BLS does not prepare regional, state, nor sub-state projections. However, most States do prepare occupational employment projections, which are available at http://www.projectionscentral.com. Contact information for State labor market information offices is available at http://www.bls.gov/bls/ofolist.htm.
The US Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network (O*NETTM) team has designed a set of self-assessment career exploration tools to help workers consider and plan career options, preparation, and transitions more effectively. Students who want to explore school-to-work transitions also can use these tools. For more information, go to http://www.onetcenter.org/tools.html
BLS does not develop employment projections by size of firm. However, in December 2005, new data on Business Employment Dynamics (BED) by firm size were introduced by BLS. These data show how large firms, small firms, or both are creating or losing jobs in the economy. For more information on BED on firms by size class, see http://www.bls.gov/bdm/
BLS does not develop projections of the number of retirees nor of the average age of retirement. BLS has published articles on the changing retirement age in the Monthly Labor Review.
BLS does not develop projections of unfilled jobs. A number of articles have incorrectly reported that BLS employment and labor force projections indicate that there will be more jobs than workers to fill them. BLS does project both the number of employed persons, the number of jobs, and replacement needs. Because many people have more than one job, the number of jobs exceeds the number of employed persons even before replacement needs are considered.
Last Modified Date: February 1, 2012