Book excerpt: This document provides information on the nature, working conditions, and employment opportunities of 42 industries that accounted for nearly 3 of 4 wage and salary jobs in 1998. The following are among the types of information provided for each industry discussed: (1) nature of the industry (goods produced and services provided, individual segments, production processes, changes occurring in technology and business practices); (2) working conditions (physical environment, hours of work, physical activities essential to successful job performance, proportion of part-time workers, rate of job-related injury and illness, extent and frequency of travel); (3) employment (number of wage and salary jobs, number of self-employed persons, data on workers' age, concentration by state, unusual characteristics of workers); (4) occupations in the industry (job titles in the industry, current and projected wages and salaries by occupation); (5) training requirements and advancement opportunities (formal education, training, and experience required; paths of career advancement; opportunities for self-employment); (6) earnings; and (7) outlook (projected rates of job growth/decline and factors likely to influence them). The industries profiled are as follows: agriculture, mining, and construction; manufacturing; transportation, communications, and public utilities; wholesale and retail trade; finance and insurance; services; and government. A total of 197 tables/figures are included. (MN)