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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.
Notices
- Now available: Strength requirements for civilian workers with up to 1 month of SVP Read More »
- Additional 2023 ORS estimates released on August 15, 2024 Read More »
Graphics
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
30.6% in 2024
Light work strength level
33.3% in 2024
Medium work strength level
29.0% in 2024
Heavy work strength level
6.4% in 2024
Very heavy work strength level
0.7% in 2024
Environmental conditions of civilian workers
Exposed to outdoors
35.7% in 2024
Quiet noise intensity level
15.1% in 2024
Moderate noise intensity level
81.4% in 2024
Loud noise intensity level
3.4% in 2024
Education, training, and experience of civilian workers
No minimum education requirement
31.7% in 2024
High school diploma education requirement
39.6% in 2024
Associate's degree education requirement
6.0% in 2024
Bachelor's degree education requirement
18.3% in 2024
Master's degree education requirement
2.6% in 2024
Professional degree education requirement
1.5% in 2024
Cognitive and mental requirements of civilian workers
Basic people skills
39.8% in 2024
Varying work pace
44.7% in 2024
Telework available
14.9% in 2024
Historical Data
News Release
News Releases
A sedentary strength level is required for 30.6% of workers in 2024
11/19/2024
A sedentary strength level was required for 30.6 percent of workers in 2024, and the next lowest strength level, light strength, was required for 33.3 percent of workers. Specific vocational preparation beyond a short demonstration and up through 1 month was required for 34.2 percent of workers.
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Next Release
The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) for
2025
is scheduled to be released on
November 20, 2025
at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.
Publications
The Economics Daily
It’s summer and it’s hot on the job
The summer solstice, marking the beginning of astronomical summer, is on June 20 this year. It’s also the longest day of the year so there’s more daylight, and sometimes more heat, for the 33.0 percent of workers exposed to the outdoors as a regular part of their job in 2023. Occupations with a high level of outdoor exposure include those involved in construction, landscaping, and public safety. 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 »