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Illustrators

Outlook

Employment for fine artists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all careers through 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Job opportunities in traditional publishing are expected to decline as a result of decreases in advertising revenue and industry consolidation, but employment at digital magazines and Internet-based publications will continue to grow.

The employment outlook for medical illustrators is good. Because there are only a few graduate programs in medical illustration with small graduation classes, medical illustrators will find great demand for their skills. The field of medicine and science in general is always growing, and medical illustrators will be needed to depict new techniques, procedures, and discoveries. The Association of Medical Illustrators says that the "profession remains very viable due to growth in medical research that continually reveals new treatments and technologies that require medical illustrations and animations to explain them."

The outlook for careers in fashion illustration is dependent on the businesses of magazine publishing and advertising. Growth of advertising and public relations agencies will provide new jobs. The popularity of American fashion in other parts of the world will also create a demand for fashion illustrators to provide the artwork needed to sell to a global market.

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