Career Clusters®

Career Clusters provide a way for organized instruction and student experiences based on 16 broad categories that encompass virtually all occupations from entry to professional levels.The 16 clusters are:

Career Cluster Description
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

The production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources.

Architecture and Construction

Careers in designing, planning, managing, building, and maintaining a built environment.

Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications

Designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services.

Business, Management, and Administration

Business, Management, and Administration careers encompass planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations. Business, Management, and Administration career opportunities are available in every sector of the economy.

Education and Training

Planning, managing, and providing education, training services, and related learning support services.

Finance

Planning services for financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management.

Government and Public Administration

Executing governmental functions to include: Governance, National Security, Foreign service, planning, revenue and taxation, regulation, and management and administration at the local, state, and federal levels.

Health Science

Planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development.

Hospitality and Tourism

Hospitality and Tourism encompasses the management, marketing, and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events, and travel related services.

Human Services

Preparing individuals for employment in career pathways that relate to families and human needs.

Information Technology

Building linkages in IT occupations framework: For entry level, technical, and professional careers related to the design, development, support and management of hardware, software, multimedia, and systems integration services.

Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective services, and homeland security, including professional and technical support services.

Manufacturing

Planning, managing, and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities, such as production planning and control, maintenance and manufacturing/process engineering.

Marketing, Sales, and Service

Planning, managing, and performing marketing activities to reach organizational objectives.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Planning, managing, and providing scientific research and professional and technical services (e.g., physical science, social science, engineering) including laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Planning, management, and movement of people, materials, and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail, and water and related professional and technical support services, such as transportation infrastructure, planning and management, logistics services, mobile equipment, and facility maintenance.

*The Career Cluster icons are being used with permission of the: States Career Clusters Initiative, 2007, www.careerclusters.org