Handbook of Methods > Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Handbook of Methods Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics History

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: History

Hover over the red dot to see historical information.

Key developments

1977: Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) data collection begins in every state and the District of Columbia
1988: A new OES data collection method begins with the compilation of employment data by industry in a 3-year cycle
1991: 15 states begin to collect wage information along with occupational employment information
1996: OES program begins collecting occupational employment and wage data from an annual sample of 400,000 business establishments
1997: First OES estimates published
1999: OES switches to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system
2002: OES switches to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
2002: OES switches to semiannual data collection
2003–04: OES publishes data semiannually
2004: Estimates for residual (“all other”) occupations are published for the first time
2005: OES returns to annual publication (but retains semiannual data collection)
2005: OES adopts new metropolitan area definitions based on the 2000 decennial census
2006: Estimates for nonmetropolitan areas are published for the first time
2008: OES switches from the 2002 NAICS to the 2007 NAICS
2009: National estimates by public/private sector ownership are added
2010: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) added to federal government coverage
2010–12: OES transitions from the 2000 SOC to the 2010 SOC
2012: OES switches from the 2007 NAICS to the 2012 NAICS
2012: National estimates for SOC minor groups and broad occupations are added
2014: Gambling establishments and casino hotels are reclassified in NAICS
2015: OES adopts metropolitan area definitions based on the 2010 decennial census
2017: OES aggregates some occupations and industries
2017: Scope increased to cover some establishments previously classified in private households
2017: OES switches from the 2012 NAICS to the 2017 NAICS
2017: OES sample reduced
2018: OES reduces some geographic detail
2019–21: OES transitions from the 2010 SOC to the 2018 SOC
2021: Name changed to Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
2021: OEWS switches to a new model-based estimation method called MB3
2022: Additional changes made to the MB3 wage estimation methodology
2022: OEWS switches from the 2017 NAICS to the 2022 NAICS
2024: OEWS adopts metropolitan area definitions based on the 2020 decennial census

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program in its current form dates to 1996 and began publishing occupational employment and wage estimates in 1997. Since 1997, the OEWS data have undergone several changes, including changes to the estimation method; changes to the occupational and industry classification systems used; changes to the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area definitions; and changes to the sample size, survey coverage, and survey reference dates.

Changes to the estimation method

With the May 2021 estimates, the OEWS program switched to a new model-based estimation method called MB3. Additional changes to the wage estimation methodology were made with the May 2022 estimates. These wage processing changes include using reported wage rates, if available, to represent private-sector and local government employers, instead of placing the wage data into 12 wage intervals.

Research shows that MB3 produces better quality estimates than the previous estimation method, as described in the Monthly Labor Review article "Model-Based Estimates for the Occupational Employment Statistics program." Details of the MB3 estimation method as currently implemented are discussed in the calculation section of this Handbook of Methods chapter.

Changes in occupational classification

The 1997 and 1998 OEWS estimates used an occupational classification system that was specific to the OEWS program. In 1999, the OEWS program adopted the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The 1999–May 2009 estimates were based on the 2000 version of the SOC.

Between May 2010 and May 2012, the OEWS program transitioned to the 2010 SOC. Because each set of OEWS estimates is produced by combining 3 years of survey data, the OEWS program requires 3 years to fully implement changes to the SOC. The May 2010 and May 2011 estimates were based on a combination of newer survey panels collected using the 2010 SOC and older survey panels collected using the 2000 SOC, and used a hybrid of the 2000 and 2010 SOC systems that included some OEWS-specific combinations of occupations. For more information, see the OEWS frequently asked questions. The May 2012–May 2018 estimates were based on the 2010 SOC.

Beginning with the May 2017 estimates, the OEWS program replaced 21 SOC detailed occupations with SOC broad occupations or OEWS-specific combinations of detailed occupations. These changes were made to improve data quality in cases where occupations are similar and it is difficult to obtain the information needed to code accurately to the detailed occupational level. For more information, see the May 2017 occupational and industry aggregations.

