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Occupational Requirements Survey
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The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) is a product of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The ORS provides job-related information regarding physical demands; environmental conditions; education, training, and experience; as well as cognitive and mental requirements for jobs in the U.S. economy.
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Click the graphic to enlarge chart: what is ors.
Click the graphic to enlarge chart: why it matters.
Latest Numbers
Physical demands of civilian workers
Sedentary work strength level
29.1% in 2022
Light work strength level
32.8% in 2022
Medium work strength level
28.4% in 2022
Heavy work strength level
8.7% in 2022
Very heavy work strength level
1.0% in 2022
Environmental conditions of civilian workers
Exposed to outdoors
32.9% in 2022
Quiet noise intensity level
13.6% in 2022
Moderate noise intensity level
79.7% in 2022
Loud noise intensity level
6.5% in 2022
Education, training, and experience of civilian workers
No minimum education requirement
30.2% in 2022
High school diploma education requirement
40.0% in 2022
Associate's degree education requirement
4.3% in 2022
Bachelor's degree education requirement
19.0% in 2022
Master's degree education requirement
2.5% in 2022
Professional degree education requirement
1.4% in 2022
Cognitive and mental requirements of civilian workers
Interaction with the general public
78.7% in 2022
Varying work pace
54.5% in 2022
Telework available
10.6% in 2022
Historical Data
News Release
News Releases
Constant verbal interactions are required for 27.4% of civilian workers in 2022
11/17/2022
Verbal interactions were required constantly, meaning every few minutes, for 27.4 percent of civilian workers in 2022. On average, sitting was required for 43.6 percent of the workday.
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Next Release
The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) for
2023
is scheduled to be released in
late 2023
at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.
Publications
The Economics Daily
Half of civilian workers required over 1 year of preparation time to perform their jobs in 2022
In 2022, 53.7 percent of civilian workers required specific vocational preparation time over 1 year. This preparation comes in the form of formal education, credentials, prior work experience, and on-the-job training needed to perform the job. read more »
Monthly Labor Review
Has the pandemic permanently changed job requirements?
This article reports on an examination of whether the pandemic led to changes in job requirements measured in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Requirements Survey. read more »
Beyond the Numbers
Minds at work: what’s required according to the Occupational Requirements Survey
How much problem-solving time goes into an architect’s job? What types of mental capabilities are required of employees who work in a telework environment? What types of interpersonal skills are required for customer service jobs? Mental and cognitive job requirements provide job seekers with important information on the soft skills needed for specific jobs and a sense of the demands of different occupations read more »
Spotlight on Statistics
Using BLS Data to Match People with Disabilities with Jobs
BLS has many data products that can be used to help individuals with disabilities plan their career paths. This Spotlight on Statistics highlights these products and demonstrates how they can be used to evaluate potential jobs, using two specific occupations as examples. read more »