Monday, February 25, 2019

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:

  1. Climbing ladders, ropes, or scaffolds
  2. Climbing ramps or stairs (structure-related)
  3. Climbing ramps or stairs (work-related)
  4. Communicating verbally
  5. Crawling
  6. Crouching
  7. Driving
  8. Far visual acuity
  9. Fine manipulation
  10. Fine manipulation: one or both hands
  11. Foot/leg controls
  12. Foot/leg controls: one or both feet/legs
  13. Gross manipulation
  14. Gross manipulation: one or both hands
  15. Hearing requirements: Group or conference
  16. Hearing requirements: One-on-one
  17. Hearing requirements: Other Sounds
  18. Hearing requirements: Pass a hearing Test
  19. Hearing requirements: Telephone
  20. Keyboarding: Traditional
  21. Kneeling
  22. Lifting/carrying Constantly
  23. Lifting/carrying Frequently
  24. Lifting/carrying Occasionally
  25. Lifting/carrying Seldom
  26. Maximum weight lifted/carried
  27. Near visual acuity
  28. Peripheral vision
  29. Pushing/pulling: Feet only
  30. Pushing/pulling: Feet/legs
  31. Pushing/pulling: Hands/arms
  32. Pushing/pulling: one or both feet only
  33. Pushing/pulling: one or both feet/legs
  34. Pushing/pulling: one or both hands/arms
  35. Reaching at/below the shoulder
  36. Reaching at/below the shoulder: one or both hands
  37. Reaching overhead
  38. Reaching overhead: one or both hands
  39. Stooping
  40. 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.  

1 comment:

  1. BLS responded to my informal inquiry:

    While our release last week did not include any sit/stand estimates, we are expecting to release those estimates in April.

    ReplyDelete