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Occupational Requirements Survey
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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
- Link to notice on the BLS page of impact on COVID-19 on ORS. Read More »
Graphics
Click the graphic to enlarge chart: what is ors.
Click the graphic to enlarge chart: why it matters.
Latest Numbers
Physical demands of civilian workers
Sedentary work strength level
27.0% in 2019
Light work strength level
33.8% in 2019
Medium work strength level
28.5% in 2019
Heavy work strength level
9.3% in 2019
Very heavy work strength level
1.5% in 2019
Environmental conditions of civilian workers
Exposed to outdoors
33.4% in 2019
Quiet noise intensity level
14.2% in 2019
Moderate noise intensity level
76.9% in 2019
Loud noise intensity level
8.6% in 2019
Education, training, and experience of civilian workers
No minimum education requirement
31.0% in 2019
High school diploma education requirement
40.0% in 2019
Associate's degree education requirement
4.2% in 2019
Bachelor's degree education requirement
18.1% in 2019
Master's degree education requirement
2.6% in 2019
Professional degree education requirement
1.2% in 2019
Cognitive and mental requirements of civilian workers
Interaction with the general public
75.3% in 2019
Varying work pace
61.1% in 2019
Telework available
9.2% in 2019
Historical Data
News Release
News Releases
//ORS Test RM11512 10122021// Occupational Requirements in the United States
10/12/2021
//ORS Test RM11512 10122021// A high school diploma was the minimum educational attainment required for X percent of civilian workers in 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Minimum
educational attainment is not required for Y percent of workers.
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Next Release
The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) for
2021
is scheduled to be released on
October 12, 2021
at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.
Publications
The Economics Daily
Use of personal protective equipment to mitigate noise exposure in 2020
In 2020, 71.4 percent of production workers and 78.4 percent of transportation and material moving workers were exposed to moderate noise at work. Another 25.2 percent of production workers and 19.8 percent of transportation and material moving workers were exposed to loud noise. read more »
Beyond the Numbers
Minds at work: what’s required according to the Occupational Requirements Survey
How much problem-solving time goes into an architect’s job? What types of mental capabilities are required of employees who work in a telework environment? What types of interpersonal skills are required for customer service jobs? Mental and cognitive job requirements provide job seekers with important information on the soft skills needed for specific jobs and a sense of the demands of different occupations read more »