Over the coming year and beyond, the national demand for occupational safety and health services will significantly outstrip the number of men and women with the necessary training, education, and experience to provide such services, based on current trends, according to the results of a national survey reported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Although employers plan to hire at least 25, 000 occupational safety and health professionals over the next five years, only about 12,000 new graduates are expected to be available from the academic programs that provide the needed pool of expertise nationally. Hiring estimates include new or replacement positions, some of which may be filled by persons without occupational safety and health training.