Page 517 - Basic College Mathematics with Early Integers

494 C HAPTE R 6 I PERCENT

Chapter 6 Group Activity

Fastest-Growing Occupations

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, the careers listed below are the top ten fastest-growing jobs
ranked by expected percent increase through the year 2016. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Occupation Employment in 2006 Percent Change Expected Employment in 2016
1 Network systems and data communication analysts 262,000 53.4%

2 Personal and home care aides 767,000 50.6%
3 Home health aides 787,000 48.7%
4 Computer software engineers 507,000 44.6%
5 Veterinary technologists and technicians 71,000 41.0%

6 Personal financial advisors 176,000 41.0%
7 Makeup artists, theatrical and performance 2000 39.8%
8 Medical assistants 417,000 35.4%
9 Veterinarians 62,000 35.0%

10 Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors 83,000 34.3%

What do most of these fast-growing occupations have in 2. Using the 2006 employment figures and the percent
common? They require knowledge of math! For some increase from 2006 to 2016, find the expected 2016
careers, such as home health aides, personal financial employment figures for each occupation listed in the
advisors, and computer engineers, the ways math is used table. Round to the nearest thousand.
on the job may be obvious. For other occupations, the 3. List the top five occupations by order of employment
use of math may not be quite as apparent. However, figures for 2016. Did the order change at all from
tasks common to many jobs—filling in a time sheet, writ- 2006? Explain.
ing up an expense or mileage report, planning a budget,
figuring a bill, ordering supplies, and even making a
work schedule—all require math.

This activity may be completed by working in groups or
individually.
1. List the top five occupations by order of employment
figures for 2006.

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