College

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]
\[
\begin{array}{|l|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
\text{Occupation} & \text{2012 Employment (in thousands)} & \text{2022 Employment (in thousands)} & \text{Change in Number} & \text{Change in Percent} & \text{Median Annual Wage} \\
\hline
\text{Data entry keyers} & 220.3 & 160.1 & -34.2 & -15.5\% & - \\
\hline
\text{Sewing machine operators} & 161.4 & 119.7 & -41.7 & -25.8\% & \$21,270 \\
\hline
\text{Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators} & 129.6 & 91.0 & -38.6 & -29.8\% & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\text{Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse} & 596.8 & 567.6 & -29.2 & -4.9\% & \$18,670 \\
\hline
\text{Word processors and typists} & 104.4 & 78.2 & -26.2 & -25.1\% & \$35,270 \\
\hline
\text{Postal service clerks} & 66.9 & 45.7 & -21.3 & -31.8\% & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\end{array}
\]
[/tex]

Answer :

To determine the best conclusion from the table, let's analyze each statement and compare it with the data provided:

1. A farming job is more secure than a job as a home health aide.
- The table discusses the changes in specific job categories, including farming jobs. However, it does not mention "home health aide" jobs, so we cannot directly compare those two specific fields based on this data.

2. The number of jobs in the postal service is expected to increase by 2022.
- Looking at the table, both categories involving postal service jobs (mail sorters and clerks) show a decrease in jobs, with percentage changes of -38.6% and -21.3%, respectively. This indicates that the number of jobs is expected to decrease, not increase.

3. Acquiring a job in the postal service may be difficult in the future.
- Given the large negative percentage changes in both postal service job categories, where mail sorters have a decrease of -38.6% and clerks have a decrease of -21.3%, this suggests a significant reduction in the number of positions available. Therefore, this statement is supported by the data, indicating that getting a job in this sector might become more challenging.

4. The field of data entry will not lose as many jobs as predicted.
- The data for data entry keyers shows a percentage change of -34.2%, which is quite substantial. Thus, this does not support the idea that fewer jobs will be lost than predicted.

Based on the analysis above, the best-supported conclusion by the data in the table is: Acquiring a job in the postal service may be difficult in the future.