For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 22, 2020 USDL-20-2307

Technical Information: (202) 691-6199 • orsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/ors 

Media Contact : (202) 691-5902 • pressoffice@bls.gov 

OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2020 

On average, civilian workers spent 4.25 hours of the workday standing in 2020, the U.S. Bureau 

of Labor Statistics reported today. Workers stood for 57.3 percent of the workday and spent the 

rest of the workday sitting. The choice to sit or stand to perform critical tasks in support of 

critical job functions was available to 42.5 percent of civilian workers. (See table 1.) 

Chart 1. Percentage of workday spent 

sitting and standing by occupation, 2020 

Chart 2. Ability to choose to sit or stand by 

occupation, 2020 

Workers in healthcare practitioners and technical occupations spent 64.5 percent of the workday 

standing. These workers stood an average of 5.47 hours a day. Within this occupational group, 

medical records specialists spent 1.50 hours, or 19.1 percent, of the workday standing and 

surgical technologists stood for 8.02 hours, or 88.6 percent, of the workday. (See chart 1 and 

table 1.) 

Seventy-one percent of the workday was spent standing for workers in healthcare support 

occupations with 5.04 hours standing. Within this occupational group, dental assistants spent 

3.95 hours, or 49.5 percent, of the workday standing and nursing assistants stood for 7.29 hours, 

or 86.0 percent, of the workday. (See chart 1 and table 1.) 

The choice to sit or stand was available to 32.2 percent of workers in healthcare practitioners and 

technical occupations. Within this occupational group, no surgical technologists and 77.4 percent 

of medical records specialists had the choice between sitting and standing. (See chart 2 and table 

1.) 

The choice to sit or stand was available to 17.8 percent of workers in healthcare support 

occupations. Within this occupational group, a choice between sitting and standing was available 

to 13.0 percent of nursing assistants and to 26.3 percent of dental assistants. (See chart 2.) 

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Medical

records

specialists

Dental

assistants

Nursing

assistants

Surgical

technologists

Standing Sitting

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Medical

records

specialists

Dental

assistants

Nursing

assistants

Surgical

technologists

Allowed Not allowed

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on the 2020 Occupational Requirements Survey 

The collection period for the ORS 2020 data was August 2019 through July 31, 2020. Information 

related to the impact of COVID-19 on the ORS is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid19-on-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-compensation-and-occupational-requirements.htm#ORS. 
Sixteen percent of civilian workers were required to problem solve more than once per day and 

58.1 percent were required to problem solve less often than monthly, including never. (See table 

2.) In order to separate routine decisions from problem solving, workers must be faced with new 

or different problems that have no obvious solution and require time, at least 5 minutes, to 

consider the best solution. Situations where workers are trained to respond quickly, such as a 

medical emergency, do not meet the threshold for problem solving. 

Thirty-five percent of workers in healthcare practitioners and technical occupations were 

required to problem solve more than once per day. Within this occupational group, 76.5 percent 

of occupational therapists were required to problem solve more than once per day. (See chart 3 

and table 2.) 

Chart 3. With requirement to problem solve 

more than once per day, 2020

Chart 4. With requirement to problem 

solve less often than monthly, 2020 

Ninety percent of workers in healthcare support occupations were required to problem solve less 

often than monthly, including never. Within this occupational group, 94.2 percent of psychiatric 

aides were required to problem solve less often than monthly, including never. (See chart 4 and 

table 2.) 

Constant verbal interactions, every few minutes were present for 28.8 percent of civilian 

workers. (See table 3.) Occupations with this requirement include: 

 34.8 percent of workers in healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 

o 36.0 percent of nurse practitioners 

o 46.9 percent of physician assistants 

 39.1 percent of workers in healthcare support occupations 

o 22.7 percent of dental assistants 

o 56.6 percent of nursing assistants 

Fifty percent of civilian workers were required to perform verbal interactions not constantly, but 

more than once per hour. (See table 3.) Occupations with this requirement include: 

