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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Sedentary strength requirements

The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) provides information about the physical demands for civilian workers in the U.S. economy. The job requirements reflect those necessary for workers to perform critical tasks in support of the critical job functions, and not the capabilities of individual workers. The ORS’ strength estimates are part of the physical demands provided by the ORS program.

The ORS publishes five strength levels (sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy), which are based on the job requirements for performing physical demands within specific weight classes and the duration of these demands.

In 2018, a medium strength level was required for 35.5 percent of workers in the U.S. economy. Sedentary and light strength levels were each required for 26.6 percent of workers. A heavy strength level was required for 9.6 percent of workers and 1.7 percent had a very heavy strength level. (See Chart A.)

Chart A. Percent of civilian workers by strength levels (sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy).

Chart A data table

Chart A. Percent of civilian workers by strength level, 2018
Strength level	Percent
Sedentary	26.6%
Light	26.6%
Medium	35.5%
Heavy	9.6%
Very Heavy	1.7%

Calculating strength level estimates

Strength levels are calculated from the weight and duration associated with lifting, carrying, and in some cases, standing or walking. A duration chart is used to calculate the amount of time spent lifting or carrying. There are four categories of time in relation to an individual’s workday schedule: seldom (up to 2 percent), occasional (2 percent to one-third), frequent (one-third to two-thirds), and constant (two-thirds or more). “None” and “negligible weight” are additional categories.

For example, if workers deliver items weighing between 21-50 pounds occasionally, then the job would be classified as a medium strength level. However, if they delivered slightly heavier items (26-50 pounds) frequently, then the job would be classified as a heavy strength level.

Table 1. Determining strength level based on duration of lifting or carrying
Strength level	Duration of lifting or carrying
Strength level	Seldom	Occasionally	Frequently	Constantly
Light work	11-20 pounds	11-20 pounds	1-10 pounds	Negligible weight
Medium work	21-50 pounds	21-50 pounds	11-25 pounds	1-10 pounds
Heavy work	51-100 pounds	51-100 pounds	26-50 pounds	11-20 pounds
Very heavy work	>100 pounds	>100 pounds	>50 pounds	>20 pounds

Table 2. Special cases for calculating strength level
Strength level	Description
Unknown	If it is unknown whether lifting or carrying occurs occasionally, frequently, or constantly or none of the conditions in the strength level chart are met and standing or walking or sitting are unknown.
Sedentary	If none of the conditions in the strength level chart are met and standing or walking occurs less than or equal to 1/3 of the work schedule.
Light work	If none of the conditions in the strength chart are met and does not meet the special conditions for unknown or sedentary.

Sedentary strength level

Strength is considered sedentary when none of the conditions in the strength chart are met and standing or walking is less than or equal to one-third of the work schedule or work day (see Tables 1 and 2).

Table 3 provides the percent of workers with a sedentary strength level by occupation. Some examples include bill and account collectors (97.4 percent), financial analysts (96.8 percent), data entry keyers (96.6 percent), tellers (19.8 percent), and teacher assistants (9.3 percent) with a sedentary strength level.

Table 3. Percent of civilian workers with a sedentary strength level by occupation, 2018
Occupation	Percent
Bill and account collectors	97.4%
Financial analysts	96.8%
Data entry keyers	96.6%
Software developers, applications	95.3%
Computer systems analysts	93.5%
Payroll and timekeeping clerks	92.2%
Accountants	91.6%
Insurance underwriters	91.5%
Tax preparers	90.1%
Auditors	89.1%
Software quality assurance engineers and testers	88.9%
Insurance sales agents	88.7%
Management analysts	88.5%
Human resources specialists	88.5%
Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products	48.6%
General and operations managers	46.3%
Child, family, and school social workers	45.3%
Mental health and substance abuse social workers	43.7%
Property, real estate, and community association managers	43.4%
Dental hygienists	42.8%
Construction managers	39.9%
Medical and health services managers	38.1%
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	36.0%
Social and human service assistants	35.1%
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	24.0%
Tellers	19.8%
Teacher Assistants	9.3%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Additional information

For more information about ORS collection processes see the collection materials. The ORS Handbook of Methods provides details on sampling methodology, calculations, weighting, and history of the ORS program. More information is available at www.bls.gov/ors.