Occupational Requirements in the United States News Release

For release 10:00 A.M. (ET) Friday, January 16, 2026                                 USDL-26-0047

Technical information: 	(202) 691-6199  *  orsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/ors
Media contact:	  	(202) 691-5902  *  pressoffice@bls.gov

                       OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES - 2025

The ability to pause work was present for 53.5 percent of workers in 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reported today. Pause control provides the ability of a worker to take short, 
unscheduled breaks. In 2025, greater than 95 percent of software developers had the ability to 
pause work. The ability to pause work was present for 91.9 percent of lawyers and 62.6 percent of 
electricians. (See table 1.)

Control of workload identifies who or what most determines how much work a worker must complete in 
a set period of time. A self-paced workload is present when the workload is mostly self-directed 
within general performance guidelines, allowing the worker significant discretion to vary timing of 
tasks within certain limits. In 2025, 18.5 percent of workers had a self-paced workload. Among 
software developers, 65.8 percent had a self-paced workload, while 70.0 percent of lawyers and 0.7 
percent of electricians were self-paced.

Work schedule variability is present if the employer changes the work schedule, requiring workers 
to report on different days or times, or work a different number of hours from week to week. 
Varying work schedules were present for 48.3 percent of workers. In 2025, 23.2 percent of software 
developers and 47.8 percent of lawyers had work schedule variability present. Work schedule 
variability was present for 65.1 percent of electricians.

The Occupational Requirements Survey provides information on job requirements in the following 
categories: physical demands; environmental conditions; education, training, and experience; as 
well as cognitive and mental requirements. Each category is highlighted below.

Cognitive and mental requirements

People skills are the ability to listen, communicate, and relate to others. Basic people skills are 
present when workers have limited contact with others or engage in only simple, brief work-related 
communications, while more than basic people skills include anything more than simple communication 
with others. Basic people skills were required for 39.2 percent of workers and 60.8 percent 
required more than basic. (See table 2.)

	* More than basic people skills were required for 95.4 percent of firefighters. 
	* More than basic people skills were required for 3.4 percent of construction laborers. 

Education, training, and experience 

Minimum formal education measures the minimum level of formal coursework resulting in a degree 
required as a condition of hire for a job, excluding general education. No minimum formal education 
was required for 32.5 percent of workers, 39.3 percent required a high school diploma, and 17.7 
percent required a bachelor's degree in 2025. (See table 3.)

	* A high school diploma was required for 82.0 percent of electricians and 23.7 percent 
	of bartenders. 
	* A bachelor's degree was required for 83.9 percent of fundraisers and 82.9 percent of 
	marketing managers. 

Physical demands

On average, civilian workers spent 44.9 percent of the workday sitting and 55.1 percent standing. 
Waiters and waitresses spent 1.4 percent of the workday sitting, and civil engineers spent 76.6 
percent of the workday sitting. (See table 4.)

	* On average, pharmacists spent 27.7 percent of the workday sitting and 72.3 percent of 
	the workday standing.
	* On average, dental assistants spent 49.6 percent of the workday sitting and 50.4 percent 
	of the workday standing.

Environmental conditions

Environmental conditions consider the required exposure of workers to various conditions. Exposure 
to extreme heat, extreme cold, and wetness are considered non-weather-related conditions to which 
workers are exposed. Extreme heat was present for 3.3 percent of workers in 2025. Extreme cold was 
present for 4.7 percent of workers and 33.4 percent were exposed to wetness. (See table 5.)

	* Exposure to extreme heat was present for 3.5 percent of dishwashers, 40.9 percent of 
	bakers, and 51.6 percent of chefs and head cooks.
	* Exposure to extreme cold was present for 9.7 percent of dishwashers, 42.1 percent of 
	bakers, and 52.7 percent of chefs and head cooks.


