Word Processors and Typists (SOC 43-9022) - Very Few Unskilled Jobs

We covered the concept that Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) is more than on-the-job training.  It includes prior work experience, training, and apprenticeship programs.  We discussed the proposition that at least five occupations in the DOT are obsolete.  This piece explores the proposition that Word Processors and Typists are typically semi-skilled.  This occupational group includes the nefarious Addresser.  We start with the Occupational Outlook Handbook. 

43-9022 Word processors and typists

Typical Education Needed	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
Typical On-The-Job Training Needed to Attain Competency	Short-term on-the-job training
2016 Employment	74,900

The OOH sets the bar at high school education and short-term on-the-job training. High school education is not an SVP add-on. Short-term on-the-job training implies an unskilled occupational group. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data on the education level of incumbents through the employment projections:

Education Levels of Incumbents

43-9022 Word processors and typists

Typical Education Needed	High school diploma or equivalent
Less than a High School Education	2.8
High School Education or Equivalent	28
Some College, No Degree	32.1
Associates Degree	14.3
Bachelor's Degree	18.2
Masters's Degree	3.8
Doctoral or Professional Degree	0.7

This report points out that almost 70% of incumbents hold a greater level of education than the OOH describes as typical. The Department of Labor tells us to look to the O*NET for up-to-date information about work, so we do:

On-the-Job Training
Duration	Value
None or short demonstration	3.99%
Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month	47.55%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months	6.01%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months	8.32%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year	3.66%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years	13.63%
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years	3.28%
Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years	13.39%
Over 10 years	0.18%

Related Work Experience
Duration	Value
None	4.03%
Up to and including 1 month	0%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months	5.01%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months	3.11%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year	40.36%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years	28.1%
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years	5.97%
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years	13.25%
Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years	0%
Over 8 years, up to and including 10 years	0%
Over 10 years	0.18%

Required Level of Education
Education Level	Value
Less than a High School Diploma	1.96%
High School Diploma or the equivalent	49.61%
Post-Secondary Certificate	0%
Some College Courses	45.45%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)	2.98%
Bachelor's Degree	0%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	0%
Master's Degree	0%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	0%
Post-Doctoral Degree	0%

The data for on-the-job training fits with the OOH report of short-term on-the-job training. The plurality of the jobs require one month of less of training. The required level of education puts the education level of incumbents into context; many workers in this occupation have more education than is required by the work functions. The majority of word processors and typists have a high school education (including equivalents) or less.

The related work experience provides the ah ha moment. The plurality of these jobs require more than six month of related work experience, 40.36% of them. The percentage of jobs requiring one month or less (but some) of training is 0% and and the percentage requiring no related work experience is 4.03%.

With 74,900 word processors and typists in the economy, that percentage of no related work experience means that the number of unskilled jobs cannot exceed 3,019 jobs.  The number of unskilled jobs cannot exceed the lowest rating withing training, experience, and education.  Using that number assumes that the work requiring no experience are the same jobs that require one month of training or less and a high school diploma or less.  

This conclusion is not surprising.  Of the eight DOT codes within Word Processors and Typists, one of them is unskilled, three of them are semi-skilled, and three are skilled.  

DOTCode	DOTTitle	SVP
209.587-010	ADDRESSER	2
203.362-010	CLERK-TYPIST	4
209.382-010	CONTINUITY CLERK	5
203.382-030	WORD PROCESSING MACHINE OPERATOR	5
203.582-050	TELEGRAPHIC-TYPEWRITER OPERATOR	4
203.582-058	TRANSCRIBING-MACHINE OPERATOR	5
203.582-066	TYPIST	3
203.582-078	NOTEREADER	5

Addresser - obsolete and if unskilled work exists for word processors and typists, it does not represent a significant number of jobs.

A word about the education, training, and experience report:  the data is available form the O*NET Resource Center, as are all O*NET data.  OccuCollect puts the data into a report format that is readable, usable, and presentable.  Click on Account and start your experience today.