Based on the above table, which services-providing industry gained the most jobs between 1996 and 2006?
A. Educational services
B. Professional and business services
C. Retail trade
D. State and local government
Answer (2)
The service-providing industry that gained the most jobs between 1996 and 2006 is Professional and business services, with a gain of 4089.8 thousand jobs. Educational services gained 840.9 thousand jobs, and State and local government gained 2599.6 thousand jobs. Therefore, the correct answer is B.
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Calculate the job gain for Educational services: 2918.4 − 2077.5 = 840.9 .
Calculate the job gain for Professional and business services: 17551.6 − 13461.8 = 4089.8 .
Calculate the job gain for State and local government: 19261.7 − 16662.1 = 2599.6 .
Compare the job gains and identify the largest: Professional and business services gained the most jobs. The answer is b .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a table showing employment in various service-providing industries in thousands of jobs for the years 1996, 2006 and 2016. The question asks us to identify the industry that experienced the largest job gain between 1996 and 2006. The options provided are Educational services, Professional and business services, Retail trade, and State and local government. Note that Retail trade is not in the table, so it cannot be the correct answer. We will calculate the job gain for each of the remaining industries by subtracting the number of jobs in 1996 from the number of jobs in 2006.
Calculating Job Gain for Educational Services First, let's calculate the job gain for Educational services: E d u c a t i o na l _ ser v i ces _ g ain = 2918.4 − 2077.5 = 840.9 So, Educational services gained 840.9 thousand jobs.
Calculating Job Gain for Professional and Business Services Next, let's calculate the job gain for Professional and business services: P ro f ess i o na l _ ser v i ces _ g ain = 17551.6 − 13461.8 = 4089.8 So, Professional and business services gained 4089.8 thousand jobs.
Calculating Job Gain for State and Local Government Now, let's calculate the job gain for State and local government: St a t e _ g o v er nm e n t _ g ain = 19261.7 − 16662.1 = 2599.6 So, State and local government gained 2599.6 thousand jobs.
Comparing Job Gains Comparing the job gains, we have:
Educational services: 840.9 thousand jobs
Professional and business services: 4089.8 thousand jobs
State and local government: 2599.6 thousand jobs The largest job gain was in Professional and business services with 4089.8 thousand jobs.
Final Answer Therefore, the service-providing industry that gained the most jobs between 1996 and 2006 is Professional and business services. The answer is b .
Examples
Understanding job growth in different sectors can help students grasp economic trends and career opportunities. For example, knowing which industries are expanding can guide educational choices and career planning. If professional and business services are growing rapidly, students might consider related fields like consulting, management, or specialized business support, aligning their skills with market demands. This knowledge is valuable for making informed decisions about future career paths.