 61.0 percent of workers in healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 

o 53.1 percent of physician assistants 

o 63.9 percent of nurse practitioners 

 54.1 percent of workers in healthcare support occupations 

o 42.2 percent of nursing assistants 

o 77.2 percent of dental assistants

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Physical

therapists

Nurse

practitioners

Physician

assistants

Occupational

therapists

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Nursing

assistants

Dental

assistants

Psychiatric

aides

Home

health aides

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A high school diploma was the minimum formal education required for 40.4 percent of civilian 

workers and an associate’s degree was required for 4.3 percent of civilian workers. A high 

school diploma was the minimum education required for 18.0 percent of workers in healthcare 

practitioners and technical occupations and 17.9 percent required an associate’s degree. Within 

this occupational group, 83.2 percent of medical records specialists needed a high school 

diploma to fulfill minimum formal education requirements. An associate’s degree was required 

for 49.0 percent of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. (See chart 5 and table 4.) 

Chart 5. Minimum formal education requirements by occupation, 2020 

A high school diploma was the minimum education required for 65.3 percent of workers in 

healthcare support occupations and 5.4 percent required an associate’s degree. Within the 

occupational group, 90.3 percent of phlebotomists required a high school diploma to fulfill 

minimum formal education requirements. (See chart 5 and table 4.) 

Exposure to wetness was present for 34.2 percent of civilian workers. (See table 5.) 

 Wetness was present for 76.7 percent of workers in healthcare practitioners and technical 

occupations. Within this occupational group, 89.0 percent of dental hygienists and 90.0 

percent of emergency medical technicians were exposed to wetness. 

 Wetness was present for 86.1 percent of workers in healthcare support occupations. 

Within this occupational group, 94.8 percent of psychiatric aides and 96.1 percent of 

nursing assistants were exposed to wetness. 

Outdoor exposure was present for 33.8 percent of civilian workers. The other 66.2 percent of 

civilian workers were not exposed to the outdoors. (See table 5.) 

 Exposure to the outdoors was required for 8.7 percent of workers in healthcare 

practitioners and technical occupations. Within this occupational group, 88.7 percent of 

emergency medical technicians were exposed to the outdoors and 98.2 percent of 

pharmacy technicians were not exposed to the outdoors. 

 Outdoor exposure was present for 35.8 percent of workers in healthcare support 

occupations. Within this occupational group, 74.0 percent of home health aides were 

exposed to the outdoors and 100.0 percent of dental assistants were not exposed to the 

outdoors. 

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Licensed practical and

licensed vocational nurses Medical assistants Nursing assistants Medical recordsspecialists

Phlebotomists

High school diploma Associate's degree

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Technical Note 

The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) provides job-related information about the 

physical demands; environmental conditions; education, training, and experience; as well as 

cognitive and mental requirements in the U.S. economy. 

Additional job requirement estimates are available at www.bls.gov/web/ors/ors-completedataset.xlsx and www.bls.gov/ors/data.htm. For information on estimation concepts and methods 

see the Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/ors/home.htm and 

www.bls.gov/ors/questions-and-answers.htm. 

Sample size: The ORS is a nationally representative establishment-based survey. Estimates are 

produced from a probability sample of 20,000 establishments. There were 10,400 private 

industry and 2,300 state and local government responding establishments that provided 

approximately 59,700 occupational observations. The 2020 estimates represent 128,529,000 

civilian workers. 

These estimates are from two of five sample groups and are considered preliminary. Data from 

all five sample groups collected between September 2018 and July 2023 will be aggregated to 

produce the final estimates with an expected reference year of 2023. 

Standard errors: To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of ORS estimates, standard errors 

are made available with the release. Standard errors provide users a measure of the precision of 

an estimate to ensure that it is within an acceptable range for their intended purpose. 

Collected and imputed data are included in the standard error calculation. For further information 

and how to use the standard errors see www.bls.gov/ors/se.htm. 

Major terms: Additional terminology and concepts are explained in the collection manual at 

www.bls.gov/ors/information-for-survey-participants/pdf/occupational-requirements-surveycollection-manual-082019.pdf and the Handbook of Methods at 

www.bls.gov/opub/hom/ors/home.htm. 

Critical job function - This is the main purpose and the primary pay factor for the job. It consists 

of critical tasks that are integral to the job.

Critical tasks - Activities workers must perform to carry out their critical job function(s). 

Sitting is present when workers remain in a seated position or are lying down. When workers 

may choose between sitting and standing, that work time is included in sitting for the hours and 

percent of workday estimates. 

