4.21 Treat Occupational Information with Caution!

Keep the following points in mind when you research occupational information

Not all occupations are listed. In the new economy, many old occupations are dying (e.g. keypunch operator) and new ones are emerging (e.g. web designer). Because the labour market is changing so quickly, labour market information becomes "dated" almost as soon as it's published. A publication like Work Futures simply can’t contain descriptions of all the occupations or work roles that are emerging in the new economy. 

Wage information is dated. Wage scales quoted in Work Futures 2000 are based on data collected from the 1996 census and projected into the future. To get current wage information, you'll need to do extra research directly with employers, professional associations and people already working in the field. 

Predictions aren’t guaranteed to happen. Remember that no one, not even labour market analysts, can predict the future with certainty. So the occupational projections offered in Work Futures are "best guesses" based on statistics and trends forecast at a particular time. 

Occupational projections are only one piece of information. Labour market conditions and trends change rapidly. So when you're making career or educational decisions, you can't rely on occupational projections alone. They'll give you a good start. But confirm this information by doing direct research of the community where you want to work, as mentioned above.