Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas Department of Labor is predicting total employment in the state will increase by nearly 10 percent through 2018.

The department released its occupational outlook report this month as a guide to help students, educators and businesses plan for the future.

The report predicts Kansas will gain an average of more than 14,700 a year through 2018. The health care and social assistance sector is expected to account for nearly 13 percent of total growth, which would put it ahead of manufacturing as the state’s leading industry.

More than 45 percent of all job growth is expected to occur in the Kansas City region. The report also says jobs that require a doctoral degree are expected to grow by nearly 21 percent.