 
 Table 1. Percentage of workers by cognitive and mental requirements, 2025  
 
Occupation and occupational group
Pause control
Self-paced workload
Work schedule variability
Estimate
Standard error
Estimate
Standard error
Estimate
Standard error
 
All workers
53.5
0.9
18.5
0.5
48.3
0.8
Management occupations
97.0
0.6
88.5
1.1
28.0
2.2
Marketing managers
>99.5
[15]
99.2
0.7
23.6
13.8
Business and financial operations occupations
97.7
0.7
58.8
2.8
27.9
2.5
Fundraisers
>99.5
[15]
87.7
7.8
-
-
Computer and mathematical occupations
94.4
1.7
44.1
4.9
27.6
3.6
Software developers
>95
[15]
65.8
15.6
23.2
4.9
Architecture and engineering occupations
97.2
1.3
55.8
6.0
28.1
3.8
Civil engineers
>99.5
[15]
46.0
14.8
25.0
12.3
Legal occupations
93.4
2.5
41.9
5.1
37.9
9.4
Lawyers
91.9
4.3
70.0
6.0
47.8
12.3
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
27.2
4.1
3.5
0.7
45.3
6.6
Pharmacists
37.1
12.6
19.0
11.9
58.9
11.6
Healthcare support occupations
32.8
5.7
<0.5
[15]
58.3
2.7
Dental assistants
21.1
9.8
<0.5
[15]
40.3
3.8
Protective service occupations
12.8
1.3
3.4
0.9
55.7
4.2
Firefighters
<5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
92.2
2.1
Security guards
4.7
1.6
<0.5
[15]
27.8
4.9
Food preparation and serving related occupations
21.2
1.7
1.6
[6]
78.8
1.2
Chefs and head cooks
56.8
8.3
21.6
6.0
56.2
6.6
Bartenders
20.3
9.3
<0.5
[15]
83.2
4.9
Waiters and waitresses
18.9
5.0
<0.5
[15]
90.3
2.7
Dishwashers
36.7
5.0
<0.5
[15]
78.9
4.5
Construction and extraction occupations
56.7
5.2
8.6
2.2
65.5
3.6
Carpenters
79.1
8.4
<0.5
[15]
-
-
Construction laborers
39.6
4.5
<0.5
[15]
73.8
4.0
Electricians
62.6
11.4
0.7
0.5
65.1
10.4
Production occupations
40.5
3.2
5.3
2.1
57.3
1.4
Bakers
35.5
12.7
<0.5
[15]
52.7
9.8
[6] Standard error is less than 0.5.
[15] The standard error is not available for this estimate.
Note: Dashes indicate that the estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement. Due to rounding sum of estimates may not equal 100 percent. 
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

 
 Table 2. Percentage of workers by people skills requirement, 2025  
 
Occupation and occupational group
Basic people skills
More than basic people skills
Estimate
Standard error
Estimate
Standard error
 
All workers
39.2
0.6
60.8
0.6
Management occupations
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Marketing managers
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Business and financial operations occupations
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Fundraisers
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Computer and mathematical occupations
1.5
0.6
98.5
0.6
Software developers
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Architecture and engineering occupations
2.9
0.5
97.1
0.5
Civil engineers
<5
[15]
>95
[15]
Legal occupations
<5
[15]
>95
[15]
Lawyers
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
1.7
0.6
98.3
0.6
Pharmacists
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Healthcare support occupations
40.4
5.3
59.6
5.3
Dental assistants
29.6
6.6
70.4
6.6
Protective service occupations
29.1
5.4
70.9
5.4
Firefighters
4.6
2.7
95.4
2.7
Security guards
51.9
9.6
48.1
9.6
Food preparation and serving related occupations
82.8
1.3
17.2
1.3
Chefs and head cooks
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Bartenders
62.7
4.2
37.3
4.2
Waiters and waitresses
80.0
5.9
20.0
5.9
Dishwashers
>99.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
Construction and extraction occupations
57.9
3.7
42.1
3.7
Carpenters
67.9
12.5
32.1
12.5
Construction laborers
96.6
1.4
3.4
1.4
Electricians
42.3
9.5
57.7
9.5
Production occupations
78.1
1.6
21.9
1.6
Bakers
96.9
1.1
3.1
1.1
[15] The standard error is not available for this estimate.
Note: Dashes indicate that the estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement. Due to rounding sum of estimates may not equal 100 percent. 
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

 
 Table 3. Percentage of workers by minimum formal education requirements, 2025  
 
Occupation and occupational group
No minimum
High school diploma
Bachelor's degree
Estimate
Standard error
Estimate
Standard error
Estimate
Standard error
 
