Occupational Requirements Survey

Intro and Overview

The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) is of particular interest to SSA currently. It is a new data product offered through the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to provide job related information regarding physical demands, environmental conditions, educational and cognitive requirements of jobs. This data may be especially helpful for project about disability and employment. The data are from an establishment-based survey.

Tips for Getting Started

There is a methods report available here. Links to an external site.

Key Advantages

Detailed information about jobs with common industry and occupation classifications (SOC, NAICS) linkable to other data sources using the same classifications.
Plans for ongoing data collection
Of current interest to SSA.

Key Disadvantages

Excludes workers in federal and quasi-federal agencies, military personnel, agricultural workers, workers in private households, the self-employed, volunteers, unpaid workers, individuals receiving long-term disability compensation, and those working overseas.
Cognitive and mental requirements were not collected in 2018.

Papers Using these Data

Two papers using these data to study disabilities are available here. Links to an external site.