1 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Report on Career and Technical Occupational Data 

for 

Committees on Appropriations of the United States House of Representatives and the United 

States Senate 

and 

Committee on Education and the Workforce of the U.S. House of Representatives and the 

Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the U.S. Senate 

Introduction 

The following report outlines the response of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. 

Department of Labor regarding improving the Current Population Survey (CPS) to provide 

greater reporting on career and technical occupations. This report is in response to the following 

language included in the Senate Committee on Appropriations Report (S. Rept. 115-289) that 

accompanied the Department of Defense and Labor Health and Human Services and Education 

Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. 115-245): 

The Committee believes that the Current Population Survey lacks critical occupational 

data on career and technical occupations that would be beneficial to Congress as it 

develops policies related to workforce and higher education. The Committee requests 

BLS prepare a report on improvements to the Current Population Survey that would 

allow greater reporting on career and technical occupations. This report should be 

submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and 

Senate and the Committees on Education and the Workforce and Health, Education, 

Labor and Pensions of the House of Representatives and Senate not later than 90 days of 

enactment of this act. (S. Rept. 115-289, p. 38) 

BLS has several sources of occupational data—including the CPS, the Occupational 

Employment Statistics (OES) survey, the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS), and the 

Employment Projections program. While the Committee only referenced the CPS, BLS believes 

the Committee’s need for critical occupational data for career and technical occupations may be 

met by other BLS programs. 

Career/Technical Occupations Definition 

Neither BLS nor the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system have a standardized 

definition for Career/Technical occupations. Career/Technical occupations generally refer to 

occupations that require knowledge gained through extensive on-the-job training, such as an 

apprenticeship, or through formal technical or trades-based (as opposed to academic) education. 

The BLS Employment Projections program identifies education, training, and experience 

typically needed to enter each occupation. This information may be used to identify occupations 

likely to be considered Career/Technical occupations. The occupations listed in the attached 

appendices include 103 SOC occupations that, according to BLS, require either long-term (at 
2 

least 1 year) on-the-job training or an apprenticeship, but not an associate’s degree or higher, 

plus those that require a postsecondary non-degree award. 

The Current Population Survey (CPS) 

The CPS is a monthly survey with a sample of 60,000 households. CPS occupational and 

industry data are coded according to the most detailed level of the relevant classification system 

possible, accounting for factors such as disclosure concerns for small occupations and the ability 

to code occupations based on the detail provided by household respondents. This occupational 

coding system closely aligns with the SOC, but provides data on about 530 occupations, 

compared with 820 in the full SOC. The CPS is not unique in this regard. Disclosure and 

coding concerns exist in much larger household surveys like the Census Bureau’s American 

Community Survey (ACS), which has a yearly sample of 3.5 million households. The ACS uses 

the same occupational coding structure as the CPS. Therefore, simply increasing the sample size 

of the CPS would not address the Committee’s goal of greater reporting detail. Given these 

concerns, expanding detail on career and technical occupations cannot be accomplished while 

still protecting respondent confidentiality. 

This report contains information currently available from the CPS about Career/Technical 

occupations. However, as stated above, other BLS occupational data may be of interest to the 

Committee and also is highlighted. 

SOC Level of Detail vs. CPS Level of Detail 

The first appendix table lists 45 SOC occupations that meet the above criteria for being 

Career/Technical occupations. For all of these occupations, the CPS provides the same level of 

occupational detail as the SOC. For example, Electricians is a SOC occupation, and the CPS 

provides data specifically for Electricians. 

The second appendix table lists 58 SOC occupations that also meet the criteria for being 

Career/Technical occupations, but where less detail is available in the CPS. For example, 

Nursing Assistants is a SOC occupation, but in the CPS, data are only available for the aggregate 

occupation Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides, which includes Nursing Assistants but 

also includes two other SOC occupations, Psychiatric Aides and Home Health Aides. No 

separate CPS data are available for these three SOC occupations. The 58 SOC occupations are 

combined into 36 CPS occupations, some of which also include SOCs that aren’t considered 

Career/Technical. For example, both Psychiatric Aides and Home Health Aides are not 

Career/Technical occupations, as they both only require short-term (less than 1 month) on-thejob training. 

