Top Ten O*NET Skills Needed for
Tacoma/Pierce County Consortium's Occupations with the Most Jobs
Prepared October 29, 1999

Ranking

O*NET Skill Needed

Description of Skill

1.

Speaking

Talking to others to effectively convey information

2.

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people

3.

Active Listening

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

4.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems

5.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react the way they do

6.

Writing

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

7.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents

8.

Problem Identification

Identifying the nature of problems

9.

Information Organization

Finding ways to structure or classify multiple pieces of information

10.

Information Gathering

Knowing how to find information and identifying essential information

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Top Ten O*NET Knowledge Areas Needed for
Tacoma/Pierce County Consortium's Occupations with the Most Jobs
Prepared October 29, 1999

Ranking

O*NET Knowledge Needed

Description of Knowledge Area

1.

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

2.

Mathematics

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

3.

English Language

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

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.

Sales and Marketing

Knowledge of principles and methods involved in showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategies and tactics, product demonstration and sales techniques, and sales control systems

6.

Economics and Accounting

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

Computers and Electronics

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

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Projections of
Tacoma/Pierce County Consortium's Top Ten Occupations
Based on Annual Openings
Prepared October 29, 1999
Base-year employment 1998 with projections to 2008

Occupational Title

Est. Employment

Total Openings

Annual

1998

2008

Growth

Replacement

Openings

Salespersons, Retail

10183

11579

1396

140

323

463

Cashiers

6241

7112

871

87

272

359

Waiters & Waitresses

4572

5705

1133

113

233

346

Comb Food Prep/Serv Wkrs

4269

5388

1119

112

218

330

Managers & Administrators,NEC

4791

6183

1392

139

102

241

General Mgrs & Top Execs

5798

6702

904

90

123

213

Food Preparation Workers

2666

3435

769

77

136

213

General Office Clerks

6139

6760

621

62

140

202

Teachers, Secondary School

3617

4436

819

82

108

190

Janitors & Cleaners

4586

5458

872

87

93

180

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