	1	Associate degree
31-2012 Occupational therapist aides	8	12	4	43	3	Short-term on-the-job training
31-9091 Dental assistants	266	379	113	42	3	Moderate-term on-the-job training
39-9021 Personal and home care aides	608	854	246	40	4	Short-term on-the-job training
25-3021 Self-enrichment education teachers	200	281	80	40	2	Work experience in a related occupation
15-1051 Computer systems analysts	468	653	184	39	1	Bachelor's degree
31-2011 Occupational therapist assistants	18	26	7	39	2	Associate degree
17-2081 Environmental engineers	47	65	18	38	1	Bachelor's degree
25-1000 Postsecondary teachers	1,581	2,184	603	38	1	Doctoral degree
15-1071 Network and computer systems administrators	251	345	94	37	1	Bachelor's degree
19-4091 Environmental science and protection technicians, including health	28	38	10	37	2	Associate degree
25-2011 Preschool teachers, except special education	424	577	153	36	4	Postsecondary vocational award
11-3021 Computer and information systems managers	284	387	103	36	1	Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
29-1123 Physical therapists	137	185	48	35	1	Master's degree
29-1122 Occupational therapists	82	110	29	35	1	Bachelor's degree
29-1126 Respiratory therapists	86	116	30	35	2	Associate degree
Footnotes: (1) The quartile rankings of Occupational Employment Statistics annual earnings data are presented in the following categories: 1=very high ($41,820 and over), 2=high ($27,500 to $41,780),3=low ($19,710 to $27,380), and 4=very low(up to $19,600). The rankings were based on quartiles using one-fourth of total employment to define each quartile. Earnings are for wage and salary workers. (2) An occupation is placed into one of 11 categories that best describes the education or training needed by most workers to become fully qualified.