BLS Projections Data at the SOC level 

BLS has employment projections data available for occupations at the SOC level. The 

Occupational Outlook Handbook (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/), the BLS career information 

publication, provides narrative descriptions of what workers do, the work environment, the 

education and training requirements for entry (described above in defining Career/Technical 
3 

occupations), and the job outlook for 84 of the 103 occupations in the attachment. For example, 

the profile on Nursing Assistants is available from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursingassistants.htm. 576 SOC occupations are covered in the Handbook. The job outlook information 

in the Handbook provides context to the 10-year projections of employment by occupation that 

BLS produces. National employment projections from BLS are used by each state to develop 

state and area projections, which are funded by the Employment and Training Administration. 

Projections are a critical component of workforce development systems and serve as the basis for 

determining jobs in demand. Determining jobs in demand helps align education and training 

programs with the hiring needs of businesses and is a key component of the Workforce 

Innovation and Opportunity Act. Projections also are used for individual career decision 

purposes by students, parents, counselors, dislocated workers, jobseekers, and career changers. 

The most recent 2016-26 projections cover 819 SOC occupations. BLS is improving the 

frequency of the Employment Projection program by moving from biannual projections to 

annual projections. Another planned improvement is moving the release month from October to 

September to better coincide with back to school planning activities. 

BLS Employment and Wage Data at the SOC Level 

The BLS OES program provides employment and wages for each of the SOC occupations, 

including data by industry, state, and area, and is a key input to the occupational projections. 

Unlike CPS, the OES is an employer-based survey, where employers report occupational data for 

all workers in their establishment. The size of the OES survey allows for extensive detail on 

employment and wages. Using the example of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), OES data 

show that the 702,000 LPNs in the US had a mean hourly wage of $21.98 in 2017. Of these, 

almost 209,000 worked in nursing care facilities where the mean hourly wage was $22.61. OES 

data also show geographic detail for occupations – employment was highest in Texas, California, 

and Florida, while wages were highest in the northeast states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, 

and Connecticut. By metropolitan area, employment was highest in New York, Los Angeles, 

and Houston, while wages were highest in San Francisco, Boston, and San Jose. These and other 

selected data for LPNs can be found in the OES occupational profile for the occupation: 

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292061.htm

OES has similar profiles for all 103 career and technical occupations, with data for hundreds of 

industries and up to 600 areas. 

The OES program is exploring improvements in data collection to improve data quality and 

estimation enhancements to improve the reliability of the estimates. 
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BLS Occupational Requirements Data 

The BLS ORS does not provide employment data but instead produces data on job-related 

physical demands, environmental conditions, mental and cognitive demands, and vocational 

preparation requirements. The ORS is an establishment survey, like the OES, and is intended to 

provide detail for SOC occupations, although the survey is new and data based on the full sample 

size will be released in early 2019. BLS conducts this survey under an agreement with the Social 

Security Administration (SSA). The goal of ORS is to collect and publish occupational 

information that will be used by SSA to help make decisions for their disability programs. 

Continuing with the example of LPNs, the ORS reports that crouching is required for 65.8% of 

workers, 27.9% of workers are exposed to hazardous contaminants, and that an associate’s 

degree is the minimum required education for 25.3% of workers. Many additional metrics are 

available for LPNs, and for other occupations, in the ORS database. 

Additional information on the ORS is available from https://www.bls.gov/ors/. BLS is 

continuing to work with SSA to more accurately capture job requirements while still identifying 

changes in the way work is performed in the modern economy. 

Conclusion 

BLS believes that other occupational data highlighted in this report may prove beneficial to the 

Committee as it develops policies related to workforce and higher education. BLS would be 

happy to work with the Committee to identify the occupational data that would best fit their 

needs. 
Appendix 1 - CPS at SOC Level

5

SOC 

Code SOC Title Education Training

Work 

Experience

CPS/ 

Census 

code CPS/Census Title

25-4031 Library technicians Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 2440 Library technicians 

27-2011 Actors Some college, no degree Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 2700 Actors 

27-4021 Photographers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 2910 Photographers 

29-2041 Emergency medical technicians and 

paramedics

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3400 Emergency medical technicians and paramedics 

29-2061 Licensed practical and licensed vocational 

nurses

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3500 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 

29-2071 Medical records and health information 

technicians

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3510 Medical records and health information technicians 

29-2081 Opticians, dispensing High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 3520 Opticians, dispensing 

31-9011 Massage therapists Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3630 Massage therapists 

31-9091 Dental assistants Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3640 Dental assistants 

31-9092 Medical assistants Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3645 Medical assistants 

31-9094 Medical transcriptionists Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3646 Medical transcriptionists 

31-9097 Phlebotomists Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3649 Phlebotomists 

