Career Path Forecast
 Employment of
science technicians is projected to grow about as fast as the average,
although employment change will vary by specialty. Job opportunities are
expected to be best for graduates of applied science technology programs
who are well trained on equipment used in laboratories or production
facilities.
Overall employment of
science technicians is expected to grow 12 percent during the 2006-16
decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The continued
growth of scientific and medical research -- particularly research
related to biotechnology -- will be the primary driver of employment
growth, but the development and production of technical products should
also stimulate demand for science technicians in many industries.
 Employment of biological
technicians should increase faster than the average, as the growing
number of agricultural and medicinal products developed with the use of
biotechnology techniques boosts demand for these workers. Also, an aging
population and stronger competition among pharmaceutical companies are
expected to contribute to the need for innovative and improved drugs,
further spurring demand. Most growth in employment will be in
professional, scientific, and technical services and in educational
services.
Job growth for chemical
technicians is projected to grow more slowly than the average. The
chemical manufacturing industry, except pharmaceutical and medicine
manufacturing, is anticipated to experience a decline in overall
employment as companies downsize and turn to outside contractors to
provide specialized services. Some of these contractors will be in other
countries with lower average wages, further limiting employment growth.
An increasing focus on quality assurance will require a greater number
of process technicians, however, stimulating demand for these workers.
 Employment of environmental
science and protection technicians is expected to grow much faster than
the average; these workers will be needed to help regulate waste
products; to collect air, water, and soil samples for measuring levels
of pollutants; to monitor compliance with environmental regulations; and
to clean up contaminated sites. Over 80 percent of this growth is
expected to be in professional, scientific, and technical services as
environmental monitoring, management, and regulatory compliance
increase.
An expected decline in
employment of forest and conservation technicians within the Federal
Government will lead to little or no change in employment in this
specialty, due to budgetary constraints and continued reductions in
demand for timber management on Federal lands. However, opportunities at
State and local governments within specialties such as urban forestry
may provide some new jobs. In addition, an increased emphasis on
specific conservation issues, such as environmental protection,
preservation of water resources, and control of exotic and invasive
pests, may provide some employment opportunities.
Employment of agricultural
and food science technicians is projected to grow about as fast as the
average. Research in biotechnology and other areas of agricultural
science will increase as it becomes more important to balance greater
agricultural output with protection and preservation of soil, water, and
the ecosystem. In particular, research will be needed to combat insects
and diseases as they adapt to pesticides and as soil fertility and water
quality continue to need improvement.
 Jobs for forensic science
technicians are expected to increase much faster than the average.
Employment growth in State and local government should be driven by the
increasing application of forensic science to examine, solve, and
prevent crime. Crime scene technicians who work for State and county
crime labs should experience favorable employment prospects resulting
from strong job growth.
Average employment growth is
expected for geological and petroleum technicians. Job growth should be
strongest in professional, scientific, and technical services firms
because geological and petroleum technicians will be needed to assist
environmental scientists and geoscientists as they provide consultation
services for companies regarding environmental policy and Federal
Government mandates, such as those requiring lower sulfur emissions.
In addition to job openings
created by growth, many openings should arise from the need to replace
technicians who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. Job
opportunities are expected to be best for graduates of applied science
technology programs who are well trained on equipment used in
laboratories or production facilities. As the instrumentation and
techniques used in industrial research, development, and production
become increasingly more complex, employers will seek individuals with
highly developed technical skills. Good communication skills are also
increasingly sought by employers.
Job opportunities vary by
specialty. The best opportunities for agricultural and food science
technicians will be in agricultural biotechnology, specifically in
research and development on biofuels. Geological and petroleum
technicians should experience little competition for positions because
of the relatively small number of new entrants. Forensic science
technicians with a bachelor's degree in a forensic science will enjoy
much better opportunities than those with an associate degree. During
periods of economic recession, science technicians may be laid off.
Note: Some resources in this section provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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