Occupational Requirements Survey
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Sedentary Strength Level 

The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) publishes job-related information on physical demands; environmental conditions; education, training, and experience; as well as cognitive and mental requirements. 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. Strength estimates are physical demands requirements.

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 2019, a medium strength level was required for 28.5 percent of workers in the U.S. economy. Sedentary strength was required for 27.0 percent of workers and light strength was required for 33.8 percent of workers. A heavy strength level was required for 9.3 percent of workers and 1.5 percent had a very heavy strength level. (See Chart A.)

 

Percent of civilian workers by strength level  

 

 

 

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 a job'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 26-50 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
Seldom Occasionally Frequently Constantly

Light work

 11-25 pounds 11-25 pounds 1-10 pounds Negligible weight

Medium work

 26-50 pounds 26-50 pounds 11-25 pounds 1-10 pounds

Heavy work

 51-100 pounds 51-100 pounds 26-50 pounds 11-25 pounds

Very heavy work

 >100 pounds >100 pounds >50 pounds

>25 pounds

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Table 2. Special cases for calculating strength level
Strength level Description

Unknown

 If it is unknown how often lifting or carrying occur or none of the conditions in table 1 are met and standing or sitting are unknown. The estimate is treated as item nonresponse.

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 workday.

Light work

 If none of the conditions in the strength chart are met and does not meet the special conditions for unknown or sedentary.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

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 budget analysts (97.2 percent), purchasing managers (90.3 percent), human resources specialists (87.3 percent), graphic designers (77.8 percent), and healthcare support occupations (6.8 percent) with a sedentary strength level.

 Table 3. Percent of civilian workers with a sedentary strength level by occupation, 2019
Occupation Percent

Financial and investment analysts

 99.0%

Budget analysts

 97.2%

Bill and account collectors

 96.9%

Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

 95.5%

Public safety telecommunicators

 93.0%

Billing and posting clerks

 92.8%

Purchasing managers

 90.3%

Medical secretaries and administrative assistants

 89.3%

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

 88.2%

Human resources specialists

 87.3%

Computer and information systems managers

 85.8%

Graphic designers

 77.8%

Social and community service managers

 70.8%

Medical records specialists

 67.8%

Chief executives

 65.3%

Sales managers

 64.0%

Bus drivers, school

 58.1%

Instructional coordinators

 49.3%

Occupational health and safety specialists

 47.5%

Training and development specialists

 44.6%

Production, planning, and expediting clerks

 44.4%

Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

 23.3%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

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For additional information on occupational requirements see the ORS homepage or download the ORS complete dataset to explore the latest estimates.