Summary of 1996-2006 Employment Opportunities for Scientists, Engineers, and Related Specialists 1/
Occupation
Total U.S. Occupational Employment
Employment with Expertise in Agriculture, Natural Resources,
Veterinary Medicine, and Allied Fields
Average
annual growth
total openings
Average
annual AG NR
total openings
Average annual
total openings
Total openings
due to growth and net
replacements 1996/2006
Actual
1996
Estimated
2006
Percent
Number
1996
2006
Engineers
Chemical engineers
49,000
57,000
4
1,960
2,280
32
88
2,200
22,000
Civil engineers, including traffic engineers
196,000
231,000
5
9,800
11,550
175
410
8,200
82,000
Electrical & electronics engineers
367,000
472,000
2
7,340
9,440
210
394
19,700
197,000
Industrial engineers, except safety engineers
115,000
131,000
4
4,600
5,240
64
156
3,900
39,000
Mechanical engineers
228,000
264,000
4
9,120
10,560
144
324
8,100
81,000
All other engineers (includes Agricultural Engineers)
326,000
373,000
40
130,400
149,200
1,880
5,360
13,400
134,000
Landscape architects
17,000
20,000
100
17,000
20,000
300
700
700
7,000
Life and Physical Scientists
Agricultural & food scientists
24,000
29,000
100
24,000
29,000
500
1,000
1,000
10,000
Biological scientists
83,000
103,000
20
16,600
20,600
400
520
2,600
26,000
Chemists
91,000
108,000
5
4,550
5,400
85
180
3,600
36,000
Foresters & conservation scientists
37,000
43,000
100
37,000
43,000
600
1,400
1,400
14,000
Geologists, geophysicists, oceanographers
47,000
54,000
2
940
1,080
14
34
1,700
17,000
All other life scientists
1,000
1,000
23
230
230
0
0
0
0
Meteorologists
7,000
8,000
4
280
320
4
8
200
2,000
Statisticians
14,000
14,000
9
1,260
1,260
0
18
200
2,000
Surveyors
101,000
99,000
8
8,080
7,920
-16
160
2,000
20,000
Technicians/Technologists
Clinical laboratory technicians and technologists
285,000
328,000
3
8,550
9,840
129
210
7,000
70,000
Engineering technicians
698,000
767,000
4
27,920
30,680
276
912
22,800
228,000
Forest and conservation workers
40,000
41,000
50
20,000
20,500
50
750
1,500
15,000
Gardeners, nursery workers, and laborers, landscaping and groundskeeping*
817,000
975,000
5
40,850
48,750
790
1,785
35,700
357,000
Inspectors, testers, and graders, precision
634,000
610,000
5
31,700
30,500
-120
575
11,500
115,000
Pest controllers & assistants
60,000
73,000
10
6,000
7,300
130
240
2,400
24,000
Science & mathematics technicians
228,000
258,000
7
15,960
18,060
210
574
8,200
82,000
Water & liquid waste treatment plant & system operators
98,000
121,000
2
1,960
2,420
46
76
3,800
38,000
All other technicians
24,000
23,000
4
960
920
-4
28
700
7,000
Other Occupations
Drafters
310,000
317,000
2
6,200
6,340
14
136
6,800
68,000
Veterinarians & veterinary inspectors
58,000
71,000
100
58,000
71,000
1,300
2,500
2,500
25,000
TOTAL
4,955,000
5,591,000
491,260
563,390
7,213
18,538
1/ Source: Monthly Labor Review, November, 1997.

Source:  "TECHNICAL ADDENDUM, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES--Agriculture,  Natural Resources and Veterinary Sciences, 2000-2005" Goecker, Gilmore, and Whatley.