All workers
32.5
0.8
39.3
0.7
17.7
0.5
Management occupations
4.6
0.8
28.7
1.8
51.5
2.1
Marketing managers
<35
[15]
2.6
2.0
82.9
11.7
Business and financial operations occupations
1.9
[6]
28.0
2.0
63.1
2.2
Fundraisers
<0.5
[15]
9.4
5.9
83.9
9.2
Computer and mathematical occupations
6.3
1.8
27.2
2.4
52.3
4.6
Software developers
<10
[15]
12.6
3.8
75.8
8.3
Architecture and engineering occupations
2.8
2.3
15.4
3.6
67.1
3.9
Civil engineers
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
94.5
5.2
Legal occupations
0.8
0.5
24.0
5.8
10.8
2.8
Lawyers
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
<0.5
[15]
21.4
2.6
19.1
3.4
Pharmacists
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
3.8
1.7
Healthcare support occupations
30.7
2.1
63.8
2.9
0.8
0.5
Dental assistants
5.8
0.9
86.7
2.9
<0.5
[15]
Protective service occupations
13.4
1.0
81.4
1.4
1.8
[6]
Firefighters
<10
[15]
92.8
2.5
<0.5
[15]
Security guards
12.6
2.4
87.4
2.4
<0.5
[15]
Food preparation and serving related occupations
81.6
2.1
17.8
2.2
<0.5
[15]
Chefs and head cooks
46.7
10.2
34.3
5.1
4.0
2.4
Bartenders
75.3
5.6
23.7
5.2
<0.5
[15]
Waiters and waitresses
80.3
8.0
19.7
8.0
<0.5
[15]
Dishwashers
93.5
2.8
6.5
2.8
<0.5
[15]
Construction and extraction occupations
49.3
2.3
49.6
2.5
0.6
[6]
Carpenters
63.2
8.7
36.8
8.7
<0.5
[15]
Construction laborers
82.0
5.0
18.0
5.0
<0.5
[15]
Electricians
16.3
6.1
82.0
4.8
<0.5
[15]
Production occupations
48.5
2.7
48.1
2.5
1.2
0.7
Bakers
52.4
13.1
46.7
13.2
<0.5
[15]
[6] Standard error is less than 0.5.
[15] The standard error is not available for this estimate.
Note: Dashes indicate that the estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement. Due to rounding sum of estimates may not equal 100 percent. 
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

 
 Table 4. Percentage of workday required to sit and stand, 2025  
 
Occupation and occupational group
Sitting
Standing
Estimate
Standard error
Estimate
Standard error
 
All workers
44.9
[6]
55.1
[6]
Management occupations
74.8
1.2
25.2
1.2
Marketing managers
93.2
2.8
6.8
2.8
Business and financial operations occupations
89.8
0.7
10.2
0.7
Fundraisers
85.6
2.9
14.4
2.9
Computer and mathematical occupations
91.1
0.8
8.9
0.8
Software developers
97.1
1.3
2.9
1.3
Architecture and engineering occupations
69.9
3.5
30.1
3.5
Civil engineers
76.6
9.4
23.4
9.4
Legal occupations
87.7
1.5
12.3
1.5
Lawyers
86.4
2.7
13.6
2.7
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
39.5
1.6
60.5
1.6
Pharmacists
27.7
8.0
72.3
8.0
Healthcare support occupations
33.4
0.9
66.6
0.9
Dental assistants
49.6
3.5
50.4
3.5
Protective service occupations
42.7
1.2
57.3
1.2
Firefighters
43.3
2.3
56.7
2.3
Security guards
38.1
2.0
61.9
2.0
Food preparation and serving related occupations
2.8
[6]
97.2
[6]
Chefs and head cooks
11.2
1.5
88.8
1.5
Bartenders
1.7
0.7
98.3
0.7
Waiters and waitresses
1.4
[6]
98.6
[6]
Dishwashers
1.8
0.6
98.2
0.6
Construction and extraction occupations
20.5
1.0
79.5
1.0
Carpenters
5.8
2.5
94.2
2.5
Construction laborers
10.8
2.0
89.2
2.0
Electricians
11.3
1.1
88.7
1.1
Production occupations
16.7
1.4
83.3
1.4
Bakers
-
-
98.9
0.6
[6] Standard error is less than 0.5.
[15] The standard error is not available for this estimate.
Note: Sitting estimates includes time spent sitting, lying down, and when workers have the choice between sitting and standing.
Note: Standing estimates includes time spent standing, walking, and in low postures.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

 
 Table 5. Percentage of workers by exposure to environmental conditions, 2025  
 
Occupation and occupational group
Extreme heat
Extreme cold
Wetness
Estimate
Standard error
Estimate
Standard error
Estimate
Standard error
 
