The next time you ask your child what she wants to be when she grows up, let's hope she names a career in the computer, math, education, health, business, finance or science fields.

Among higher-paying jobs, those are expected to grow the fastest in Northeast Ohio over the next decade, according to a report by Team NEO.

Each quarter, the economic development group has its researchers explore a subject that might be of help in attracting businesses to the region, as well as give residents a different perspective of life in what analysts say is a struggling-but-transforming economy.

This time, the analysts, who usually look backward to spot trends, decided to look forward.

Using forecasts by Moody's Economy.com, Team NEO predicted that jobs in computer and math fields will see the largest growth in our 16-county region: 17 percent by 2017.

Actually, every field that pays more than the region's annual average wage of $37,800 is expected to grow over the next decade.

That includes legal; architecture and engineering; and art, design and entertainment jobs.

''It's even more of a call for work-force development and education attainment because the opportunities are overwhelming'' in jobs that require more skills, Team NEO President Tom Waltermire said.

The number of jobs in health-care support, personal care, building and grounds, and food service are expected to
grow as well, although today those occupations tend to pay below-average wages.

The five occupations that are expected to decline in the next 10 years all pay less than the region's annual average wage: production (workers on the manufacturing floor); office and administration; protective services; farm, fish and forestry; and transportation.

Carin Rockind, Team NEO's marketing vice president, guessed that in those fields, technological innovations will replace people.

Team NEO also analyzed which of the region's industries will experience the largest financial gain in the next decade.

The information sector — loaded with computer- and software-related companies — will see output grow by 34 percent, to an annual gross regional product of nearly $9 billion.

And despite the prediction that the number of manufacturing employees will decline, output is predicted to grow in value to $45 billion in 2017 — a 22 percent gain over last year, according to the analysis.

Waltermire explained the divergent trends, saying the global market is making companies become more efficient to be competitive.

The bottom line, he said, is that manufacturing, which makes up nearly a quarter of the region's economy, ''will not become a smaller part of the Northeast Ohio economy 10 years from now.''

Added Rockind: ''It will likely just be a different mix of manufacturing and a different skill level required.''