Occupational Requirements Survey - 2018 Data Release - Has SSA's Fingerprints All Over It

On February 21, 2019, the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, released the 2018 data set for the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS).  I checked the data against Occu Collect and found significant differences.  I expect data to change with the collection of new information.  What I did not expect was the removal of whole categories of data. 

The ORS no longer reports the cognitive demands of work.  This category is gone:

Cognitive and mental demands

1. Adaptability
2. Work schedules
3. Work tasks
4. Regular Contacts
5. Type of interaction
6. Frequency of interaction
7. Other Contacts
8. Type of interaction
9. Frequency of interaction
10. Decision-making
11. Supervision
12. Pace of work
13. Control of work pace

The ORS removed data for sitting, standing, and walking.  The percent of the day or the number of hours spent sitting or standing/walking -- gone.  The existence and number of jobs with sitting versus standing/walking -- gone.  Here is the old category:

Physical Demands

1. Sitting or standing/walking
2. Standing and walking
3. Sitting
4. Sitting vs. standing at will
5. Hearing
6. One on one
7. Group
8. Telephone
9. Other sounds
10. Pass a hearing test
11. Vision
12. Near visual acuity
13. Far visual acuity
14. Peripheral vision
15. Communication
16. Verbal
17. Climbing
18. Ramps/stairs: structural only
19. Ramps/stairs: work-related
20. Ladders/ropes/scaffolds
21. Lifting/carrying
22. Weight (range) lifted/carried – seldom
23. Weight (range) lifted/carried – occasionally
24. Weight (range) lifted/carried – frequently
25. Weight (range) lifted/carried – constantly
26. Most weight ever lifted/carried (pounds)
27. Manipulation
28. Foot/leg controls
29. One or both
30. Gross manipulation
31. One or both
32. Fine manipulation

And the new list of physical demands:

Climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds Climbing ramps or stairs (structure-related) Climbing ramps or stairs (work-related) Communicating verbally Crawling Crouching Driving Far visual acuity Fine manipulation Fine manipulation: one or both hands Foot/leg controls Foot/leg controls: one or both feet/legs Gross manipulation Gross manipulation: one or both hands Hearing requirements: Group or conference Hearing requirements: One-on-one Hearing requirements: Other Sounds Hearing requirements: Pass a hearing Test Hearing requirements: Telephone Keyboarding: Traditional Kneeling Lifting/carrying Constantly Lifting/carrying Frequently Lifting/carrying Occasionally Lifting/carrying Seldom Maximum weight lifted/carried Near visual acuity Peripheral vision Pushing/pulling: Feet only Pushing/pulling: Feet/legs Pushing/pulling: Hands/arms Pushing/pulling: one or both feet only Pushing/pulling: one or both feet/legs Pushing/pulling: one or both hands/arms Reaching at/below the shoulder Reaching at/below the shoulder: one or both hands Reaching overhead Reaching overhead: one or both hands Stooping Strength

There is an innocent explanation. The data may not meet OMB statistical standards and is therefore BLS cannot report the data.  There is a nefarious explanation.  SSA found the data to eliminate most of the sedentary occupations making the sedentary grid tables questionable in application and permitting even a limitation to six hours of sitting so erosive as to eliminate the ability to perform work.  We will have to explore the reasons why BLS removed the categories of data report from the set.  More about this later.