33-1021 First-line supervisors of fire fighting and 

prevention workers

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Moderate-term onthe-job trainingLess than 5 

years

3720 First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers 

33-2011 Firefighters Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 3740 Fire fighters 

39-5011 Barbers Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 4500 Barbers 

39-5012 Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 4510 Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists 

47-2011 Boilermakers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6210 Boilermakers 

47-2031 Carpenters High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6230 Carpenters 

47-2111 Electricians High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6355 Electricians 

47-2121 Glaziers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6360 Glaziers 

47-2161 Plasterers and stucco masons No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 6460 Plasterers and stucco masons 

47-2171 Reinforcing iron and rebar workers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6500 Reinforcing iron and rebar workers 
Appendix 1 - CPS at SOC Level

6

SOC 

Code SOC Title Education Training

Work 

Experience

CPS/ 

Census 

code CPS/Census Title

47-2211 Sheet metal workers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6520 Sheet metal workers 

47-2221 Structural iron and steel workers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6530 Structural iron and steel workers 

47-4021 Elevator installers and repairers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6700 Elevator installers and repairers 

47-5031 Explosives workers, ordnance handling 

experts, and blasters

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingLess than 5 

years

6830 Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters 

49-2097 Electronic home entertainment equipment 

installers and repairers

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Short-term on-thejob trainingNone 7120 Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers 

49-3011 Aircraft mechanics and service technicians Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 7140 Aircraft mechanics and service technicians 

49-3021 Automotive body and related repairers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7150 Automotive body and related repairers 

49-3023 Automotive service technicians and 

mechanics

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Short-term on-thejob trainingNone 7200 Automotive service technicians and mechanics 

49-3031 Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine 

specialists

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7210 Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists 

49-9021 Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration 

mechanics and installers

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7315 Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers 

49-9043 Maintenance workers, machinery High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7350 Maintenance workers, machinery 

49-9044 Millwrights High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 7360 Millwrights 

49-9051 Electrical power-line installers and repairers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7410 Electrical power-line installers and repairers 

49-9052 Telecommunications line installers and 

repairers

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7420 Telecommunications line installers and repairers 

49-9094 Locksmiths and safe repairers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7540 Locksmiths and safe repairers 

51-3011 Bakers No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7800 Bakers 

51-4041 Machinists High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8030 Machinists 

51-4111 Tool and die makers Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8130 Tool and die makers 

51-5111 Prepress technicians and workers Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 8250 Prepress technicians and workers 

51-8021 Stationary engineers and boiler operators High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8610 Stationary engineers and boiler operators 

51-8031 Water and wastewater treatment plant and 

system operators

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8620 Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators 

51-9071 Jewelers and precious stone and metal 

workers

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8750 Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers 
Appendix 1 - CPS at SOC Level

7

SOC 

Code SOC Title Education Training

Work 

Experience

CPS/ 

Census 

code CPS/Census Title

51-9195 Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal 

and plastic

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8920 Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic 
Appendix 2 - CPS less detailed

8

SOC 

Code SOC Title Education Training

Work 

Experience

CPS/ 

Census 

code CPS/Census Title

13-1031 Claims adjusters, examiners, and 

investigators

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 0540 Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators

13-1032 Insurance appraisers, auto damage Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Moderate-term onthe-job trainingNone 0540 Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators

23-2091 Court reporters Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Short-term on-thejob trainingNone 2160 Miscellaneous legal support workers

27-1012 Craft artists No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 2600 Artists and related workers

27-1019 Artists and related workers, all other No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 2600 Artists and related workers

27-2021 Athletes and sports competitors No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 2720 Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers

27-2031 Dancers No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 2740 Dancers and choreographers

27-2032 Choreographers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob training5 years or 

more

2740 Dancers and choreographers

27-2042 Musicians and singers No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 2750 Musicians, singers, and related workers

27-4011 Audio and video equipment technicians Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Short-term on-thejob trainingNone 2900 Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators, and media and 

communication equipment workers, all other

27-4014 Sound engineering technicians Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Short-term on-thejob trainingNone 2900 Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators, and media and 

communication equipment workers, all other

29-2053 Psychiatric technicians Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Short-term on-thejob trainingLess than 5 

years

3420 Health diagnosing and treating practitioner support technicians

29-2055 Surgical technologists Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3420 Health diagnosing and treating practitioner support technicians

29-2057 Ophthalmic medical technicians Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3420 Health diagnosing and treating practitioner support technicians

29-2099 Health technologists and technicians, all 

other

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3535 Miscellaneous health technologists and technicians

