Snohomish

Top Ten O*NET Skills Needed for Snohomish County's Fastest Growing Occupations Prepared November 2, 1999
*Ranking*	**ONET Skill Needed***	*Description of Skill*
1.	Information Gathering	Knowing how to find information and identifying essential information
2.	Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
3.	Speaking	Talking to others to effectively convey information
4.	Active Listening	Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate
5.	Critical Thinking	Using logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
6.	Problem Identification	Identifying the nature of problems
7.	Writing	Communicating effectively with others in writing as indicated by the needs of the audience
8.	Identification of Key Causes	Identifying the things that must be changed to achieve a goal
9.	Judgment and Decision Making	Weighing the relative costs and benefits of a potential action
10	Information Organization	Finding ways to structure or classify multiple pieces of information

Top Ten O*NET Knowledge Areas Needed for Snohomish County's Fastest Growing Occupations Prepared November 2, 1999
*Ranking*	**ONET Knowledge Needed***	*Description of Knowledge*
1.	English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
2.	Computers and Electronics	Knowledge of electric circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming
3.	Mathematics	Knowledge of numbers, their operations, and interrelationships including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications
4.	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
5.	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
6.	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
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.	Therapy and Counseling	Knowledge of information and techniques needed to rehabilitate physical and mental ailments and to provide career guidance including alternative treatments, rehabilitation equipment and its proper use, and methods to evaluate treatment effects
10.	Psychology	Knowledge of human behavior and performance, mental processes, psychological research methods, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders

Projections of Snohomish County'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*
*Occupational Title*	1998	2008	*Growth Rate*	*Total Growth*	Growth	Replace- ments	Openings
Computer Scientists, NEC	256	637	0.1488	381	38	2	40
Personal/Home Care Aides	234	460	0.0966	226	23	4	27
Coil Winders, Tapers/Finishers	77	142	0.0844	65	7	2	9
Phys, Corrct Therapy Assts	151	278	0.0841	127	13	3	16
Computer Support Specialists	482	868	0.0801	386	39	3	42
Securities/Financial, Sales	257	431	0.0677	174	17	2	19
Medical Assistants	345	575	0.0667	230	23	7	30
Paralegals	124	206	0.0661	82	8	1	9
Database Administrators	194	322	0.0660	128	13	4	17
Physical Therapists	275	456	0.0658	181	18	3	21