Foreword

Since the late 1940s, the Bureau's Occupational Out-look Handbook has been a nationally recognized source of career information. Revised every 2 years, the Handbook describes job duties, working conditions, training and educational requirements, earnings, and job prospects in a wide range of occupations.

Employment in the hundreds of occupations discussed in detail in the 2002-03 Handbook accounts for 7 of every 8 jobs in the economy. Combined with the updated special features of the Handbook, the occupational information presented in this new edition provides invaluable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives.

Lois L. Orr
Acting Commissioner
Bureau of Labor Statistics