High School

\begin{tabular}{|l|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
\begin{tabular}{l}
Farmers, ranchers, and \\
other agricultural managers
\end{tabular} & 930.6 & 750.7 & -179.9 & -19.3 & \$90,300 \\
\hline
Postal service mail carriers & 295.1 & 215.8 & -79.2 & -26.8 & \$58,490 \\
\hline
Data entry keyers & 220.3 & 166.1 & -54.2 & -24.6 & \$28,010 \\
\hline
Sewing machine operators & 161.4 & 119.7 & -41.7 & -25.8 & \$21,270 \\
\hline
\begin{tabular}{l}
Postal service mail sorters, \\
processors, and processing \\
machine operators
\end{tabular} & 129.6 & 91.0 & -38.6 & -29.8 & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\begin{tabular}{l}
Farmworkers and laborers, \\
crop, nursery, \\
and greenhouse
\end{tabular} & 596.8 & 567.6 & -29.2 & -4.9 & \$18,070 \\
\hline
\begin{tabular}{l}
Word processors \\
and typists
\end{tabular} & 104.4 & 78.2 & -26.2 & -25.1 & \$35,270 \\
\hline
Postal service clerks & 66.9 & 45.7 & -21.3 & -31.8 & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

Which conclusion is best supported by the data in the table?

A. A farming job is more secure than a job as a home health aide.
B. The number of jobs in the postal service is expected to increase by 2022.
C. Acquiring a job in the postal service may be difficult in the future.
D. The field of data entry will not lose as many jobs as predicted.

Answer :

To determine which conclusion is best supported by the data in the table, we should analyze the data for trends. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Analyze the Job Trends by 2022:
- Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers: Decline from 930.6 thousand (2018) to 750.7 thousand (2022)
- Postal service mail carriers: Decline from 295.1 thousand (2018) to 215.8 thousand (2022)
- Data entry keyers: Decline from 220.3 thousand (2018) to 166.1 thousand (2022)
- Sewing machine operators: Decline from 161.4 thousand (2018) to 119.7 thousand (2022)
- Postal service mail sorters and processors: Decline from 129.6 thousand (2018) to 91.0 thousand (2022)
- Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse: Decline from 596.8 thousand (2018) to 567.6 thousand (2022)
- Word processors and typists: Decline from 104.4 thousand (2018) to 78.2 thousand (2022)
- Postal service clerks: Decline from 66.9 thousand (2018) to 45.7 thousand (2022)

2. Evaluate Each Conclusion with the Data:
- A farming job is more secure than a job as a home health aide.
- This conclusion is irrelevant since no data about home health aides is provided in the table.

- The number of jobs in the postal service is expected to increase by 2022.
- The data indicates a decline in all postal service jobs categories (mail carriers, mail sorters, and clerical staff). Therefore, this conclusion is unsupported.

- Acquiring a job in the postal service may be difficult in the future.
- All categories of postal service jobs show significant declines:
- Mail carriers: A drop from 295.1 thousand to 215.8 thousand
- Mail sorters and processors: A drop from 129.6 thousand to 91.0 thousand
- Postal clerks: A drop from 66.9 thousand to 45.7 thousand
- The significant declines indicate fewer job opportunities in postal services, making this conclusion well-supported.

- The field of data entry will not lose as many jobs as predicted.
- Data entry keyers show a decline from 220.3 thousand to 166.1 thousand, a significant but not unprecedented drop.

3. Conclusion:
Given that all categories in the postal service show significant declines and the decline rate is greater compared to some other occupations, the conclusion "Acquiring a job in the postal service may be difficult in the future" is the best supported by the data shown in the table.

Therefore, the best-supported conclusion from the data in the table is:
"Acquiring a job in the postal service may be difficult in the future."