Sedentary Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Of the 137 sedentary, unskilled DOT codes, 52 of them fall within the occupational group of production workers, all other (SOC 51-9199).  This nearly 40% of the sedentary, unskilled occupational base gives rise to a legitimate question -- are there sedentary, unskilled jobs outside of the clerical functions?  The answer is probably, "yes."  Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers ("inspectors, testers") may provide some sedentary, unskilled work.  Here is the list of DOT codes that Labor places inside of inspectors, testers (SOC 51-9061), sorted by industry designation.

Industry	DOT Code	DOT Name
(button & notion)	734.687-094	ZIPPER TRIMMER, HAND
(can. & preserv.)	521.687-086	NUT SORTER
(electron. comp.)	726.684-050	FILM TOUCH-UP INSPECTOR
	726.684-110	TOUCH-UP SCREENER, PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD ASSEMBLY
(fabrication, nec)	739.687-182	TABLE WORKER
(knitting)	734.687-042	BUTTON RECLAIMER
(machinery mfg.)	979.687-026	TYPE-COPY EXAMINER
(optical goods)	716.687-030	LENS-BLOCK GAUGER
(ordnance)	737.687-026	CHECK WEIGHER
	737.687-126	SHADOWGRAPH-SCALE OPERATOR
(paper & pulp)	539.485-010	WEIGHT TESTER
(protective dev.)	712.687-018	GAUGER
(tobacco)	529.666-014	CIGARETTE-MAKING-MACHINE CATCHER
(woodworking)	669.687-014	DOWEL INSPECTOR

There are 14 sedentary, unskilled inspectors, testers in the DOT but there are 53 other sedentary, skilled and semi-skilled DOT codes in the group as well.

51-9061 Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Typical Education Needed	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
Typical On-The-Job Training Needed to Attain Competency	Moderate-term on-the-job training
2016 Employment	520,700

Either the median, plurality, or majority of the jobs in the group are semi-skilled -- moderate-term means more than 30 days of training or experience required.

51-9061 Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Typical Education Needed	High school diploma or equivalent
Less than a High School Education	10.2
High School Education or Equivalent	35.7
Some College, No Degree	26.5
Associates Degree	10.7
Bachelor's Degree	13.4
Masters's Degree	3
Doctoral or Professional Degree	0.5

Most of the jobs require more than a high school or equivalent education.

Series ID: ORUV1000005A00000065

Not seasonally adjusted

Series Title: % of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers; svp is beyond short demonstration, up to & including 1 month

Requirement: Education, Training, And Experience

Occupation: inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Estimate: svp is beyond short demonstration, up to & including 1 month

Year	Period	Estimate
2017	Annual	16.5

https://beta.bls.gov/dataViewer/view/timeseries/ORUV1000005A00000065

I did not expect to see that. Just 16.5% of the jobs are classified in the ORS as unskilled.

Series ID: ORUP1000005A00000239

Not seasonally adjusted

Series Title: % of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers; lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs is required, seldom

Requirement: Physical Demands

Occupation: inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Estimate: lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs is required, seldom

Year	Period	Estimate
2017	Annual	23

https://beta.bls.gov/dataViewer/view/timeseries/ORUP1000005A00000239

If we start with 520,700 jobs and apply the percentage of unskilled work (16.5%), we get 85,916 jobs. Applying the percentage of sedentary jobs (23%) to this estimate yields 19,760 sedentary unskilled inspector, tester jobs in the nation.

We have not scratched into the industry designations. The 14 sedentary, unskilled occupations out of the 782 total occupations in this group is relatively small. Whether additional limitations in education, interaction with others, manipulation, sitting, or some other factor further reduces this number of jobs is a fact specific question. But the aggregate number of jobs is less than 20,000 jobs in the 14 DOT codes.