New and Emerging Occupations Get in on the Ground Floor Emerging occupations can be characterized as new occupations created by changes in technology, society, markets, or regulations. Emerging occupations may also be existing occupations that have been substantially modified by the same changes, and are increasing in employment. The OES program has compiled this report of the emerging occupations that have been reported most frequently by respondents on the OES survey. Some of these occupations were among those reported in the "Emerging Occupations" article in the "Occupational Employment Statistics, 1994" publication (U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 1996, bulletin 2468). Employers are still reporting them. The occupations are listed in order of the number of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) industrial divisions in which they have been reported. While downsizing and technological innovations such as personal computers, voice mail, and the like have reduced the employment of secretaries, Administrative Assistants are being reported by establishments in many industries. While some secretarial positions have been upgraded to "Administrative Assistants", there are many duties (such as typing, filing, taking phone calls, scheduling appointments, or making travel arrangements) that might be performed by either a secretary or an administrative assistant. Administrative assistants typically have more responsibilities than general secretaries, and perhaps could be described as Executive Secretaries, providing high-level support to executive staff. Administrative assistants may have office management functions, working with payroll, budget, or personnel records. Administrative assistants may also work independently on projects involving research, preparation of outlines or presentation materials. They might be able to receive the training necessary to move into higher-level positions. Administrative Assistants may supervise or assign tasks to secretaries or clerks. Administrative Assistants are employed in many industries. Another office occupation is Convention Managers, Meeting Planners, Conference Planners, and Convention Coordinators. Convention planning personnel serve as liaison between their own organization and various outside vendors providing goods and services necessary for a convention. Convention Managers coordinate activities of convention center/hotel/banquet personnel in order to make arrangements for group meetings and conventions. Convention Managers were most prominent in the Membership Organizations industry. They were also reported in the following industries: Business Services; Educational Services; Printing And Publishing; Social Services; Health Services; Transportation Services; Wholesale Trade; Depository Institutions; Insurance Carriers; and Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps, and Other Lodging Places industries. top Web Masters, Web Site Technicians, and Web Site Coordinators write the computer code necessary to publish or update text and images on Internet web sites. They design and maintain Internet web sites. As more and more organizations project a presence on the Internet, more of these World Wide Web workers are being reported. Establishments in the Printing and Publishing; Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade; Business Services; and Membership Organizations industries reported employment of Internet publishing personnel. Environmental Engineers, Environmental Compliance Managers, Regulatory Compliance Managers, and Environmental Scientists and Technicians work together to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and company policy. Environmental Compliance Managers direct the work of scientists, technicians and Hazardous Materials Removal Workers and Field Technicians. The work may involve the disposal of hazardous materials, monitoring emissions of pollutants, or safety of employees on the job. Environmental Engineers and Scientists may also work on environmental impact statements or environmental assessments. Some may work as contractors advising clients to ensure compliance with environmental law and regulations. These environmental professionals were mostly reported in industries which must adhere to environmental regulations, such as the Paper and Allied Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Industrial Machinery and Equipment; Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services; Construction; Wholesale Trade; Business Services; Health Services; Engineering and Management Services industries. Technological change continues to create emerging occupations, especially computer-related occupations. Computer Managers, Computer Network Administrators, Information Systems Managers, and Information Network Managers are a few of the titles given to employees with responsibilities for managing an organization's computer network. These Computer Managers are responsible for overseeing the installation, configuration, and maintenance of both software and hardware in a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or Internet/Intranet system. Computer Managers monitor network use to ensure adequate computer services are available to all users. Their duties may include keeping the computer network secure. Employment of computer managers was reported by establishments in many industries, including the Printing and Publishing; Wholesale Trade; Depository Institutions; Business Services; Health Services; Legal Services; and Social Services industries. Bankruptcy Specialists and Bankruptcy Assistants were reported in the Depository Institutions, Non-Depository Institutions, Holding and Other Investment Offices, and Business Services industries. They ensure that their employers receive the maximum revenue when a client or debtor declares bankruptcy, or they represent the bankrupt party. They may assist lawyers or collections personnel. Continued advances in computer hardware, software, printers, and related equipment now allow firms to do more of