Personal care and service workers

This occupational group includes animal care and service workers, 

entertainment attendants, funeral service workers, personal appearance 

workers, baggage portages, bellhops, and concierges, tour and travel guides, 

childcare workers, personal care aides, recreation and fitness workers, and 

residential advisors.

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, verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 54.1 percent of personal care and service 

workers, and were required not constantly, but more than once per hour for 39.8 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of personal care and service workers with cognitive and mental 

requirements, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Pace: Pause control 35.0 65.0

Interaction with general public 98.6 1.4

Working around crowds 9.5 90.5

Telework 0.6 99.4

Work review: Supervising others 11.4 88.6

Work review: Presence of supervisor 65.3 34.7

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 50.4 percent of 

personal care and service 

workers. Prior work 

experience was required for 

26.4 percent and on-the-job 

training was required for 87.4 

percent.

No minimum education was 

required for 32.0 percent of 

personal care and service 

workers and a high school 

diploma was required for 60.7 percent.
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 

personal care and service workers were not 

exposed to extreme cold, and 98.9 percent 

were not exposed to extreme heat. Wetness 

was not present for 38.2 percent, greater 

than 99.5 percent were not exposed to 

heavy vibrations, and 48.5 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, reaching at or below the shoulder 

was required for 90.2 percent of personal care 

and service workers and was not required for 

9.8 percent. For 11.1 percent of workers, 

reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom 

performed, for 60.9 percent reaching at or 

below the shoulder occurred occasionally, 

16.1 percent frequently, and for 2.1 percent 

reaching at or below the shoulder occurred 

constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required 

for 71.8 percent of personal care and service workers and was not required for 28.2 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 21.5 percent of personal care and service 

workers. On average, workers spent 24.3 percent of the workday sitting and 75.7 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of personal care and service workers with physical demands, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Choice of sitting or standing 21.5 78.5

Driving 13.4 86.6

Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs 19.8 80.2

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