29-9099 Healthcare practitioners and technical 

workers, all other

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3540 Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, including podiatrists

31-1014 Nursing assistants Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 3600 Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides

33-2021 Fire inspectors and investigators Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Moderate-term onthe-job training5 years or 

more

3750 Fire inspectors

35-2013 Cooks, private household Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None Less than 5 

years

4020 Cooks

39-5091 Makeup artists, theatrical and performance Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 4520 Miscellaneous personal appearance workers

39-5092 Manicurists and pedicurists Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 4520 Miscellaneous personal appearance workers

39-5094 Skincare specialists Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None None 4520 Miscellaneous personal appearance workers
Appendix 2 - CPS less detailed

9

SOC 

Code SOC Title Education Training

Work 

Experience

CPS/ 

Census 

code CPS/Census Title

47-2021 Brickmasons and blockmasons High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6220 Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons

47-2022 Stonemasons High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6220 Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons

47-2044 Tile and marble setters No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 6240 Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers

47-2053 Terrazzo workers and finishers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6250 Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers

47-2132 Insulation workers, mechanical High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6400 Insulation workers

47-2142 Paperhangers No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 6420 Painters, construction and maintenance and paperhangers

47-2152 Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 6440 Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

49-2022 Telecommunications equipment installers 

and repairers, except line installers

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Moderate-term onthe-job trainingNone 7020 Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers

49-2093 Electrical and electronics installers and 

repairers, transportation equipment

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7100 Electrical and electronics repairers, transportation equipment, industrial and 

utility

49-2094 Electrical and electronics repairers, 

commercial and industrial equipment

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7100 Electrical and electronics repairers, transportation equipment, industrial and 

utility

49-2095 Electrical and electronics repairers, 

powerhouse, substation, and relay

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Moderate-term onthe-job trainingLess than 5 

years

7100 Electrical and electronics repairers, transportation equipment, industrial and 

utility

49-3041 Farm equipment mechanics and service 

technicians

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7220 Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics

49-3042 Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except 

engines

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7220 Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics

49-3043 Rail car repairers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7220 Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics

49-3051 Motorboat mechanics and service 

technicians

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7240 Small engine mechanics

49-3052 Motorcycle mechanics Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Short-term on-thejob trainingNone 7240 Small engine mechanics

49-3092 Recreational vehicle service technicians High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7260 Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers

49-9041 Industrial machinery mechanics High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7330 Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics

49-9061 Camera and photographic equipment 

repairers

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7430 Precision instrument and equipment repairers

49-9063 Musical instrument repairers and tuners High school diploma or 

equivalent

Apprenticeship None 7430 Precision instrument and equipment repairers

49-9064 Watch repairers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7430 Precision instrument and equipment repairers

49-9069 Precision instrument and equipment 

repairers, all other

High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7430 Precision instrument and equipment repairers
Appendix 2 - CPS less detailed

10

SOC 

Code SOC Title Education Training

Work 

Experience

CPS/ 

Census 

code CPS/Census Title

49-9081 Wind turbine service technicians Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7630 Other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including wind turbine 

service technicians, commercial divers, and signal and train switch repairers

49-9092 Commercial divers Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Moderate-term onthe-job trainingNone 7630 Other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including wind turbine 

service technicians, commercial divers, and signal and train switch repairers

49-9093 Fabric menders, except garment High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7630 Other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including wind turbine 

service technicians, commercial divers, and signal and train switch repairers

51-3021 Butchers and meat cutters No formal educational 

credential

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 7810 Butchers and other meat, poultry, and fish processing workers

51-4012 Computer numerically controlled machine 

tool programmers, metal and plastic

Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Moderate-term onthe-job trainingNone 7900 Computer control programmers and operators

51-8011 Nuclear power reactor operators High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8600 Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers

51-8012 Power distributors and dispatchers High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8600 Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers

51-8013 Power plant operators High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8600 Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers

51-8092 Gas plant operators High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 8630 Miscellaneous plant and system operators

53-2022 Airfield operations specialists High school diploma or 

equivalent

Long-term on-thejob trainingNone 9040 Air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists

53-3032 Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers Postsecondary nondegree 

award

Short-term on-thejob trainingNone 9130 Driver/sales workers and truck drivers

53-5021 Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None Less than 5 

years

9310 Ship and boat captains and operators

53-5022 Motorboat operators Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None Less than 5 

years

9310 Ship and boat captains and operators

53-5031 Ship engineers Postsecondary nondegree 

award

None Less than 5 

years

9300 Sailors and marine oilers, and ship engineers