All workers
3.3
[6]
4.7
[6]
33.4
0.8
Management occupations
<0.5
[15]
1.6
[6]
4.7
0.6
Marketing managers
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<10
[15]
Business and financial operations occupations
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
0.6
[6]
Fundraisers
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
Computer and mathematical occupations
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
Software developers
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
Architecture and engineering occupations
1.9
1.4
<5
[15]
9.0
3.9
Civil engineers
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<45
[15]
Legal occupations
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
Lawyers
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
92.8
1.5
Pharmacists
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
73.1
9.5
Healthcare support occupations
3.2
1.3
<0.5
[15]
96.2
1.6
Dental assistants
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
>99.5
[15]
Protective service occupations
13.3
2.5
2.0
1.2
24.9
3.7
Firefighters
98.7
[6]
14.4
7.0
>99.5
[15]
Security guards
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
Food preparation and serving related occupations
15.7
1.0
31.9
2.3
91.9
0.7
Chefs and head cooks
51.6
5.6
52.7
12.1
98.7
0.8
Bartenders
<0.5
[15]
24.2
5.5
94.5
3.6
Waiters and waitresses
<0.5
[15]
4.9
1.5
93.8
1.7
Dishwashers
3.5
1.5
9.7
4.8
95.9
3.2
Construction and extraction occupations
4.2
1.5
<0.5
[15]
34.3
4.5
Carpenters
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
24.2
9.7
Construction laborers
<5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
41.4
7.6
Electricians
<0.5
[15]
<0.5
[15]
<10
[15]
Production occupations
10.4
1.9
6.2
1.7
23.5
2.4
Bakers
40.9
10.3
42.1
11.9
>95
[15]
[6] Standard error is less than 0.5.
[15] The standard error is not available for this estimate.
Note: Dashes indicate that the estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement. Due to rounding sum of estimates may not equal 100 percent. 
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

                                          Technical Note

The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) provides job-related information about the physical 
demands; environmental conditions; education, training, and experience; as well as cognitive and 
mental requirements in the U.S. economy. 

Additional job requirement estimates are available at www.bls.gov/web/ors/ors-complete-dataset.xlsx 
and www.bls.gov/ors/data.htm. For information on estimation concepts and methods, see the Handbook 
of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/ors/home.htm and www.bls.gov/ors/questions-and-answers.htm. Some 
estimates in this release have been provided as ranges. Ranges represent estimates where the 
precise value cannot be published. More information is available in the range estimates factsheet 
at www.bls.gov/ors/factsheet/range-estimates.htm. 

Sample size: The ORS is a nationally representative establishment-based survey. Estimates are 
produced from a probability sample of 27,100 establishments. There were 10,700 private industry and 
2,200 state and local government responding establishments that provided approximately 50,600 
occupational observations. The 2025 estimates represent 148,672,800 civilian workers. The 2025 
estimates are the aggregate of two annual samples collected between August 2023 and July 2025 as 
part of the third wave of ORS. Estimates are preliminary until the entire third wave sample is 
collected and aggregated to produce final estimates. 

Standard errors: To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of ORS estimates, standard errors 
are made available with the release. Standard errors provide users a measure of the precision of an 
estimate to ensure that it is within an acceptable range for their intended purpose. Collected and 
imputed data are included in the standard error calculation. For further information on standard 
errors and how to use them, see www.bls.gov/ors/se.htm. 

Limitations: Estimates are subject to sampling error, which may cause the sampled results to differ 
from the true value of job requirements in all establishments, see the Handbook of Methods for more 
information. The ORS program advises against making comparisons with previously published ORS 
estimates. ORS estimates are not time series data and instead reflect job requirements for the 
published reference period.

Major terms: Below are selected major terms from the news release. For complete terms and 
definitions, see the collection manual at www.bls.gov/ors/information-for-survey-participants/pdf/
occupational-requirements-survey-collection-manual-third-wave.pdf. 

	* Critical job function is the main purpose and the primary pay factor for the job. It 
	consists of critical tasks that are integral to the job.
	* Critical tasks are the activities workers must perform to carry out their critical job 
	function.
	* Pause control considers if a worker has the flexibility to choose or control how and when 
	they can take short, unscheduled breaks.
	* Work schedule variability is present if the employer changes the work schedule, requiring 
	workers to report on different days or times, or work a different number of hours from week 
	to week.