Occupations in Demand Tables below list the average number of positions open each year for these occupations: Executive, Administrative, Managerial Professional, Paraprofessional, Technical Marketing, Sales Administrative Support Service Precision, Production, Craft, Repairs Operators, Fabricators,and Laborers The top 40 high-demand occupations for the District of Columbia and the metropolitan area are listed on the following tables. Workers in these fields are sought after for a variety of reasons: The federal government demands skilled office workers and generates a range of legal and business services. Demand for health care and high technology workers has skyrocketed. Turnover is always high for low-paid service workers such as janitors, waiters and waitresses, guards, food workers, and maintenance workers. Additional information on occupational projections can be found in "Washington Metropolitan Area Employment Projections by Industry and Occupations, 1996-2006," a report issued by the Labor Market Information Office of DOES. Executive, Administrative, Managerial Occupations Occupation Washington, DC Area Washington, DC Metropolitian Area General Managers and Top Executives 595 2,939 Engineering, Mathematics, and Natural Science Managers 180 1,050 Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations Managers 155 570 Financial Managers 131 812 Professional, Paraprofessional, Technical Occupations Occupation Washington, DC Area Washington, DC Metropolitian Area Lawyers 778 1,122 Accountants and Auditors 271 839 Economists 247 X Management Analysts 237 X Paralegals 217 X Personnel, Training, and Labor Relations Specialists 213 523 Writers and Editors 211 639 Registered Nurses 165 1,239 Public Relations Specialists and Publicity Writers 129 X Computer Programmers 122 653 Licensed Practical Nurses 101 X Purchasing Agents (Excluding Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products) 99 X Residential Counselors X 82 Marketing, Sales Occupations Occupation Washington, DC Area Washington, DC Metropolitian Area Cashiers 294 3,147 Salespersons (Retail) 198 3,687 Marketing and Sales Worker Supervisors 92 1,136 Administrative Support Occupations Occupation Washington, DC Area Washington, DC Metropolitian Area General Office Clerks 578 1,630 Secretaries (Excluding Legal and Medical) 514 1,412 Clerical Supervisors and Managers 367 1,410 Receptionists and Information Clerks 337 1,249 Legal Secretaries 199 X Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 143 656 Typists (Including Word Processing) 90 X Duplicating Machine Operators 72 X Service Occupations Occupation Washington, DC Area Washington, DC Metropolitian Area Janitors and Cleaners 421 1,794 Waiters and Waitresses 343 2,318 Guards 334 727 Food Preparation Workers 324 1,683 Food Preparation and Service Workers (Fast Food) 299 1,701 Police Patrol Officers 202 600 Cleaners and Servants (Private Household) 109 X Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 108 631 Personal and Home Care Aides 92 X Correction Officers 71 X Precision Production, Craft, Repair Occupations Occupation Washington, DC Area Washington, DC Metropolitian Area Maintenance Repairers (General Utility) 125 684 Automotive Mechanics X 559 Carpenters X 552 Operators, Fabricators, and Laborers Occupation Washington, DC Area Washington, DC Metropolitian Area Truck Drivers (Light) X 624