their document production in-house and on-demand. Doing the work this way is faster than sending it out. Desktop Publishing Specialists and Desktop Publishing Operators are use advanced computer graphics and word processing computer systems to produce various documents, such as reports, proposals, benefit books, advertisements, brochures, flyers, etc. Firms in the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate; and Wholesale Trade industries, among others, reported desktop publishing occupations. Utilization Review Coordinators are nurses who review medical and hospital records to ensure that appropriate and cost effective treatment was provided, and to ensure that resource are efficiently utilized. They screen admissions for medical necessity and appropriateness of services. They also calculate statistics and write reports. Utilization Review Coordinators were reported in the Health Services, Insurance, Business Services, and Social Services and Management Services industries. Quality Assurance (QA) Directors, QA Engineers, Technicians and Coordinators work to ensure the quality of products or services. Quality assurance personnel administer quality assurance, total quality management, or statistical control programs, and formulate plans for quality improvement. They inspect or test raw materials, input components, or finished products. They work on product specifications and analysis and evaluation of new products. Some conduct client satisfaction surveys or handle customer complaints. QA professionals also work to achieve compliance with technical specifications set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or other organizations. Many QA professionals work to ensure compliance with health, safety, or environmental regulations. Employment of QA professionals were reported by establishments in the Public Building and Related Furniture; Motor Vehicles, Parts, And Supplies; Professional and Commercial Equipment; and Services to Buildings industries, among others. Consumer Credit Counselors provide advice on personal finance, such as budgeting, money management, mortgages, financial planning, especially to persons with money management or credit problems. They may help negotiate with creditors to arrange a debt repayment plan in order to avoid personal bankruptcy. They may conduct public education workshops and seminars on personal finance subjects. They are employed in the nonprofit Social Services industry. The effects of increased immigration are seen in this emerging occupation. Resettlement Coordinators and Cross-cultural Counselors help refugees and immigrants in their adjustment to life in the U.S. They provide services or aid in finding services related to employment, immigrant legal status and citizenship, learning English, health or education. They may provide assistance in family reunification and immigrant sponsorship. Resettlement Coordinators are employed in the Social Services industry. Bus Aides assist drivers and passengers on buses (but they do not drive the bus). Bus Aides may monitor students and maintain order on school buses. Bus Aides assist passengers boarding the bus. Some Bus Aides assist in the transportation of medical patients or disabled persons. Bus Aides are employed in the Educational Services; Social Services; Health Services; Child Care Services; Local and Interurban Passenger Transportation Services; Auto Repair Services, and Parking; Amusement and Recreation Services; and Hotels and Lodging Places industries. Non-profit organizations are the primary employers of Volunteer Coordinators. Volunteer Coordinators and Volunteer Directors work to recruit, train, schedule, and organize volunteers in the Educational Services; Local Government; Health Services; Residential Care; Membership Organizations; and Social Services industries. Credentiallers and Credential Specialists obtain and verify employment, education, or licensing credentials for physicians, professors, or other professionals who are being considered for employment. Establishments in the Health Services; Business Services; Educational Services; and Engineering, Accounting, Research, and Management and Related Services industries reported employing Credential Specialists. Job Coaches provide job training and counseling to disabled individuals or persons going from welfare to work. Job Coaches teach job duties at the work site or a training center. They act as on-the-job trainers until the client achieves job proficiency. They may provide or arrange job placement services, or negotiate job-related issues with employers. Health Services, Educational Services and Social Services organizations reported employment of job coaches. Development Directors, Fund Raising Specialists, and Grant Writers work at generating revenue from donors for non-profit organizations. They maintain contact with a variety of donors (individuals, corporations, foundations, or government agencies) and organize donor recognition programs. They may concentrate on writing grant proposals and related documents. They might coordinate annual campaigns and special fundraising events, or develop direct mail appeals. These fundraising professionals are employed in the Trusts, Social Services, and Membership Organizations industries. The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey asks employers to report the number of people they employ in various occupational categories. In large establishments (more than 50 employees) those employees that do not fit into an existing occupation are reported in "all other" categories. At the end of the survey form employers are asked to provide a job title and description for the "all other" occupations that they believe to be "numerically important or emerging due to technological change." Small establishments (fewer than 50 employees) are asked to report employment that does not fit into a specific category. OES staff reviews these job titles and descriptions and determines which are emerging occupations.

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