If college degree information provides a glimpse into the educational pursuits of Rural Capital Area residents, an examination of the occupations held by residents delivers an even more nuanced understanding of skills available among the local workforce.

Three occupational clusters dominate employment within the Rural Capital Area and Travis County. Back Office Services, Hospitality & Retail, and Personal Services collectively employ approximately 395,000 individuals, representing nearly 43% of all workers in the region. All three occupational clusters are 10% more concentrated within the Rural Capital Area and Travis County relative to the US average.

Other leading occupations clusters with the region include Medical (79,000 workers), Computer (65,000), and Education (60,000). Computer occupations are more than twice as concentrated in the Rural Capital Area and Travis County compared to the US average. Education employment is approximately 10% more concentrated among Rural Capital Area and Travis County workers relative to the US average.

The occupations forecast to experience the greatest level of growth within the Rural Capital Area and Travis County include both large and small clusters. Medical occupations are projected to be the fastest growing cluster in the region. Between 2014 and 2015, the number of workers in the Rural Capital Area and Travis County employed in Medical occupations is expected to increase 17%. Although it is one of the smallest clusters in the region, Architecture employment is forecast to rise 15% during the next five years. Rural Capital Area and Travis County employment in the much larger Hospitality cluster is expected to grow 14% through 2019. While other clusters are projected to post more modest growth rates, every single occupation is projected to experience an increase in employment between 2014 and 2019.

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