Standing is present when workers are walking or in low postures. 

Choice of sitting or standing is present when workers can alternate between positions, and three 

conditions exist: (1) workers typically have the flexibility to choose between sitting and standing 

throughout the workday; (2) there are no assigned periods during the workday to sit or stand; and 

(3) no external factors determine whether workers must sit or stand. 

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Table 1. Percentage of workers with sitting and standing requirements, 2020

Estimate

Standard 

error

Estimate

Standard 

error

Estimate

Standard 

error

Estimate

Standard 

error

Allowed Not 

allowed

Standard 

error

All workers 3.37 [1] 42.7 0.5 4.25 [1] 57.3 0.5 42.5 57.5 0.6

 Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 2.95 0.09 35.5 1.1 5.47 0.12 64.5 1.1 32.2 67.8 1.8

 Pharmacists 1.62 0.13 24.8 3.4 5.73 0.37 75.2 3.4 45.2 54.8 7.5

 Physician assistants 3.38 0.29 36.4 2.5 5.64 0.23 63.6 2.5 64.8 35.2 10.3

 Physical therapists 1.70 0.21 23.2 2.8 5.69 0.30 76.8 2.8 42.7 57.3 10.6

 Respiratory therapists 2.80 0.34 30.9 4.3 6.55 0.56 69.1 4.3 - - -

 Registered nurses 2.61 0.18 30.3 1.8 6.24 0.12 69.7 1.8 22.5 77.5 4.6

 Nurse midwives 3.04 0.48 37.4 5.9 5.17 0.56 62.6 5.9 - - -

 Nurse practitioners 2.97 0.60 37.3 7.2 4.99 0.51 62.7 7.2 40.4 59.6 13.1

 Dental hygienists 5.42 0.40 70.3 3.7 2.29 0.27 29.7 3.7 - - -

 Medical and clinical laboratory technicians 3.56 0.36 43.1 4.0 4.45 0.34 56.9 4.0 45.6 54.4 10.8

 Magnetic resonance imaging technologists - - 35.0 6.9 4.90 0.39 65.0 6.9 - - -

 Emergency medical technicians 5.34 1.26 46.2 7.4 5.99 0.91 53.8 7.4 - 100.0 [2]

 Pharmacy technicians 1.01 0.37 12.7 4.6 6.36 0.42 87.3 4.6 32.2 67.8 9.5

 Surgical technologists 1.01 0.2 11.4 2.6 8.02 0.69 88.6 2.6 - 100 [2]

 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 2.42 0.25 27.9 2.8 6.17 0.24 72.1 2.8 15.5 84.5 3.5

 Medical records specialists 6.42 0.21 80.9 2.4 1.50 0.18 19.1 2.4 77.4 22.6 9.3

 Opticians, dispensing 4.40 0.89 58.6 13.0 3.23 1.04 41.4 13.0 - - -

 Healthcare support occupations 2.08 0.09 29.0 1.1 5.04 0.08 71.0 1.1 17.8 82.2 3.9

 Personal care aides 1.68 0.07 25.4 2.1 4.68 0.23 74.6 2.1 14.5 85.5 6.5

 Nursing assistants 1.20 0.09 14.0 0.9 7.29 0.31 86.0 0.9 13.0 87.0 4.5

 Psychiatric aides 1.85 0.40 23.4 5.0 6.08 0.41 76.6 5.0 - - -

 Occupational therapy assistants 2.66 0.47 33.5 5.8 5.26 0.46 66.5 5.8 - - -

 Physical therapist assistants 2.16 0.27 27.0 3.3 5.97 0.40 73.0 3.3 - - -

 Dental assistants 4.04 0.20 50.5 2.4 3.95 0.22 49.5 2.4 26.3 73.7 9.0

 Phlebotomists 2.63 0.62 33.2 7.2 5.16 0.50 66.8 7.2 - - -

[1] Standard error is less than 0.05.

[2] Standard error is less than 0.5.

Note: Dashes indicate that estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement. Due to rounding, sum of estimates may not equal 100 percent.

