Ready Reference Instructional Guide

1. OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK
Ready Reference Instructional
Guide to the Nation’s Growing
Occupations

2. WHAT IS THE OCCUPATIONAL
OUTLOOK HANDBOOK?
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The United States’ premier source for career
information.
A clear, well-organized synopsis of major
occupations in the United States.
Answers many of the “what” questions that many
individuals have regarding career choices.
A great resource for career changers and
displaced workers over 50 years old.
The handbook is available in Spanish.
Information can be accessed freely online at
http://www.bls.gov/ooh./home.htm

3. WHAT QUESTIONS DOES THE
HANDBOOK ANSWERED?
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What is the median pay for a particular occupation. For example,
the 2010 median pay for an Actuary is listed at $75,000 or more
What skills and qualifications are needed for a particular occupation.
For the above example, an Actuary must have a strong background
in mathematics, statistics and business.
What are the occupations adding the most new jobs. These
occupations include Personal Care Aides, Post Secondary
Teachers and Cashiers.
What are the fastest growing occupations. (An ideal category for
career changers and displaced workers over 50 years old) Some of
these occupations include Personal Care Aides (70%), Interpreters
and Translators (42%) and Convention and Event Planners (44%).
What are the highest paying occupations. Some of these include
Financial Managers ($103,910), Lawyers ($112,800) and Podiatrists
($118,030)

4. HOW IS THE INFORMATION
ARRANGED?
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The Occupational Outlook Handbook is broken up into
clusters of occupations. In order to find an occupation,
the user can browse the occupational group of interest or
they can use the index if they know there specific
occupation.
Users may also search for occupations by pay range,
education level, training, projected number of new jobs
or projected job growth.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides
information on what workers do; working conditions,
education, training, pay and job outlook.
In addition to browsing the Occupational Groups to
obtain information, users may also search the A-Z Index
as well as the Occupational finder.

5. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR
CATEGORIES
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The Occupational Finder field has over 538
entries and is arranged by occupation; entrylevel education; on-the-job training; projected
number of new jobs; projected number of new
jobs; projected growth rate; and 2010 median
pay. A drop-down box is provided to help the
user narrow their search. For example, if the
user only wants occupations that requires a
doctor’s or professional degree, they have the
ability to make that selection.
Also, the user has the ability to sort the
information alphabetically.

6. MAJOR CATEGORIES, A-Z INDEX
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A-Z Index Database has all the occupations
listed in alphabetically order and it also provides
a list of occupations with numerical
classifications. This numerical category is listed
as 0-9 and includes 3D animators, 7th grade
social studies teachers, 911 operators and 911
dispatchers.
Once a selection is made, detailed information
such as pay, job out look, similar occupations,
what the job entails and the work environment is
provided.

7. MAJOR CATEGORIES, OOH
GLOSSARY
 The Occupational Outlook Glossary
provides comprehensive and detailed
definitions of key words used throughout
the handbook. For example, it explains
Domestic sourcing; defines the babyboom generation and provides detailed
information about an apprenticeship.
 The glossary is listed in alphabetical order
and has hundreds of definitions.

8. MAJOR CATGORIS, OOH FAQ
 The Occupational Outlook Handbook
Frequently Asked Questions section
provides answer to questions such as
“What occupation would be best for me”.
The difference between “ the fastest
growing occupations” and “the
occupations adding the most new job”.

9. MAJOR CATGORIES, OOH SITE
MAP
 The Site Map lists all of the contents in the
Occupational Outlook Handbook.
 The occupations are grouped by
industries.
 There are over 20 industries listed.

10. HOW TO REACH ME FOR MORE
INFORMATION
 I can be reached via email and my contact
information is listed below:
Charlotte Foxworth
foxwchar@dom.edu

11. Bibliographical Resource
 Information provided courtesy of:
 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Occupational
Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition via
the internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh
(accessed October 22, 2013)