Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers - SOC 51-2022

Vocational expert assumes a limitation to light or sedentary work with additional limitations including a sit-stand option and occasional superficial contact with coworkers and supervisors.  The vocational expert identifies an occupation on this list:

DOTCode	DOTTitle	SVP	STRENGTH
720.687-010	RECORD-CHANGER ASSEMBLER	2	L
725.384-010	TUBE ASSEMBLER, ELECTRON	2	L
725.684-018	STEM MOUNTER	2	S
726.687-022	ENCAPSULATOR	2	L
727.684-014	BATTERY ASSEMBLER, PLASTIC	2	L
727.687-022	ASSEMBLER, DRY CELL AND BATTERY	2	L
727.687-046	CELL TUBER, HAND	2	L
727.687-082	WAFER-LINE WORKER	2	L
729.684-046	SPARK-PLUG ASSEMBLER	2	L
729.684-054	SUBASSEMBLER	2	L
729.687-010	ASSEMBLER, ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES I	2	L

According to the vocational expert, there are 20,000 jobs in the single occupation identified.  We check the Occupational Outlook Handbook to start the process of determining whether the vocational expert is reliable.  The OOH states that electrical and electronic equipment assemblers are summarized:

51-2022 Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers

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	218,900

The group includes 61 DOT codes at sedentary through heavy exertion and SVP 2 to 7 in skill level.  The occupation has typical requirements of a high school education or equivalent and is typically semi-skilled to skilled. 

The Occupational Requirements Survey does not provide data for this occupational group through the 2017 data release. 

The O*NET OnLine does not provide a basis for segregating out skilled and unskilled occupations much less by exertion.  We can just fold the tent and trust the vocational expert, break out Job Browser Pro which will divide the industries up equally among the 61 contenders, or keep working.  Let's use option number three. 

The O*NET Resource Center provides education, training, and experience data for occupations other than "all other" groups that do not have a specialty designation, i.e. **-***9.00.  The ORC reports:

51-2022 Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers

SVP	Percent
1	12.12
2	32.88
3	16.4
4	16.82
5	13.59
6	8.2
7	0
8	0
9	0

The 12 unskilled DOT codes (one more requires medium exertion) make up 45% of the jobs.  That starts the process at over 90,000 jobs.  That interim point begins the next phase of questioning about the individual requirements of the 12 DOT codes and whether nonexertional, education, or other factors erode the occupational base. 

Sometimes we explore an occupational group and find that while the vocational expert is not right, the testimony is at least plausible because of a lack of data.  When the Occupational Requirements Survey includes this occupational group, we will have data on strength as well as prolonged sitting, standing, and walking.