Choice of sitting or standing

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Average hours of 

sitting Occupation and occupational group

Average percent of 

workday spent sitting

Average hours of 

standing

Average percent of 

workday spent standing

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Table 2. Percentage of workers with problem solving requirements, 2020

Occupational group and detailed occupation by frequency Required Standard error

More than once per day

 All workers 16.0 0.5

 Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 35.0 2.7

 Physician assistants 66.5 8.3

 Occupational therapists 76.5 8.0

 Physical therapists 57.3 7.9

 Nurse practitioners 65.0 10.3

 Obstetricians and gynecologists 68.2 16.4

 Emergency medical technicians 27.7 8.9

 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 15.0 4.0

 Medical records specialists 9.6 3.2

Less often than monthly, including never

 All workers 58.1 [1]

 Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 30.4 2.0

 Dental hygienists 68.8 6.5

 Emergency medical technicians 49.6 13.2

 Pharmacy technicians 92.1 5.0

 Surgical technologists 94.7 4.2

 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 57.3 3.5

 Medical records specialists 61.5 6.8

 Healthcare support occupations 90.0 1.2

 Home health aides 100.0 [1]

 Personal care aides 92.6 1.0

 Nursing assistants 90.7 5.9

 Psychiatric aides 94.2 3.8

 Physical therapist assistants 72.6 14.3

 Dental assistants 92.6 3.5

 Medical assistants 76.9 5.0

 Medical equipment preparers 92.7 3.3

 Phlebotomists 84.7 9.1

[1] Standard error is less than 0.5.

Note: This table does not include all categories of problem solving frequency

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

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Table 3. Percentage of workers with verbal interaction requirements, 2020

Estimate Standard error Estimate Standard error

 All workers 28.8 0.6 50.0 0.6

 Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 34.8 2.0 61.0 1.8

 Pharmacists 58.8 8.3 32.8 6.7

 Physician assistants 46.9 10.9 53.1 10.9

 Occupational therapists 34.0 13.2 65.9 13.2

 Physical therapists 48.6 10.8 48.2 10.8

 Recreational therapists 36.3 7.1 61.1 8.0

 Respiratory therapists - - 73.0 12.0

 Speech-language pathologists 59.1 11.5 40.7 11.4

 Registered nurses 35.6 4.2 62.7 4.0

 Nurse midwives - - 87.4 9.0

 Nurse practitioners 36.0 9.3 63.9 9.3

 Obstetricians and gynecologists - - 77.9 8.9

 Dental hygienists - - 78.1 5.4

 Medical and clinical laboratory technicians - - 65.6 10.5

 Cardiovascular technologists and technicians - - 81.7 10.6

 Diagnostic medical sonographers - - 88.4 6.2

 Nuclear medicine technologists 24.5 7.1 69.9 7.6

 Emergency medical technicians 28.9 6.3 59.8 8.0

 Pharmacy technicians 44.8 7.1 55.1 7.2

 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 47.8 5.1 51.1 4.9

 Medical records specialists - - 53.0 6.5

 Opticians, dispensing - - 88.3 7.2

 Genetic counselors - - 57.4 9.9

 Healthcare support occupations 39.1 2.5 54.1 1.8

 Home health aides - - 66.0 15.4

 Personal care aides 39.1 5.3 50.8 7.6

 Nursing assistants 56.6 9.3 42.2 9.0

 Psychiatric aides - - 77.4 13

 Physical therapist assistants 75.0 13.9 - -

 Dental assistants 22.7 4.9 77.2 4.9

 Medical assistants 53.6 6.8 46.1 6.7

 Phlebotomists 65.9 14.1 34.1 14.1

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Required constantly, every few minutes Required not constantly, but more than once per hour

Occupational group and detailed occupation

Note: Dashes indicate that estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement. This table does not include all categories of verbal interaction frequency

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Table 4. Percentage of workers with minimum formal education requirements, 2020

Occupational group and detailed occupation by minimum formal education Required Standard error

High school diploma

All workers 40.4 0.7

 Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 18.0 1.7

 Recreational therapists 12.6 4.8

 Medical and clinical laboratory technicians 45.3 12.0

 Nuclear medicine technologists 7.0 3.1

 Emergency medical technicians 81.1 7.5

 Pharmacy technicians 85.8 6.0

 Surgical technologists 58.1 16.6

 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 33.1 8.3

 Medical records specialists 83.2 5.2

 Healthcare support occupations 65.3 3.1

 Home health aides 58.7 13.7

 Personal care aides 62.0 7.5

 Nursing assistants 74.9 6.7

 Psychiatric aides 83.8 8.8

 Dental assistants 62.3 8.4

 Medical assistants 70.1 7.1

 Medical equipment preparers 100.0 [1]

