Career clusters are as name suggests sets of related professional fields that are in a group together. It helps to attain the knowledge and expertise needed to follow a specific career path. It also provides a background to explore several other careers in the related fields of a cluster. The Education department of the United States has formulated 16 such clusters for the benefit of the students. This has been done to simplify the grouped fields to a countable number.

The 16 career clusters are:

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources: The setting up, execution, manufacture and making, management, processing, advertising of agricultural merchandise and resources comprising of food products and processing, plants, animals and their products, fibre, environment systems, agribusiness, etc. This cluster provides all the knowledge and skills required to start a career in these fields and new ones related to it.

Architecture and Construction: Individuals with knowledge in this cluster work on designing, constructing, restoring, repairing, and maintaining buildings. It includes professions from architects to plumbers and electricians.

Arts, AV Technologies and Communication: Every field related to the audio visual industry is included here. Design, production, execution, performance, journalism, etc are part of this cluster.

Business Management & Administration: All professions related to planning, implementation, building, managing staff (HR), administration, etc for running a successful business venture.

Education & Training: Occupations related to education sector from teaching to corporate training is included here.

Finance: Banking, insurance, Accounts, investments, securities, etc comprise this cluster.

Governance and Public Administration: This cluster included everything related to the smooth running of a government like defence, external affairs, taxation and income, regulations, guidelines and general public administration.

Health Science: Strategies, health policies, execution, managing health services like diagnosis, treatment or therapeutics, research and development on biotechnology, etc.

Hospitality and Tourism: Planning, managing hotels, lodges, travel, tourism, restaurants (food and beverages), resorts, recreational and amusement parks, etc.

Human Services: Everything related to individual care both physical and mental, family welfare, and community care and consumer services.

Information Technology: This cluster comprises of courses in professions related to hardware and software management including planning, execution, development, all web and digital related, networking, etc.

Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security: All the services that are related to the law and order of a place, legal, protection, corrections etc is included here.

Manufacturing: This cluster is very skill oriented one. It comprises of professions related to producing merchandise. Planning and control of production, engineering, maintenance, etc are included here.

Marketing: Advertising in different forms, sales, buying of products, their packaging and transportation, e- marketing, distribution, etc are the related fields in this cluster.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: Along with planning and execution of science and technology projects, this cluster also includes research and development in the fields. From a biologist, mathematician to an oceanographer all the professions are included here.

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics: This cluster comprises of moving merchandise from one place to another. It includes all planning, execution and delivery through transportation and logistics. It also includes the distribution and maintenance, sales, warehousing, etc.

The best part of these clusters is that it has tried to encompass within them almost all the occupations that can be thought of right from the entry level. It is very helpful to the students who can choose a cluster of interest and later specialise in the field they choose. By reducing the number of choice from hundreds to just 16 by grouping them strategically, it had made the choice of a professional course easier.

career clusters

A great tool for teachers, counselors, and parents in helping students identify their interests and goals for the future. Use in guidance offices, career labs, libraries, and as a great enhancement to any state career information system.

Click here for 16 career clusters

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Author Bio: career clusters

A great tool for teachers, counselors, and parents in helping students identify their interests and goals for the future. Use in guidance offices, career labs, libraries, and as a great enhancement to any state career information system.

Click here for 16 career clusters

Category: Career
Keywords: Career Clusters, 16 Career Clusters, Career Pathways, Career Videos