Wanted in the '80s: 15 million new jobs

The economy will need up to 15 million new jobs in the 1980s to keep pace with the expanding American labor force as more women and baby-boom people seek work, a congressional report says. Although the nation's population growth is slowing, the study by the staff of the Joint Economic Committee said the maturing postwar baby boom has increased the number of "prime age" workers, who are 25 to 44 years old. Also, about 10 million more women will be seeking jobs in '80s.

The report also predicts the economy will change, becoming more oriented toward the service and trade sectors, which accounted for 9 out of 10 of the new jobs in the 1970s.