 Phlebotomists 90.3 9.1

Associate's degree

 All workers 4.3 [1]

 Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 17.9 1.3

 Radiation therapists 13.7 5.5

 Respiratory therapists 40.0 13.7

 Registered nurses 24.9 2.8

 Diagnostic medical sonographers 16.5 5.2

 Nuclear medicine technologists 26.5 6.6

 Radiologic technologists and technicians 29.6 8.2

 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 49.0 6.1

 Medical records specialists 9.1 2.4

 Healthcare support occupations 5.4 1.0

 Occupational therapy assistants 62.6 14.6

 Physical therapist assistants 65.6 11.2

 Medical assistants 11.5 4.1

[1] Standard error is less than 0.5.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Note: Dashes indicate that estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement. This table does not include all categories of minimum formal 

- 8 -
Table 5. Percentage of workers with environmental exposure requirements, 2020

Required Not required Standard error Required Not required Standard error

All workers 34.2 65.8 0.6 33.8 66.2 0.5

 Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 76.7 23.3 1.6 8.7 91.3 0.7

 Pharmacists 63.9 36.1 8.9 - 100.0 [1]

 Physician assistants 90.2 - 4.7 - 100.0 [1]

 Occupational therapists 83.6 16.4 7.9 - 90.3 [1]

 Physical therapists 67.5 32.5 10.7 - 85.5 9.0

 Radiation therapists 57.8 - 15.6 - 99.2 0.9

 Recreational therapists 54.0 46.0 7.9 63.9 36.1 8.8

 Respiratory therapists 74.0 - 13.1 - 100.0 [1]

 Speech-language pathologists 26.0 74.0 9.3 - 96.0 3.5

 Exercise physiologists 63.3 36.7 10.8 - 97.5 1.0

 Registered nurses 87.2 12.8 3.3 3.6 96.4 1.0

 Nurse midwives 97.9 - 2.7 - 100.0 [1]

 Nurse practitioners 81.9 - 10.2 - 100.0 [1]

 Obstetricians and gynecologists 89.1 - 8.8 - 100.0 [1]

 Dental hygienists 89.0 - 9.8 - 100.0 [1]

 Medical and clinical laboratory technologists 85.1 - 9.8 - 100.0 [1]

 Medical and clinical laboratory technicians 84.7 - 4.6 - 100.0 [1]

 Cardiovascular technologists and technicians 78.1 - 10.4 - 100.0 [1]

 Diagnostic medical sonographers 83.7 - 3.4 - 100.0 [1]

 Nuclear medicine technologists 76.1 - 5.4 - 100.0 [1]

 Emergency medical technicians 90.0 - 3.7 88.7 - 2.1

 Pharmacy technicians 38.6 61.4 8.5 - 98.2 1.7

 Surgical technologists 98.6 - 1.2 - 100.0 [1]

 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 87.0 13 3.4 21.9 78.1 4.2

 Opticians, dispensing 66.0 - 16 - 100.0 [1]

 Healthcare support occupations 86.1 13.9 1.9 35.8 64.2 2.0

 Home health aides 91.1 - 2.7 74.0 26.0 8.2

 Personal care aides 84.1 15.9 3.9 54.9 45.1 6.3

 Nursing assistants 96.1 - 1.8 21.9 78.1 3.8

 Psychiatric aides 94.8 - 4.1 - - -

 Occupational therapy assistants 95.7 - 1.5 - 87.2 5.4

 Physical therapist assistants 88.7 11.3 4.4 - 76.2 7.9

 Dental assistants 89.9 - 5.7 - 100.0 [1]

 Medical assistants 82.9 - 8.8 - 99.7 [1]

 Medical equipment preparers 91.1 - 8.5 - 100.0 [1]

 Phlebotomists 90.4 - 8.3 - 100.0 [1]

[1] Standard error is less than 0.5.

Note: Dashes indicate that estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement. Due to rounding, sum of estimates may not equal 100 percent.

Occupation and occupational group

Exposure to wetness Exposure to the outdoors

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

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