Www bls gov oes current oes_nat htm

Sociology Project Paper

Essay Assignment: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF YOUR POTENTIAL OCCUPATION

This assignment is designed to help you understand the occupational structure of the United States, social stratification

and also to facilitate a closer look at your potential or anticipated occupation. Your paper must be written in essay format which

includes an introduction and conclusion. It must be typewritten, double-spaced, with a font size 12 (no larger or smaller), and have

one-inch margins (no larger or smaller). Number each of the pages and be sure to put your name on it. The length of the paper is

less of a concern to me as is the effort put into answering each of the following questions as completely as possible. Be sure to

answer each of the questions, particularly in sections two and three, in your own words—do not copy directly from any

resource unless absolutely necessary. Points will be taken off if the formatting requirements are not met. NOTE: You may use

other sources of information besides the Bureau of Labor Statistics for your essay, however, start with the BLS and expand fr om

there. Citations are required for any source other than the BLS.

1. OCCUPATIONAL EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

a. Go to http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm

b. Choose an occupation. Using the search engine for the site (found on the left hand side of the page), search for

this occupation by name.

c. What is the employment estimate?

d. What are the mean hourly and annual wages?

e. What is the median annual income for this occupation? Is there a difference between the mean and median

annual wages? If so, why do you think that is?

f. What are the industries with the highest levels of employment and concentrations for this occupation?

g. What are the top paying industries for this occupation?

h. Follow the instructions for using the map on the back of this sheet to illustrate the concentration of workers,

location quotients and wages for your occupation. You must discuss the findings in your paper.

i. Discuss how the information gathered from all of the above questions may be practically applied? (In other

words, how might you effectively use this information? Do not skip this analysis)

2. OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK:

a. Go to http://www.bls.gov/oco

b. Describe the nature of the work done by people in your chosen profession as outlined in the Occupational

Outlook Handbook.

c. What are the educational and training requirements for your chosen occupation?

d. What is the occupational outlook and projections for your occupation?

3. SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

a. Summarize the information you learned about the occupation you chose. Was anything surprising or

unexpected? Was it what you expected?

b. Does the information you found support your choice of occupation? Has it made you re-think your choice?

Why? (No matter how you answer this question, be sure to answer why).

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oco
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c. Based on the information you have found from the Bureau of Labor Statistics discuss each of the following

questions:

i. What social class is your chosen occupation likely to place you? Would that change if you had other

household income, for example from a partner or child?

ii. Where will it place you in the system of stratification along the dimensions of wealth, power and

prestige? (Draw specifically from our class discussion in answering this question)

iii. How will this occupation affect your potential life outcomes? BE SPECIFIC, think about housing,

health, education, longevity, leisure, etc.!

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Use the above map to shade in the states in the following manner:

1. Use one pattern or color to shade the states with the highest concentration of workers in your chosen occupation

2. Use a different pattern or color to indicate the highest location quotients for your occupation.

3. Use a third pattern or color to indicate the top paying states for your occupation.

4. Use a fourth pattern or color to indicate states that are BOTH the highest paying and that have the highest

concentration or location quotient of workers.

5. Note any specific cities (by using a particular symbol—a star or circle or square, etc.) that have the highest

concentration of workers

6. Note any specific cities (by using a particular symbol—a star or circle or square, etc.) that have the highest rates of

pay