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District of Columbia

Job Shortages

The tables below show the top three occupations that are projected from 2018-2028 of Washington D.C. employers based on the level of education they require. There is a minimum wage of $15.00 in Washington D.C. The one highlighted occupation under each of the three education levels has been selected to expand on in terms of potential career advancement.

 

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Potential Career Advancement

1) Janitor & Cleaner to Supervisor of Janitors & Cleaners

Janitor & Cleaner Job Description: 

  • Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition

Entry Level Requirements:  

  • Short-term, on-the-job training
  • No formal education typically required, more information found here

Supervisor of Janitors & Cleaners Job Description: 

  • Directly supervise and coordinate work activities of cleaning personnel in hotels, hospitals, offices, and other establishments

Career Advancement Requirements:  

  • High School diploma or GED typically required, more information found here

2) Paralegal & Legal Assistant to Arbitrator, Mediator & Conciliator

Paralegal & Legal Assistant Job Description: 

  • Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent

Entry Level Requirements:  

  • Associate’s degree is typically required 
  • Become certificated for greater job opportunities, more information found here

Arbitrator, Mediator & Conciliator Job Description: 

  • Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue

Career Advancement Requirements:  

  • Obtain Bachelor’s degree in public policy, law, political science or relative field 
  • Complete training in arbitration, mediation or conciliation
  • More information found here

3) Business Operations Specialist to General & Operations Manager

Business Operations Specialist Job Description: 

  • Design and implement solutions to challenges faced in the operations of a business

Entry Level Requirements:  

  • No licensing requirements, but employer typically requires a Bachelor’s degree 
  • Business administration degree programs in Washington D.C. are found here 

General & Operations Manager Job Description: 

  • Manages the operations of an organization including the formulation of policies

Career Advancement Requirements:  

  • No licensing requirements, but typically requires 5 or more years of work experience
  • Employers may prefer a graduate degree like an MBA

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Immigration in District of Columbia

The following are facts about the immigrant community in District of Columbia: 

  • Immigrants comprise 14.1% of the district population and 17% of the D.C. labor force   
  • Top industries of immigrant employment: 
    • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, 13,114 workers 
    • Public Administration, 9,811 workers 
    • Accommodation and Food Services, 9,156 workers 
    • Health Care and Social Assistance, 8,493 workers 
    • Other Services (except Public Administration), 7,585 workers  
  • 5,452 immigrant business owners account for 16% of all self-employed D.C. residents 
  • 45% of immigrants in D.C. are naturalized and another 28% are undocumented 
  • Top foreign-born countries of origin: 
    • El Salvador, 11% 
    • Ethiopia, 7% 
    • Mexico, 3% 
    • Trinidad & Tobago, 3% 
    • China, 3% 
  • 11% of native-born D.C. residents are children of an immigrant 
  • Educational attainment of foreign born adults in D.C.
    • High School diploma or less – 30
    • More than HS diploma, less than Bachelor’s degree – 12
    • Bachelor’s degree or higher58

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Share of immigrant professionals, who are unemployed, employed at poverty-level wages in High School diploma or less jobs, or significantly underemployed in more than HS diploma, less than Bachelor’s degree jobs

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Sources

Jobs 

Projections Managing Partnership (PMP), Projections Central – State Occupational Projections, “Long Term Occupational Projection (2018-2028)”;  http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates; https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm  

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, “Education and training assignments by detailed occupation,” 2019; https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm  

National Council of State Legislatures, “State Minimum Wages”, December 2020; http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx#Table 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economic News Release, “Employees on Nonfarm Payrolls by State, Seasonally adjusted”, November 2020; https://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.t03.htm  

Potential Career Advancement 

National Conference of State Legislatures, “The National Occupational Licensing Database”, March 2020: https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/occupational-licensing-statute-database.aspx  DisctrictofColumbia

Immigration 

American Immigration Council, State by State Fact Sheet, August 2020; https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/topics/state-by-state

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