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

Production occupations

Welder working on a metal boat This occupational group includes engine assemblers, structural metal fabricators and fitters, bakers, butchers and meat cutters, meat packers, computer-controlled machine tool operators, forging machine setters, machinists, pourers and casters, tool and die makers, printing press operators, upholsters, furniture finishers, model maters, gas plant operators, tire builders, etchers, and engravers.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

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

In 2025, more than basic people skills were required for 21.9 percent of production workers. Basic people skills were required for 78.1 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of production workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	57.3	42.7
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	40.5	59.5
Working around crowds	<0.5	>99.5
Telework routinely allowed	<0.5	>99.5
Supervising others	10.4	89.6
Supervisor present in immediate work area	84.9	15.1
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. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 36.6 percent of production workers and on-the-job training was required for 89.9 percent.

No minimum education was required for 48.5 percent of production workers and a high school diploma was required for 48.1 percent.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for less than 5 percent of production workers. Another 92.5 percent were exposed to moderate noise, 6.0 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 53.6 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by 46.4 percent.

Physical demands

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

In 2025, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for 87.8 percent of production workers and was not required for 12.2 percent. For 6.2 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom required, for 55.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was occasionally required, for 25.2 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was frequently required, and for 0.9 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 67.5 percent of production workers and was not required for 32.5 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 10.7 percent of production workers. On average, workers spent 16.7 percent of the workday sitting and 83.3 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of production workers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	10.7	89.3
Driving	13.9	86.1
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	20.3	79.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey