Simple, Routine, Repetitive with One and Two-Step Tasks -- Not Necessarily Unskilled

Simple one and two-step tasks and reasoning level is not necessarily unskilled work.  Of the circa 13,000 DOT codes, I found a handful that carry the code for reasoning level 1 and are not unskilled.  These 15 occupations all have the temperament for repetitive work with six carrying an additional temperament. 

DOTCode	DOTTitle	SVP	REASONING	TEMP
363.687-010	GLOVE FORMER	3	1	RJ
379.687-014	MOSQUITO SPRAYER	3	1	R
520.687-050	PLUG SHAPER, HAND	3	1	R
529.685-234	SUCKER-MACHINE OPERATOR	3	1	R
529.687-122	KISS SETTER, HAND	4	1	R
630.687-010	PULLEY MAINTAINER	3	1	RT
690.685-058	BURNISHER	3	1	RT
692.685-126	MOUNTER II	3	1	R
692.686-070	PASTER, HAT LINING	3	1	RU
709.687-018	HOT-TOP-LINER HELPER	3	1	R
709.687-058	WIRE BENDER	3	1	RT
734.687-050	COVERED-BUCKLE ASSEMBLER	3	1	R
780.687-026	MATTRESS STRIPPER	4	1	R
849.684-010	BOAT BUFFER, PLASTIC	3	1	R
930.664-010	CASER	3	1	RS

Our quest today is to understand how reasoning level 1 work with at least one of the temperaments for repetitive work can require skills.  The answer rests in the regulations.  20 C.F.R. § 404.1568(b) states:

A job may be classified as semi-skilled where coordination and dexterity are necessary, as when hands or feet must be moved quickly to do repetitive tasks.

Coordination and dexterity are not skills.  The Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs defines the aptitudes in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and Selected Characteristics of Occupations electronic files.  Chapter 9 defines aptitudes:

Aptitudes, a component of Worker Characteristics, are the capacities or specific abilities which an individual must have in order to learn to perform a given work activity.
 Aptitudes, a component of Worker Characteristics, are the capacities or specific abilities which an individual must have in order to learn to perform a given work activity.
 Every aptitude factor must be considered independently in the rating process for each job. The analyst estimates the level of each aptitude required of the worker for average, satisfactory performance based on a careful evaluation of the work activities of the job and the specific worker abilities which can be identified in terms of the aptitudes. Then the appropriate aptitude level number is assigned. Certain of the aptitudes can be identified through study of the physical actions which the worker performs, such as Motor Coordination, Finger Dexterity, and Eye-Hand-Foot Coordination; other Aptitudes, such as Spatial, Numerical, and General Learning Ability, are identified by considering worker judgments and other mental processes involved in performing the job satisfactorily. Aptitude levels are determined by comparing the tasks of the job with the aptitude definitions, interpretive information, and the examples of work activities shown for each level which appear in the next section of this chapter.

Aptitudes are not learned, they are the foundation upon which the worker must rest in order to learn how to perform an occupation.  Without the aptitude, the person cannot learn to proficiently learn how to perform the occupation. 

The long quote from page 9-2 mentions the aptitudes for motor coordination; eye-hand-foot coordination; and finger dexterity.  Missing from the list is manual dexterity but that is one of the 11 characteristics described.  The RHAJ defines these four characteristics:

MOTOR COORDINATION: The ability to coordinate eyes and hands or fingers rapidly and accurately in making precise movements with speed. Ability to make a movement response accurately and swiftly.
 FINGER DEXTERITY: The ability to move the fingers and manipulate. small objects with the fingers rapidly or accurately.
 MANUAL DEXTERITY: The ability to move the hands easily and skillfully. Ability to work with the hands in placing and turning motions.
 EYE-HAND-FOOT COORDINATION: The ability to move the hand and foot coordinately with each other in accordance with visual stimuli.

This information requires that we look again at our list, this time including those four temperaments. 

DOTCode	DOTTitle	MOTOR	FINGER	MANUAL	E-H-F
363.687-010	GLOVE FORMER	3	4	3	5
379.687-014	MOSQUITO SPRAYER	4	4	3	4
520.687-050	PLUG SHAPER, HAND	4	4	4	5
529.685-234	SUCKER-MACHINE OPERATOR	3	4	3	5
529.687-122	KISS SETTER, HAND	3	3	3	5
630.687-010	PULLEY MAINTAINER	4	4	3	4
690.685-058	BURNISHER	3	4	3	4
692.685-126	MOUNTER II	3	4	3	5
692.686-070	PASTER, HAT LINING	4	4	4	5
709.687-018	HOT-TOP-LINER HELPER	4	4	3	5
709.687-058	WIRE BENDER	4	4	3	4
734.687-050	COVERED-BUCKLE ASSEMBLER	3	2	3	5
780.687-026	MATTRESS STRIPPER	4	4	3	5
849.684-010	BOAT BUFFER, PLASTIC	3	4	3	4
930.664-010	CASER	3	4	3	4

One occupation does not require at least average coordination or dexterity in at least one category.  What we can infer is that once the worker has the aptitude, it takes over 30 days to learn to do the job functions quickly and accurately to perform repetitive tasks using that coordination or dexterity.  Reasoning level 1 and the temperament for repetitive tasks form a good starting point for that one- and two-step tasks in a routine and repetitive work environment, but the analysis should continue. 

Look up the summary descriptions of all 13,000 DOT occupations including the electronic files at Occu Collect for free, simply by registering.