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."
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."