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

Personal care and service occupations

This occupational group includes animal care and service workers, entertainment attendants, funeral service workers, personal appearance workers, baggage portages, bellhops, and concierges, tour and travel guides, childcare workers, personal care aides, recreation and fitness workers, and residential advisors.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2024, work was controlled by people for 95.6 percent of personal care and service workers, and work was self-paced for 3.7 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of personal care and service workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2024
Requirement	Yes	No
Adaptability: Work schedule variability	56.0	44.0
Pace: Pause control	26.5	73.5
Working around crowds	8.5	91.5
Telework	0.8	99.2
Work review: Supervising others	8.2	91.8
Work review: Presence of supervisor	58.0	42.0
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs.

In 2024, credentials were required for 40.5 percent of personal care and service workers. Prior work experience was required for 29.9 percent and on-the-job training was required for 84.8 percent.

No minimum education was required for 50.5 percent of personal care and service workers and a high school diploma was required for 44.1 percent.

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete hazards or difficulties that are in the vicinity of where jobs’ critical tasks are performed.

In 2024, greater than 95 percent of personal care and service workers were not exposed to extreme cold, and greater than 95 percent were not exposed to extreme heat. Wetness was not present for 53.1 percent, greater than 99.5 percent were not exposed to heavy vibrations, and 49.9 percent were not exposed to the outdoors.

Physical demands

Refer to the physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2024, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for 87.9 percent of personal care and service workers and was not required for 12.1 percent. For 9.6 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom performed, for 59.7 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred occasionally, 18.6 percent frequently, and for less than 0.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 71.9 percent of personal care and service workers and was not required for 28.1 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 8.2 percent of personal care and service workers. On average, workers spent 29.0 percent of the workday sitting and 71.0 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of personal care and service workers with physical demands, 2024
Requirement	Yes	No
Choice of sitting or standing	8.2	91.8
Driving	9.4	90.6
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	16.0	84.0
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey