High School

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.

[tex]
\[
\begin{array}{|l|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
\text{Data Entry Keyers} & 220.3 & 166.1 & -54.2 & -24.6 & \$28,010 \\
\hline
\text{Sewing Machine Operators} & 161.4 & 119.7 & -41.7 & -25.8 & \$21,270 \\
\hline
\begin{array}{l}
\text{Postal Service Mail Sorters,} \\
\text{Processors, and Processing} \\
\text{Machine Operators}
\end{array} & 129.6 & 91.0 & -38.6 & -29.8 & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\begin{array}{l}
\text{Farmworkers and Laborers,} \\
\text{Crop, Nursery,} \\
\text{and Greenhouse}
\end{array} & 596.8 & 567.6 & -29.2 & -4.9 & \$18,670 \\
\hline
\begin{array}{l}
\text{Word Processors} \\
\text{and Typists}
\end{array} & 104.4 & 78.2 & -26.2 & -25.1 & \$35,270 \\
\hline
\text{Postal Service Clerks} & 66.9 & 45.7 & -21.3 & -31.8 & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\end{array}
\]
[/tex]

Answer :

To solve this question, we need to carefully analyze the data presented in the table. The table shows various job roles, the number of jobs in thousands for the base and future year, the change in jobs, the percentage change, and the average annual wage. Based on this data, we can evaluate the given conclusions:

1. A farming job is more secure than a job as a home health aide.
- The percentage change for farmworkers and laborers is -4.9%, indicating a relatively small decline in jobs compared to other industries listed.
- Although the information about home health aides is not present in the table, we can't directly compare this without additional data on home health aides.

2. The number of jobs in the postal service is expected to increase by 2022.
- For postal service clerks, there is a percentage change of -31.8%, showing a significant decrease rather than an increase.
- Therefore, this conclusion is not supported by the data.

3. Acquiring a job in the postal service may be difficult in the future.
- With a significant percentage decrease of -31.8% for postal service clerks, it indicates a large reduction in job availability, suggesting it may become more challenging to find these jobs.
- This conclusion is supported by the data.

4. The field of data entry will not lose as many jobs as predicted.
- Data entry keyers have a percentage change of -54.2%, indicating a large decline.
- Thus, the prediction is accurate, and this conclusion is not supported.

Given the analysis, option 3, "Acquiring a job in the postal service may be difficult in the future," is the best-supported conclusion by the data.