Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 | All Occupations

< Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations >

< Farming, fishing, and forestry 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 This information is no longer being updated.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.

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

Agricultural workers

Duties and working conditions vary widely, from working in greenhouses, to producing crops and raising livestock outdoors, to inspecting agricultural products in plants.
Most workers learn through short-term on-the-job training; agricultural inspectors need work experience or a college degree in a related field.
Most farmworkers receive low pay and often must perform strenuous work outdoors in all kinds of weather, but many prefer to work and live in a rural area.
Employment is projected to grow more slowly than average.

Fishers and fishing vessel operators

More than half of all workers are self-employed, among the highest proportion in the workforce.
Many jobs require strenuous work and long hours and provide only seasonal employment.
Employment is projected to decline, due to the depletion of fish stocks and new Federal and State laws restricting both commercial and recreational fishing.

Forest, conservation, and logging workers

Workers spend all their time outdoors, sometimes in poor weather and often in isolated areas.
Most jobs are physically demanding and can be hazardous.
A small decline in overall employment is expected in the occupation.

See the Occupational Outlook Handbook in print.