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Draft:Occupational Requirements Survey

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The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) is a comprehensive labor market survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) under an agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The survey collects and publishes detailed information about work-related requirements across various occupations in the American economy, serving as a crucial resource for disability program administration and vocational analysis.

Overview

The ORS provides systematic documentation of job-related information across four major categories:

  • Physical demands
  • Environmental conditions
  • Education, training, and experience requirements
  • Cognitive and mental requirements

This data is collected directly from employers through establishment surveys and is designed to support the SSA's disability programs by providing current, accurate occupational information.

History

The ORS was developed as a modern replacement for portions of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), which was discontinued in 1999 after serving as the primary source of occupational information for over 60 years. First published in 1938, the DOT had been the standard reference for occupational information in Social Security disability evaluation, but its last major update was in 1991. The static nature of the DOT, combined with rapid changes in the labor market and technological advancement, led to its obsolescence.

The ORS represents a significant modernization of occupational data collection, offering several advantages over the DOT:

  • Regular updates to reflect current labor market conditions
  • Statistical sampling methodology for greater accuracy
  • Integration with other federal labor market surveys
  • Digital data collection and distribution
  • Expanded coverage of modern occupations

The survey began production in 2015, with the BLS releasing its first estimates in 2018/2019. This transition from the DOT to the ORS marks a shift from a static occupational reference to a dynamic, data-driven system for understanding job requirements in the modern economy.

Data Collection

Survey Methodology

The BLS collects ORS data through personal visits and interviews with employers across the United States. The survey uses a statistical sampling methodology to ensure representation across:

  • Geographic regions
  • Industries
  • Establishment sizes
  • Occupational categories

Major Components

Physical Demands

The survey captures detailed information about:

  • Sitting, standing, and walking requirements
  • Climbing, reaching, and crouching demands
  • Lifting and carrying requirements
  • Fine motor skill requirements
  • Vision and hearing requirements

Environmental Conditions

Data is collected on exposure to:

  • Extreme temperatures
  • Heavy vibrations
  • Hazardous contaminants
  • Outdoor conditions
  • Noise levels
  • Wetness and humidity

Education, Training & Experience

Information includes:

  • Minimum education requirements
  • Required experience
  • Necessary credentials
  • On-the-job training requirements

Cognitive & Mental Requirements

Documentation of:

  • People skills requirements
  • Work pace expectations
  • Review processes
  • Workload control factors

Applications

Social Security Administration

The primary use of ORS data is to support SSA disability programs by providing:

  • Current occupational requirements
  • Detailed physical demand information
  • Job characteristic documentation
  • Vocational requirement data

Other Uses

The data serves various additional purposes:

  • Vocational rehabilitation planning
  • Career counseling and guidance
  • Job accommodation assessment
  • Workforce development
  • Labor market analysis

Integration with Other BLS Programs

The ORS is designed to work in conjunction with other BLS programs, particularly the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. This integration allows users to:

  • Calculate occupational employment for specific job requirements
  • Estimate the number of jobs with particular physical demands
  • Analyze the prevalence of various occupational characteristics
  • Develop comprehensive labor market analyses

Data Access

The BLS makes ORS data available through:

  • Public online databases
  • Downloadable datasets
  • Published reports and analyses
  • Custom data queries

Methodology

Statistical Reliability

The survey employs rigorous statistical methods including:

  • Standardized data collection procedures
  • Quality control measures
  • Statistical validation processes
  • Confidence interval calculations
  • Standard error reporting

Updates

The ORS is updated regularly to maintain current information about:

  • Changes in occupational requirements
  • Evolution of work environments
  • New occupation emergence
  • Modified job demands
  • Updated training requirements

See also

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Social Security Administration
  • Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
  • Dictionary of Occupational Titles (historical)
  • O*NET (Occupational Information Network)
  • Social Security disability evaluation

Transition from DOT to ORS

Obsolete Occupations

The DOT's final 1991 edition included numerous occupations that are now obsolete due to technological advancement and economic changes:

  • Telegram Messenger
  • Switchboard Operator
  • Computer Tape Librarian
  • Tabulating Machine Operator
  • Film Developer
  • Statistical Clerk (manual calculations)
  • Word Processing Machine Operator
  • Telegraph Service Rater
  • Cloth Shrinking Machine Operator
  • Microfilm Mounter

Transition Period (1999-2015)

After the DOT's discontinuation in 1999, the Social Security Administration primarily relied on:

  1. O*NET (Occupational Information Network)
  • Served as an interim solution
  • Provided broader occupational categories
  • Lacked specific physical demand data needed for disability determination
  1. Residual DOT Usage
  • Many vocational experts continued referencing the DOT
  • Courts still accepted DOT classifications
  • Disability determinations relied on outdated occupational descriptions
  1. Development of ORS (2012-2015)
  • SSA-BLS interagency agreement established
  • Pilot studies conducted to test methodology
  • Focus groups with disability adjudicators
  • Extensive testing of data collection procedures
  • Development of new occupational frameworks

Key Improvements Over DOT

Modern Occupational Categories

The ORS includes contemporary occupations absent from the DOT:

  • Data Scientists
  • Social Media Managers
  • Cloud Computing Engineers
  • Sustainability Specialists
  • Mobile App Developers
  • Drone Operators
  • Telehealth Coordinators
  • Digital Marketing Specialists

Methodology Changes

  • Shift from narrative job descriptions to quantifiable data points
  • Implementation of statistical sampling procedures
  • Regular update cycles vs. static publications
  • Integration with wage and employment data
  • Standardized measurement of physical demands

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "About ORS"
  2. Social Security Administration, "Vocational Information"
  3. BLS Handbook of Methods, "Occupational Requirements Survey"

External links

  1. ^ <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ors/">
  2. ^ "ORS Home Page". Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
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