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An internet presentation of the Occupational Outlook Handbook plus related career guidance information

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 | All Occupations

The section of the ocouha website contains the text of the 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Handbook. This information is no longer being updated. For more recent information, start at the ocouha homepage www.ocouha.com.

Management occupations

  • Administrative services managers
    • Administrative services managers work in private industry and government and have a wide range of responsibilities, experience, earnings, and education.
    • Applicants face keen competition due to the substantial supply of competent, experienced workers seeking managerial jobs.
  • Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers
    • Keen competition for jobs is expected.
    • College graduates with related experience, a high level of creativity, and strong communication skills should have the best job opportunities.
    • High earnings, substantial travel, and long hours, including evenings and weekends, are common.
  • Computer and information systems managers
    • Projected job growth stems primarily from rapid growth among computer-related occupations.
    • Employers prefer managers with formal education and advanced technical knowledge acquired through computer-related work experience.
    • Job opportunities should be best for applicants with a master’s degree in business administration or management information systems with technology as a core component.
  • Construction managers
    • Construction managers must be available — often 24 hours a day — to deal with delays, bad weather, or emergencies at the jobsite.
    • Employers prefer individuals who combine construction industry work experience with a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, or civil engineering.
    • Good employment opportunities are expected; however, employment can be sensitive to the short-term nature of many construction projects and to cyclical fluctuations in construction activity.
  • Education administrators
    • Many jobs require a master’s or doctoral degree and experience in a related occupation, such as a teacher or admissions counselor.
    • Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential because much of an administrator’s job involves working and collaborating with others.
    • Job outlook is expected to be excellent because a large proportion of education administrators are expected to retire over the next 10 years.
  • Education administrators, all other
  • Engineering and natural sciences managers
    • Most engineering and natural sciences managers have previous experience as engineers, scientists, or mathematicians.
    • Projected employment growth for engineering and natural sciences managers should be closely related to those for the engineers and scientists they supervise and the industries in which they are found.
    • Opportunities will be best for workers with advanced technical knowledge and strong communication and business management skills.
  • Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers
    • Modern farming requires knowledge of new developments in agriculture, and work experience acquired through growing up on a farm or through a small number of internships now available.
    • Overall employment is projected to decline because of increasing productivity and consolidation of farms.
    • Aquaculture and horticulture should provide better employment opportunities.
    • Developments in value-added marketing and organic farming are making small-scale farming economically viable again.
  • Financial managers
    • A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field is the minimum academic preparation, but many employers increasingly seek graduates with a master’s degree.
    • Employment will grow as the economy expands and increases the need for workers with financial expertise.
  • Food service managers
    • Many experienced food and beverage preparation and service workers are promoted into managerial positions; however, applicants with a bachelor’s or an associate degree in restaurant and institutional food service management should have the best job opportunities.
    • Most new jobs will arise in food services and drinking places as the number of establishments increases along with the population.
    • Job opportunities for salaried food service managers should be better than for self-employed managers, because more restaurant managers will be employed by larger companies to run multi-outlet establishments.
  • Funeral directors
    • Funeral directors must be licensed by their State.
    • Job opportunities should be good, particularly for those who also embalm; however, mortuary science graduates may have to relocate to find jobs.
  • Human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists
    • Entry-level jobs are filled by college graduates who have majored in a wide range of fields.
    • For many specialized jobs, previous experience is an asset; for more advanced positions, including those of managers, arbitrators, and mediators, it is essential.
    • Keen competition for jobs is expected due to the abundant supply of qualified college graduates and experienced workers.
  • Industrial production managers
    • While there is no standard preparation, a college degree is required.
    • Applicants with a college degree in industrial engineering, management, or business administration, and particularly those with an undergraduate engineering degree and a master’s degree in business administration or industrial management, enjoy the best job prospects.
    • Projected slower-than-average growth in employment reflects increasing productivity.
  • Lodging managers
    • As in other hotel occupations, night and weekend work is common.
    • Employment is projected to grow more slowly than average.
    • College graduates with degrees in hotel or restaurant management should have the best job opportunities.
  • Medical and health services managers
    • Earnings of medical and health services managers are high, but long work hours are common.
    • A master’s degree is the standard credential for most positions, although a bachelor’s degree is adequate for some entry-level positions in smaller facilities.
    • Employment will grow fastest in practitioners’ offices and in home healthcare services.
    • Applicants with work experience in healthcare and strong business and management skills should have the best opportunities.
  • Property, real estate, and community association managers
    • Many enter the occupation as onsite managers of apartment buildings, office complexes, or community associations, or as employees of property management firms or community association management companies.
    • Forty-six percent of property, real estate, and community association managers are self-employed.
    • Opportunities should be best for those with college degrees in business administration or related fields, as well as professional designations.
  • Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents
    • Forty-two percent are employed in wholesale trade or manufacturing establishments.
    • Some firms promote qualified employees to these positions, while other employers recruit college graduates; regardless of academic preparation, new employees need 1 to 5 years to learn the specifics of their employer’s business.
    • Overall employment is expected to be slower than the average, but the projected change in employment varies significantly by occupational specialty.
    • Opportunities should be best for those with a college degree.
  • Top executives
    • Top executives are among the highest paid workers; however, long hours, considerable travel, and intense pressure to succeed are common.
    • The formal education and experience of top executives varies as widely as the nature of their responsibilities.
    • Keen competition is expected because the prestige and high pay attract a large number of qualified applicants.
    • Most government chief executives and legislators are elected; local government managers are appointed.
  • Managers, all other

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