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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Home

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

The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) is an establishment-based survey conducted by 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.

Click the graphic to enlarge chart: what is ors.

SSA is developing a new Occupational Information System (OIS) to replace the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) that is currently used to adjudicate disability claims. The new OIS will use ORS data to better define jobs that exist in our modern economy to support an accurate and fair disability determination process.

Click the graphic to enlarge chart: why it matters.

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Latest Numbers

Physical demands of civilian workers

Sedentary work strength level 30.3% in 2025

Light work strength level 33.7% in 2025

Medium work strength level 29.1% in 2025

Heavy work strength level 6.2% in 2025

Very heavy work strength level 0.7% in 2025

Environmental conditions of civilian workers

Exposed to outdoors 35.2% in 2025

Quiet noise intensity level 14.4% in 2025

Moderate noise intensity level 82.4% in 2025

Loud noise intensity level 3.3% in 2025

Education, training, and experience of civilian workers

No minimum education requirement 32.5% in 2025

High school diploma education requirement 39.3% in 2025

Associate's degree education requirement 5.9% in 2025

Bachelor's degree education requirement 17.7% in 2025

Master's degree education requirement 2.6% in 2025

Professional degree education requirement 1.7% in 2025

Cognitive and mental requirements of civilian workers

Basic people skills 39.2% in 2025

Varying work pace 43.3% in 2025

Telework available 14.7% in 2025

News Releases

The ability to pause work is present for 53.5% of workers in 2025

01/16/2026

The ability to pause work was present for 53.5 percent of workers in 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In 2025, greater than 95 percent of software developers had the ability to pause work.
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Next Release

The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) for 2026 is scheduled to be released in early 2027 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.

Publications

The Economics Daily

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Handbook Of Methods

Occupational Requirements Survey Overview

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