Occupational classification refers to the process of categorizing social occupations with similar general and essential characteristics into systematic taxonomies based on defined rules and standards. With social development and progress, occupational transformations have accelerated significantly. Beyond the obsolescence of old roles and emergence of new ones, the activities and methodologies within the same occupation also evolve continuously. Consequently, occupational categorization exhibits distinct temporal characteristics. Broadly speaking, occupations were synonymous with industries in eras with limited occupational diversity. However, contemporary distinctions reveal occupations and industries as interrelated yet distinct concepts, where industries generally serve as categorical frameworks for occupations in classification systems. Geographically, occupational distributions demonstrate variations across regions, urban-rural areas, industries, and national boundaries.
Applications of occupational information for enterprises and human resource departments:
- Rapidly develop effective job descriptions with ease.
- Expand high-quality candidate pools for vacant positions.
- Define success factors for employee performance.
- Align organizational development with workplace requirements.
- Refine recruitment and training objectives.
- Design competitive compensation and promotion systems.
Applications of occupational information for job seekers:
- Match positions aligned with their interests, skills, and experience.
- Explore emerging trends in growth occupations using current labor market data.
- Investigate strategies for securing ideal employment.
- Maximize earning potential and job satisfaction.
- Understand determinants of success within their professional fields.
USDataverse presents the O*NET U.S. Occupational Characteristics Data, encompassing over 1,000 occupations based on the 2018 International Standard Classification of Occupations. This dataset covers occupation-related skills, abilities, knowledge domains, work activities, and interest profiles, serving as a valuable resource for career exploration, vocational counseling, and human resources research.
Time Range
Cross-sectional data: End of 2023
Field Description
Occupation Overview
Occupation-Specific Description
Occupational Requirements
Work Experience Requirements
Employee Requirements
Employee Characteristics
Occupational Characteristics
Additional Information
Sample Data
Given the dataset's structural complexity with multiple sub-branch table scenarios, this introduction page displays partial examples only. Detailed field specifications and complete sample data can be accessed through dedicated module branch pages on the right.
Occupational Basic Information Table
Related Literature
- Lena Hensvik, Thomas Le Barbanchon, Roland Rathelot, 2021, “Job search during the COVID-19 crisis”, Journal of Public Economics, Volume 194.
Data Update Frequency
Annual Update