The churn in the United States
The Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States presents a forecast of occupations with the largest job decline and the largest job growth. Examine the tables at <www.bls.gov/emp/emptab4.htm> (for the largest job decline) and <www.bls.gov/emp/emptab3.htm> (for the largest job growth).
a. Which occupations in decline can be linked to technological change? Which can be linked to foreign competition?
b. Which occupations that are forecast to grow can be linked to technological change? Which can be linked to demographic change - in particular, the ageing of the US population?
c. Compare the educational requirements (the last column of the tables) for the occupations in decline and on the rise. Can you see evidence of the effects of technological change?
d. Another development in the US labour market is the increased use of temporary workers. How does this phenomenon fit with the educational requirements of occupations in decline and on the rise?