Between May 2019 and May 2021, the OEWS program implemented the 2018 SOC. The May 2019 and May 2020 estimates used a hybrid of the 2010 and 2018 SOC systems that includes some combinations of occupations not found in either version of the system. For more information, see the OEWS 2018 SOC implementation page and frequently asked questions. OEWS estimates for May 2021 and later are based fully on the 2018 SOC. To improve data quality, the OEWS program continues to aggregate some occupations to the SOC broad occupation level or as OEWS-specific combinations of 2018 SOC detailed occupations.

Changes in industry classification and survey scope

The 1997–2001 OEWS estimates used the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. In 2002, the OEWS program switched from the SIC to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Updates to the NAICS system were adopted in the May 2008 estimates (2007 NAICS), May 2012 estimates (2012 NAICS), May 2017 estimates (2017 NAICS), and May 2022 estimates (2022 NAICS).

OEWS federal government coverage was expanded to include the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 2010.

Beginning with the May 2014 estimates, gambling establishments and casino hotels owned by local governments were moved from the OEWS local government industry (9993) to NAICS 7132 Gambling Industries and 72112 Casino Hotels, respectively.

The May 2017 estimates included for the first time some establishments that were reclassified from NAICS 814 Private Households, which is out of scope for the OEWS survey, to NAICS 624120 Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities, which is in scope. As a result, the May 2017 estimates may show increased employment in occupations that are common in NAICS 624120.

Changes to area definitions

The OEWS program uses standard metropolitan area definitions from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OEWS nonmetropolitan areas use definitions that are specific to the OEWS program and are developed in cooperation with the state workforce agencies.

The OEWS program implemented major revisions to the area definitions in the May 2005, May 2015, and May 2024 estimates. The May 2005 estimates introduced revised OMB area definitions based on the results of the 2000 census. The May 2015 and May 2024 estimates introduced revised definitions based on the 2010 and 2020 censuses, respectively. In addition to these major revisions, smaller revisions were implemented in other years. Because the OEWS nonmetropolitan areas cover the remainder of each state outside of the OMB-defined metropolitan areas, changes to the metropolitan area definitions may also affect the nonmetropolitan area definitions.

Before May 2024, OEWS metropolitan area data for the New England states were based on New England City and Town Area (NECTA) definitions rather than on the county-based metropolitan statistical area (MSA) definitions. With the publication of the May 2024 estimates, NECTA definitions were discontinued in the New England states and replaced with MSA definitions.

With the May 2018 estimates, the OEWS program reduced the level of geographic detail available in some areas. For the large metropolitan areas that are further broken down into metropolitan divisions, OEWS no longer publishes data for the divisions. Data for these areas are now available at the metropolitan area level only. In addition, some smaller nonmetropolitan areas were combined to form larger nonmetropolitan areas. For more information, see changes to metropolitan and nonmetropolitan data.

Changes to sample size and reference period

Before 2002, the OEWS program collected data from 400,000 business establishments annually with a 4th quarter reference date. Survey respondents were asked to provide data as of an October, November, or December payroll, depending on the specific respondent.

In 2002, OEWS switched to semiannual data collection to reduce seasonal effects. Data were collected in two semiannual survey panels of approximately 200,000 business establishments each, with reference dates of May 12 and November 12.

The OEWS program also published estimates semiannually in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, the OEWS program returned to publishing data annually, but retained semiannual data collection.

The OEWS sample was reduced in recent years. Prior to May 2017, each survey panel contained approximately 200,000 establishments. Information on current sample sizes is available in the design section of this Handbook of Methods chapter.

Program name change

In the spring of 2021, the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program began using the name Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) to better reflect the range of data available from the program. May 2021 and later data products reflect the new program name. Data collection materials, including forms, emails, and letters, were updated beginning with the May 2021 survey panel. Webpages, publications, and other materials associated with previous data releases retain the Occupational Employment Statistics name.

Data before 1997

Data from the immediate predecessor to the current OEWS program are available at the bottom of the main OEWS data page. These data cover the period 1988–95 and are not directly comparable to more recent OEWS data. The 1988–95 data consist only of national occupational employment estimates by 2- and 3-digit SIC industry, with data for each industry available only once every 3 years. These estimates do not contain wage data or state and area data. Because data are not available for all industries in a given year, it is not possible to calculate total national employment in an occupation from these estimates.