Employment for this occupation is expected to decline moderately through the year 2016. However, job openings will still arise from the need to replace workers leaving the occupation.

Employment change. Employment of credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks is expected to decline moderately by about 8 percent between 2006 and 2016. Despite a projected increase in the number of credit applications, technology will allow these applications to be processed, checked, and authorized by fewer workers than were required in the past.

Credit scoring is a major development that has improved the productivity of credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks, thus limiting employment growth in the occupation. Companies and credit bureaus now can purchase software that quickly analyzes an applicant's creditworthiness and summarizes it with a "score." Credit issuers then can easily decide whether to accept or reject an application on the basis of its score, speeding up the authorization of loans or credit. Obtaining credit ratings also has become much easier for credit checkers and authorizers because businesses now have computer systems directly linked to credit bureaus that provide immediate access to a person's credit history.

Job prospects. Despite an expected decline in employment, job prospects for credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks will remain good

Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks held about 69,000 jobs in 2006. Nearly half of these workers were employed by finance and insurance industries, mainly firms in credit intermediation and related activities, such as commercial and savings banks; credit unions; and mortgage, finance, and loan companies. Credit bureaus, collection agencies, and wholesale and retail trade establishments also employ these clerks.

State employment service offices and agencies can provide information about job openings for credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks.