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The Evolving Workplace

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The workplace--influenced by an explosion of technology, a changing work force and global markets--has changed more in the past century than ever before. And it continues to change.

Nationally, economists are predicting a surge in jobs catering to aging baby boomers, including everything from retirement planner to nursing-home activities director. Advancements in medical and computer technology will create many jobs.

On the day before Labor Day, here’s a look at some of the trends affecting the workplace of the future.

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What Will Tomorrow Bring?

No one knows exactly what the future will mean to the workplace, but here are a few predictions from the experts:

* An aging population and the advancement of medical technology will make health-care services one of the fastest-growing industries nationwide in the 21st century.

* “Knowledge jobs” (those that require brainpower, not manual skills) will increase.

* The dearth of workers with up-to-date job skills will continue, especially in Southern California.

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* Employers will find ways to hire and retain aging baby boomers, especially those having up-to-date skills.

* The number of minority employees will increase from 23% in 1994 to 26% in 2005.

* Female workers will increase slightly, from 46% in 1994 to 48% in 2005.

Sampling of Hot Careers for the 21st Century (plus estimated salary range):

Physician ($75,000 to $250,000)

Geriatric social worker ($24,000 to $48,000)

Systems analyst ($25,000 to $70,000)

Environmental engineer ($30,000 to $85,000)

Copywriter ($18,000 to $85,000)

Accountant ($25,000 to $100,000)

Aerobics instructor ($12,000 to $35,000)

Teacher (elementary and secondary) ($26,000 to $55,000)

Hotel/motel manager ($25,000 to $90,000)

Meteorologist ($19,000 to $100,000)

From “100 Best Careers for the 21st Century” by Shelly Field

Sampling of Futuristic Jobs:

Asteroid/lunar miner

Robot trainer

Laser-medicine practitioner

Bionic-medicine technician

Thanotologist (studies the terminally ill)

Underwater archeologist

Pollution botanist

Selenologist (studies the moon as a geologist studies the earth)

Planetary engineer

From “The 100 Best Jobs for the 1990s and Beyond” by Carol Kleiman (collected by Washington consultant Norman Feingold)

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10 Fastest-Growing Occupations, 1994-2005 (nationwide)

Occupation Employment: 1994/2005 Percent change

Personal and home-care aide: 118%

Home health aide: 102%

Systems analyst: 92%

Computer engineer: 90%

Database administrator, computer-support specialist: 89%

Physical therapist: 80%

Residential counselor: 76%

Human-services worker: 75%

Medical assistant: 59%

Paralegal: 58%

As projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

10 Fastest-Growing Occupations, 1993-2005 (Los Angeles County)

Occupation Employment: 1993/2005 Percent change

Athlete, coach, umpire: 168%

Home health-care worker: 155%

Computer engineer: 131%

Film editor: 131%

Personal and home-care aide: 124%

Human-service worker: 119%

Curator, archivist: 117%

Computer scientist: 117%

Producer, director, actor: 98%

Tax preparer: 94%

As projected by the Employment Development Department of California and the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Sources: Hudson’s Workforce 2020 study, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, staff reports.

10 Fastest-Shrinking Occupations, 1994-2005 (nationwide)

Occupation Employment: 1994/2005 Percent change

Computer operator: -37%

Typist and word processor: -33%

Machine-tool operator: -29%

Bank teller: -27%

Sewing-machine operator: -26%

Duplicating, mail and other office-machine operators: -25%

Textile worker: -25%

Cleaner/servant, household: -22%

Farmer: -21%

Personnel clerk, except payroll and timekeeping: -21%

As projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Researched by STEPHANIE STASSEL / Los Angeles Times

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