Top Ten O*NET Skills Needed for
Tacoma/Pierce County Consortium's Fastest Growing Occupations
Prepared November 2, 1999

Ranking

O*NET Skill Needed

Description of Skill

1.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents

2.

Information Gathering

Knowing how to find information and identifying essential information

3.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches

4.

Information Organization

Finding ways to structure or classify multiple pieces of information

5.

Problem Identification

Identifying the nature of problems

6.

Active Listening

Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate

7.

Operations Analysis

Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design

8.

Speaking

Talking to others to effectively convey information

9.

Judgment and Decision Making

Weighing the relative costs and benefits of a potential action

10.

Writing

Communicating effectively with others in writing as indicated by the needs of the audience

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Top Ten O*NET Knowledge Areas Needed for
Tacoma/Pierce County Consortium's Fastest Growing Occupations
Prepared November 2, 1999

Ranking

O*NET Knowledge Needed

Description of Knowledge

1.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of electric circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming

2.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar

3.

Mathematics

Knowledge of numbers, their operations, and interrelationships including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications

4.

Clerical

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing systems, filing and records management systems, stenography and transcription, forms design principles, and other office procedures and terminology

5.

Education and Training

Knowledge of instructional methods and training techniques including curriculum design principles, learning theory, group and individual teaching techniques, design of individual development plans, and test design principles

6.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services including needs assessment techniques, quality service standards, alternative delivery systems, and customer satisfaction evaluation techniques

7.

Administration and Management

Knowledge of principles and processes involved in business and organizational planning, coordination, and execution. This includes strategic planning, resource allocation, manpower modeling, leadership techniques, and production methods

8

Telecommunications

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems

9.

Communications and Media

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods including alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media

10.

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of weaponry, public safety, and security operations, rules, regulations, precautions, prevention, and the protection of people, data, and property

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Projections of
Tacoma/Pierce County Consortium's Top Ten Occupations
Based on Growth Rate
Prepared November 2, 1999
Base-year 1998 with projections to 2008

Occupational Title

Est. Employment

Growth Rate

Total Growth

Annual

1998

2008

Growth

Replace-
ments

Openings

Computer Scientists, NEC

113

302

0.1673

189

19

1

20

Computer Engineers

310

761

0.1455

451

45

2

47

Electronic Pagination Sys Wkrs

69

142

0.1058

73

7

1

8

Combin Mach Tool Oprs/Tndrs

60

118

0.0967

58

6

1

7

Database Administrators

55

102

0.0855

47

5

1

6

Computer Support Specialists

182

326

0.0791

144

14

1

15

Medical Assistants

332

594

0.0789

262

26

6

32

Systems Analysts

597

1061

0.0777

464

46

4

50

Paralegals

182

321

0.0764

139

14

2

16

Personal/Home Care Aides

363

600

0.0653

237

24

7

31

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