In-Demand Occupations
Approved and Published: December 2025
Purpose
The purpose of this item is to make a determination of the occupations that have a substantial current or potential impact on the economy of Central Oklahoma.
Authority
The authority to make this determination is explicitly stated in Section 3(23)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA):
- DETERMINATION. — The determination of whether an industry sector or occupation is in- demand under this paragraph shall be made by the State board or local board, as appropriate, using State and regional business and labor market projections, including the use of labor market information.
Background
The definition of the term “in-demand occupation” is given in Section 3(23) of WIOA:
- IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR OR OCCUPATION. —IN GENERAL. — The term ‘‘in-demand industry sector or occupation’’ means—an industry sector that has a substantial current or potential impact (including through jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate, and that contributes to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses, or the growth of other industry sectors; oran occupation that currently has or is projected to have a number of positions (including positions that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) in an industry sector so as to have a significant impact on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate.
There are several reasons why it is important to properly determine the in-demand occupations for a local workforce area. For example:
First, Section 107(b)(2) of WIOA requires that the business members of the local workforce development board must represent businesses that “provide employment opportunities… in in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area.” Therefore, it is important to determine the in-demand occupations in the local area in order to assure compliance with the board composition requirements of WIOA.
Second, in using funds for Youth Workforce Investment Activities, the local workforce development board is required to support activities that provide “effective connections to employers… in in-demand industry sectors and occupations of the local and regional labor markets.” (Reference WIOA Sec. 129(c)(1)(C)(v))
Third, pursuant to WIOA Sec. 134(c)(3)(F)(v), when Adults and Dislocated Worker participants are contemplating the selection of a program of occupational skills training, the law requires that, “Priority consideration shall, consistent with clause (i), be given to programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area involved.”
Fourth, pursuant to WIOA Sec. 134(c)(3)(G)(ii)(V)(aa), some special types of occupational skills training may be provided “if… the local board determines that… it would be most appropriate to award a contract… in order to facilitate the training of multiple individuals in in-demand industry sectors or occupations…”
Fifth, when Individual Training Accounts are used to support occupational skills training for a WIOA Title I participant, WIOA Section 134(c)(3)(G)(iii) requires that the training services “…be directly linked to an in-demand industry sector or occupation in the local area or the planning region, or in another area to which an adult or dislocated worker receiving such services is willing to relocate, except that a local board may approve training services for occupations determined by the local board to be in sectors of the economy that have a high potential for sustained demand or growth in the local area.”
Additional Background
The 2024 WIOA State Plan provides a description of the industries and occupations for which there is existing demand in the Central planning region. Here is an excerpt:
To achieve the ambitious goals that have been set by the Governor’s Cabinet, workforce partners must align their efforts and take active roles in ensuring resources are used in ways that maximize, strengthen, and support the education-to-workforce pipeline for all Oklahomans. Underpinning all Oklahoma Works efforts are the five Industry Clusters (Aerospace and Defense, Agriculture and Biosciences, Energy, Information and Financial Services, and Transportation and Distribution), and 100 Critical Occupations within these ecosystems (growth and demand occupations). These foundational pieces are utilized by state and local economic development and tie partner initiatives together in an aligned, cohesive direction.
NOTE: In the State Plan, the state’s key demand industry sectors are referred to as “industry clusters.”
Determination
Relying on the 2024 WIOA State Plan as well as our own independent review of regional business and labor market projections, the Central Oklahoma Workforce Innovation Board determines that there are over 220 “in-demand occupations” in Central Oklahoma. These occupations have a substantial current or potential impact (including through jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) on our regional economy.
Our list of in-demand occupations (Attachment A) is defined in two ways:
- 8-page list of 221 easily-identifiable in-demand occupations is attached. Each in-demand occupation is identified by a job title as well as an SOC code. For each in-demand occupation, a projection of employment growth (2025 – 2035) is given. A Location Quotient is also indicated. The employment projections are derived from a report prepared by Lightcast (https://lightcast.io/).
- Additionally, COWIB recognizes that an in-demand occupation is any other occupation that:
- Is related to an in-demand industry sector in our region; and
- Is projected to have a number of open positions in that industry.
For the purpose of determining whether an occupation is “related to” an in-demand industry sector, we will use the O*Net Online website as a resource for establishing a relationship between an occupation and an industry.
For example, Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators (SOC 53-7051) is not given in our list of in- demand occupations. Even so, we will regard it as an in-demand occupation in Central Oklahoma because, according to the O*Net Online website, Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators is related to the Transportation and Warehousing sector. It is also related to the Manufacturing, Administrative and Support Services, and Wholesale Trade sectors.
See illustration, next page.
(Administrative and Support Services, Manufacturing, Transportation and Warehousing, and Wholesale Trade are all recognized as in-demand industry sectors in Central Oklahoma).
This determination will be reviewed periodically and may be updated as needed.
Here is an illustration of how the O*Net Online resource serves to establish a relationship between an occupation (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators) and an in-demand industry (Administrative and Support Services, Manufacturing, Transportation and Warehousing, or Wholesale Trade):
Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Statement
All Recipients, and Sub-recipients / Sub-grantees must comply with WIOA’s Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination provisions which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, or, for beneficiaries, applicants, and participants only, on the basis of citizenship status or participation in a WIOA Title-I financially assisted program or activity.
Addenda / Revisions
The COWIB Chief Executive Officer is authorized to issue additional instructions, guidance, approvals, and/or forms to further implement the requirements of policy, without making substantive change to the policy, except in situations when a new or updated state and federal guidance is issued.
Please download the document to see the list of demand occupations.