Opportunity occupations are those that are generally considered accessible to someone without a bachelor’s degree and that pay at least the national annual median wage, adjusted for differences in local consumption prices. Focusing on the 100 largest metropolitan economies in the U.S., this report identifies the most prevalent opportunity occupations in these economies; highlights differences across metropolitan areas; and, by using data extracted from online job advertisements, explores how employer preferences for education affect access to decent-paying employment.
- Infographic: This one-page infographic describes the report’s findings.
- Data Appendix: This Microsoft Excel workbook includes data on the 10 largest occupations in each of the 100 metropolitan areas included in the study.