A total of 98,700 job openings are forecasted over the five year period, 2018 to 2022. Of these, 24,000 (24%) are due to economic growth (expansion demand) and 74,700 (76%) are largely due to retirements (replacement demand or attrition). All major sectors are expected to have a net increase in job openings over the forecast period. The largest gains will be in wholesale and retail trade, health care and social assistance, educational services, and transportation and warehousing. Replacement of retiring workers will be the primary source of job openings, although economic growth will be a key source of job openings for accommodation and food services, transportation and warehousing, and health care and social assistance.

Employment growth is expected to average 0.8% annually over the forecast period. Industries with stronger employment growth include: transportation and warehousing (+2.6%); accommodation and food services (+1.8%); educational services (+1.4%); health care and social assistance (+1.3%); and finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (+1.2%).