Community health workers

Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt 

healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals 

by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with 

healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate 

and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual 

and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive 

services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May 

collect data to help identify community health needs.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in 

jobs.

In 2023, more than basic people skills were required for greater than 90 percent of community health workers, and basic 

people skills were required for less than 10 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of community health workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 

2023

Requirement Yes No

Pace: Pause control 88.1 11.9

Interaction with general public >99.5 <0.5

Working around crowds 3.6 96.4

Telework 26.9 73.1

Work review: Supervising others 4.6 95.4

Work review: Presence of supervisor 18.0 82.0

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

Education, training, and 

experience requirements

The minimum level of formal 

education required, 

credentials necessary, on-thejob training, and prior work 

experience necessary for 

average performance in jobs.

In 2023, credentials were 

required for 83.2 percent of 

community health workers. 

Prior work experience was 

required for 71.9 percent and 

on-the-job training was 

required for 69.2 percent.

A high school diploma was 

required for 52.3 percent of 

community health workers.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete 

hazards or difficulties that are in the 

vicinity of where jobs’ critical tasks 

are performed.

In 2023, greater than 99.5 percent of 

community health workers were not 

exposed to extreme cold, and greater 

than 99.5 percent were not exposed 

to extreme heat. Wetness was not 

present for 88.7 percent, greater than 

99.5 percent were not exposed to 

heavy vibrations, and 64.2 percent 

were not exposed to the outdoors.

Physical demands

Refer to the physical activities 

required to perform tasks in 

jobs. The presence and, in 

some cases, duration of these 

activities are published.

In 2023, keyboarding was 

required for greater than 99.5 

percent of community health 

workers and was not required 

for less than 0.5 percent.

Performing work in low 

postures was required for 34.4 

percent of community health 

workers and was not required 

for 65.6 percent.

The choice to sit or stand 

when performing critical tasks 

was available to 91.0 percent of community health workers.

Table 2. Percentage of community health workers with physical demands, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Choice of sitting or standing 91.0 9.0

Driving 71.7 28.3

Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs 21.4 78.6

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