Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 Data Release: Key Changes in the Top 10 Largest Employment Occupations
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for 2023. Below, we delve into the data to explore the key changes in mean annual wages and job numbers for the top 10 largest employment occupations.
1. Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Continued Demand and Wage Growth
The healthcare industry continues to grow, with home health and personal care aides experiencing an 8% increase in mean annual wages ($33,380) and a 5% increase in job numbers (3,689,350) in 2023.
2. Retail Salespersons: Modest Employment Increase with Wage Growth
Despite the ongoing challenges in the retail sector, retail salespersons saw a 5% increase in mean annual wages, reaching $36,690. The number of jobs in this occupation slightly increased, settling at 3,684,740 in 2023.
3. Fast Food and Counter Workers: Employment Growth with Increased Wages
Fast food and counter workers experienced a 6% increase in mean annual wages ($30,110) in 2023. The number of jobs in this sector also grew, reaching 3,676,580.
4. General and Operations Managers: High Wages and Steady Job Numbers
General and operations managers enjoyed a 10% rise in their mean annual wages ($129,330) while also seeing a slight growth in job numbers (3,507,810) in 2023.
5. Cashiers: Slight Employment Growth with Wage Increases
Cashiers saw a 7% rise in mean annual wages ($30,710) in 2023. The number of jobs in this occupation experienced a slight increase, with the total number of jobs standing at 3,298,660.
6. Registered Nurses: Sustained Wage Growth and Stable Employment
Registered nurses enjoyed a 6% increase in mean annual wages ($94,480) in 2023, with a modest growth in job numbers (3,175,390).
7. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Wage Growth and Stable Employment
In 2023, laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, experienced a 6% increase in mean annual wages ($39,760) and a slight growth in job numbers (3,008,300).
8. Stockers and Order Fillers: Notable Wage and Employment Increases
Stockers and order fillers experienced growth in 2023, with a 7% increase in mean annual wages ($37,990) and an increase in job numbers (2,872,680).
9. Customer Service Representatives: Stable Employment and Wage Growth
Customer service representatives saw their mean annual wages grow by 4% in 2023, reaching $43,520. The number of jobs in this sector also increased slightly, with a total of 2,858,710 positions.
10. Office Clerks, General: Stable Employment with Wage Increases
In 2023, general office clerks experienced a 7% increase in mean annual wages ($43,560). The number of jobs in this occupation declined slightly, with the total number of jobs standing at 2,496,370.
The 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data sheds light on the evolving job market in the United States, highlighting the resilience and growth in various sectors. The top 10 largest employment occupations demonstrate a trend towards increased wages across the board, indicating an overall improvement in compensation for workers. This reflects a broader economic trend of rising wages due to inflationary pressures and labor market tightness. Sectors such as healthcare and supply chain logistics are particularly buoyant, driven by an aging population and the ongoing expansion of e-commerce, respectively. While some job categories experienced a slight dip in employment numbers, the overall job market shows resilience and adaptability. As the economy continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery and technological advancements, it is crucial for job seekers, employers, and policymakers to stay informed about these trends and leverage the insights to develop strategies for workforce development, job creation, and economic growth.
Utilize our Salary and Location Databases to retrieve data for 2023, or access our comprehensive Reports that provide more detailed data categorizations and insights.
