Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections (EP)
EP Overview
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections are developed to provide lawmakers with estimates for the upcoming decade regarding the US labor force, economic growth, commodity demand, industry output, and occupational employment. The data is also provided to the public in a nicely-curated product: the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Methodology and content
The Bureau of Labor Statistics creates EP using data from a few other federal sources:
- Census Current Population Survey (CPS),
- Current Employment Statistics (CES), and
- BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).
The majority of the occupational employment data is obtained from the CES statistics, with any gaps, especially for agricultural and private households, informed by CPS data.
The EP employment counts are our primary source for employment by occupation.
Finding the data
Employment Projection Table and National Employment Matrix data were last retrieved the EP data repository on September 1, 2020, with the data covering predictions between 2019 and 2029.
This new data is based on the new SOC codes that form the foundation of Ididio's career descriptions; however, in many instances several career specialties have been combined to create projection estimates. You can find the details of those hybrid definitions on the BLS OE site. In these cases, we share the combined hybrid totals and salaries for the more specific occupation designation that is the basis of our career page.
For each career, EP shares percentages of workers from each education level. These statistics originate with the American Community Survey (ACS) and are identical across some similar careers because the ACS collects career information for a more broad definition of individual careers.
The typical education required for each career is also reported with EP data, and does not simply take the highest percentage reported from the education attained.
