Fastest Growing Occupations Occupations with the

Most Annual Openings

Georgia
Hot Netw ork Systems and Data Communications
Analysts
Hot Computer Softw are Engineers, Applications
4.5%

4.5% Retail Salespersons 560

Area Workforce Trends
Home Health Aides 4.3% Cashiers 440

Medical Assistants 4.2%

Comb Food Prep & Serv Workers, Incl Fast Food 290 Projections to 2014
Waiters & Waitresses 280
Hot Physician Assistants 4.1%
Laborers & Freight, Stock, & Material Movers, Hand 270
Hot Computer Softw are Engineers, Systems
Hot
WIA Area #1 – NW Georgia
4.0% Sales Reps, Whlsl & Mfg, Exc Tech & Scientific
Softw are 180
Products
Hot Database Administrators 4.0% Team Assemblers 180

Hot Netw ork and Computer Systems Administrators 3.8% Customer Service Representatives 170

Hot General & Operations Managers 170

Hot Computer Systems Analysts 3.7%
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer 170
Dental Assistants 3.5%
Hot Registered Nurses 160

Hot Dental Hygienists 3.5% Stock Clerks & Order Fillers 160
Hot Sales Representatives, Wholesale and 150
3.3% Child Care Workers
Manufacturing
Textile Wind, Tw ist, & Draw Out Machine Setters,
150
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers 3.2% Operators, & Tenders
Hot Elementary School Teachers, Exc Special Ed 140
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers 3.0%

Personal and Home Care Aides 2.9%

These fast-growing occupations will have better employ-
ment prospects than occupations with slow or declining
employment. Also, conditions will be more favorable for
mobility and advancement.
Six of the 15 are found mainly in health services and six are
computer-related.
Most of the annual openings in this list will result from the
need to replace workers who change jobs rather than from
new job creation.
Seven require short-term on-the-job training of one month
or less.
This area is made up of 15 counties in northwest Georgia in and around
the cities of Dalton and Rome. It includes the following counties: Bartow,
One of these jobs is found mainly in textile manufacturing, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson,
a key industry in this area. Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker and Whitfield.

Six of these occupations do not require any formal educa-
tion beyond high school.
Nine of the occupations have been designated as “HOT” on
a statewide basis over the projections decade.
Four of the occupations have been designated as “HOT” on
a statewide basis over the projections decade.
Workforce Information & Analysis Division
Although these occupations have many projected annual Georgia Department of Labor
openings, more than half of them pay less than average wages. Michael L. Thurmond
Commissioner
 Total Industry Growth Industry Rate of Growth Occupations with the
Total employment in WIA Area #1 is expected to grow from While the area’s economy is currently not growing as fast as
Most Job Growth
almost 296,000 jobs in 2004 to almost 333,000 by the year Georgia’s overall, it is growing at essentially the same rate as
2014. This equates to more than 3,700 new jobs added each the nation’s economy. Area job growth is expected to be 1.2 Retail Salespersons 2,560
year. This area is home to the largest concentration of tufted percent per year, while Georgia’s job growth is expected to be Comb Food Prep & Serv Workers, Incl Fast
1,100
Food
carpet producers in the United States. Over the last ten years, it 1.7 percent per year.
Customer Service Representatives 1,070
produced more than half the carpet and textile mill products in
Georgia. In addition to the textile industry, other key industries The ten fastest growing industries in this area are listed below. Waiters & Waitresses 930

include educational services, health services, food manufactur- Hot General & Operations Managers 870
ing, truck transportation, plastics and rubber products manufac- Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, & Hot Registered Nurses 870
7.8%
turing, electrical equipment manufacturing, furniture manufac- Related Industries Hot Sales Reps, Whlsl & Mfg , Exc Tech &
870
turing, and primary metal manufacturing. Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 4.9% Scientific Products
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer 860

The top ten industries in this area with the most job growth are Publishing Industries 4.5% Cashiers 780
listed below. Laborers & Freight, Stock, & Material Movers,
General Merchandise Stores 4.0% 670
Hand
Janitors & Cleaners, Exc Maids &
Educational Services 4,570 660
Housekeeping Cleaners
Administrative & Support Services 3.4%
Hot Elem School Teachers, Exc Special Education 610
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 4,490
Ambulatory Health Care Services 3.4% Child Care Workers 610

Food Services & Drinking Places 4,400 Electronics & Appliance Stores 3.3% Teacher Assistants 560

Supvrs of Retail Sales Workers 530

Administrative & Support Services 3,820 Social Assistance 3.0%

Building Material & Garden Equipment &

General Merchandise Stores
Ambulatory Health Care Services
Professional, Scientific, & Technical
Services
Local Government, Exc Education &
Hospitals
Self-Employed & Unpaid Fam Wkrs
Specialty Trade Contractors
3,650 2.9%
Supplies Dealers
Museums, Historical Sites, & Similar These 15 occupations – out of more than 700 - are projected
2.7% to add over 13,500 jobs over the next 10 years, more than
2,740 Institutions
Securs, Comm Contracts, & Other Finan one-third of all projected job growth in Northwest Georgia.
2.7%
2,710 Investmts & Related
Eight occupations require short-term on-the-job training of
2,080
one month or less and three require a college degree.
For copies of the Georgia Career Planner,
1,640
Georgia Workforce Trends or this publication, Four of these occupations have been designated as “HOT”
call 404/232-3875 or contact your local during the projections period, as they are fast-growing,
Department of Labor office. high-paying, and have at least 100 expected annual job
1,410
openings on a statewide basis.