No prior work experience required for 90 percent of workers across 26 occupations in 2025

In 2025, at least 90.0 percent of workers in 26 detailed occupations did not require any prior work experience. Among these occupations were fast food and counter workers and cashiers, with 98.1 percent and 96.5 percent, respectively. By comparison, 56.6 percent of all workers were in jobs that required no prior work experience.

The 26 occupations not requiring prior work experience were largely clustered in the following major groups: education instruction and library, food preparation and serving, and transportation and material moving. More than 95 percent of kindergarten teachers, except special education, and more than 90 percent of middle school special education teachers did not require prior work experience. 

On the other hand, more than 99 percent of workers in 10 occupations required prior work experience in 2025. Seven of those were in the major occupational classification group of management, and the other three were first-line supervisors.

These data are from the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS). To learn more, see “Occupational Requirements in the United States – 2025.” For more information on the concepts and definitions used in the survey, see the Handbook of Methods: Occupational Requirements Survey. The ORS includes data on education, training, and work experience.