Is it possible to obtain a breakdown of the US population by
profession at say 1870, 1900, 1970, 1995 and 2000. I am particularly
interested in the number of lawyers; accountants; economists;
stockbrokers; people engaged in manufacturing; people engaged in the
service sector. I realise that some of these professions are difficult
to define.

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Request for Question Clarification by jeanwil-ga on 29 Mar 2003 17:50 PST

Hi bill666-ga,

I was able to locate occupational employment for 2000 but for the
previous years the Dep. is charging a fee for the historical
information.  Would you like me to post whatever information that I
have and the necessary contact number as a suitable answer?

Please let me know your decision.


Thanks

jeanwil-ga

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Clarification of Question by bill666-ga on 30 Mar 2003 04:22 PST

Jeanwil:

Yes please.

Hi bill666-ga,

Here is the information that I told you about.  As I said, it was not
much that I had - only 2000.

Employment and wages by major occupational group, 2000
ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/news.release/history/ocwage.11142001.news

U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/oes/home.htm

2000 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
http://www.bls.gov/oes/2000/oes_nat.htm

Download Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
http://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_dl.htm

“National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates by Industry
In addition to the occupational employment and wage estimates that can
be downloaded above, annual estimates from 1988 to 1997 are available
by request for most 2- and 3-digit Standard Industrial Classification
(SIC) industry groups. Note:
§	Estimates for 1988 - 1995 contain only occupational employment
estimates
§	Estimates for 1997 - 1998 contain occupational employment and wage
estimates
§	Estimates for 1988 - 1995 are for different industries each year,
with each industry being surveyed only once every three years
§	Estimates for 1996 are not available “

http://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_dl.htm
http://www.bls.gov/data/home.htm

Download Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates 
"In addition to the estimates that can be downloaded directly from
this website, historical OES estimates are available on a fee basis.
Historical OES estimates consist of the 1988 to 1997 national
occupational employment and wage data by industry, for most industries
at the 2- and 3-digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) levels.
Estimates for 1988 - 1995 contain only employment data. Estimates for
1997 contain employment and wage data. Between 1988 and 1995 covered
industries were surveyed once in a three-year cycle. The OES program
now surveys all covered industries each year.
To purchase the National Estimates by Occupation and Industry in DBF
(database) format, please call the OES staff at (202) 691-6569. There
is a charge for each year of National Estimates by Occupation and
Industry. The 1998 and 1997 estimates (occupational employment and
wage estimates for all covered 2- and 3-digit SIC industries) cost
$140 per year. The 1988-1995 estimates (occupational employment
estimates for one-third of the covered 2- and 3-digit SIC industries)
cost $65 per year."

http://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_con.htm

Hope this helps.

Please contact me before rating me if you have any further questions.

Best regards,

jeanwil-ga


search words 'occupational employlment statistics'

I think I can safely say that the number of lawyers, accountants,
economists and stock brokers has increased faster than the the gross
domestic product nearly every year and faster than the population
growth 4 out of 5 years. Would you classify all of these professions
except economists as private sector, even though some of them
primarily serve corporations and not-for-profit organizations? I'm
inclined to think everyone employed is service sector, except those
actually manufacturing or producing agriculture products. Even these
might be considered private if they do it small scale as the
blacksmith or family who sells some of their agriculture output to
friends, neighbors and relatives. Please say so if you would define
private sector differently. Even if we figure 3/5 person here and 1/7
person there, it appears the private sector has not grown faster than
the population except briefly following wars and since GATT and NAFTA
became powerful economic forces. Middle management, bureaucrats,
health care professionals, media employees, computer related emloyees,
cell phone, cable TV and small dish satellite employees have increased
most years and rapidly the past decade or two. Hopefully an expert can
find numbers for you.   Neil