1. Revising the Standard Occupational Classification: How You Can Help
Edward Salsberg, MPA
Michelle M. Washko, PhD
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
Bureau of Health Professions
National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
NOVEMBER 12th, 2013

2. National Center for Health Workforce Analysis: UPDATES
Area Health Resource File: State and national level health workforce files have now been added to the AHRF in addition to the county level data file
Health Workforce Research Centers: NCHWA just funded 4 new research centers in health workforce:
Technical Assistance:
Health Research, Inc (SUNY University at Albany Center for Health Workforce Studies)
Research:
University of California, San Francisco (focus area: long-term care)
The George Washington University (focus area: flexible use of workers to improve care delivery and efficiency)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (focus area: flexible use of workers to improve care delivery and efficiency)
For more info and updates, visit our website at:

3. Overview of Presentation
Description of the Standard Occupational Classification
Standard Occupational Classification Revision

4. Description of the Standard Occupational Classification

5. Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
Many uses for occupational information
Estimating supply and demand
Decisions on education and training
Job search and placement assistance
Employer decisions on compensation, training, business location

6. Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
Classification is critical to providing information about occupations for these uses:
How are occupations defined?
How is occupational information organized and presented?
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) answers these questions for Federal statistics

7. Why the SOC? Before the SOC – chaos! With the SOC – comparability!
Federal statistical agencies produced data using different occupational categories
Data did not fit together
With the SOC – comparability!
Data from different statistical agencies fit together
Data can be used to tell a more complete story

8. Revising the SOC: How You Can Help
First
What is the SOC
Who is responsible for the SOC
How the SOC is structured
Then
History of SOC revisions
The SOC revision process
General timeframes

9. Revising the SOC: How You Can Help
Finally
How you can provide input
What information we need from you
How to stay connected

10. What is the SOC?
A Federal statistical standard set and required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Applies to Federal agencies that publish occupational data for statistical purposes
Other OMB standard classification systems
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas
Race/ethnicity categories
Provide for comparability across Federal statistical data sources

11. Who is responsible for the SOC?
OMB
Requires use of SOC in Federal statistics
Makes final decisions about the SOC
Publishes the SOC Manual
Charters the SOC Policy Committee
SOC Policy Committee (SOCPC)
Recommends SOC changes to OMB
Maintains the SOC and supports SOC users
Is an interagency committee

12. SOC Policy Committee Bureau of Labor Statistics (chair)
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Census Bureau
Defense Manpower Data Center
Employment and Training Administration
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Health Resources and Services Administration (HHS Representative)
National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation
Office of Personnel Management
Office of Management and Budget (ex-officio)

13. History of SOC Revisions
First standard occupational classification in the U.S.
1980 SOC
Addressed issues with the 1977 SOC
Used by Census Bureau in 1980 Census
2000 SOC
Widely adopted by Federal agencies collecting occupational statistics
2010 SOC
Updated and expanded the 2000 SOC

14. History of SOC Revisions
Four-level hierarchy in all editions
Increasing occupational detail with each revision
Number of:
1977
SOC
1980
2000
2010
Major Occupation Groups 21 22 23
Detailed Occupations
662
666
821
840

15. How the SOC is Structured
Occupational hierarchy:
Structure of detailed occupations
Title, code, and definition
23 Major occupation groups
97 Minor occupation groups
461 Broad occupations
840 Detailed occupations

16. 2010 SOC Occupational Hierarchy
Major group
Healthcare Support Occupations
Minor group
Nursing, Psychiatric and Home Health Aides
Broad occupation
This broad occupation includes the following four detailed occupations:
Home Health Aides
Psychiatric Aides
Nursing Assistants
Orderlies
Detailed occupation
Provide routine individualized healthcare such as changing bandages and dressing wounds, and applying topical medications to the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities at the patient’s home or in a care facility. Monitor or report changes in health status. May also provide personal care such as bathing, dressing, and grooming of patient.

17. 2010 SOC Major Occupation Groups
Code
Title
Management Occupations
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Community and Social Service Occupations
Legal Occupations
Education, Training, and Library Occupations
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Healthcare Support Occupations
Protective Service Occupations

18. 2010 SOC Major Occupation Groups
Code
Title
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Personal Care and Service Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
Construction and Extraction Occupations
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
Production Occupations
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Military Specific Occupations

19. 2010 SOC Detailed Occupation Structure
“May” statement
Illustrative Example
Registered Nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Includes Clinical Nurse Specialists. Excludes “Nurse Anesthetists” ( ), “Nurse Midwives” ( ), and “Nurse Practitioners” ( ).
Illustrative Example: Psychiatric Nurse
Title
Definition
Code
“Excludes” statement
“Includes” statement

20. SOC Conceptual Basis 2010 SOC Classification Principles
Foundation for classification decisions
2010 SOC Coding Guidelines
Guidance to data collectors and others using the SOC to code occupations
Help users understand what is included in each detailed SOC occupation

21. 2010 SOC Classification Principles
Basis for SOCPC recommendations about:
Modifying existing detailed occupations
Adding new detailed occupations
Placing detailed occupations in the SOC hierarchy
9 Classification Principles for 2010 SOC
Classification Principles may change for the 2018 revision

22. 2010 SOC Classification Principles
Principle 1: The SOC covers all work performed for pay or profit
Principle 2: Classification is based on work performed
Principles 3-6: How managers and supervisors are classified
Principle 7: How apprentices and trainees are classified, and how they differ from helpers and aides
Principle 8: Use of residual or “all other” categories
Principle 9: Collectability

23. 2010 SOC Classification Principles
Occupations are classified based on work performed and, in some cases, on the skills, education, and/or training needed to perform the work at a competent level.

24. 2010 SOC Classification Principles
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau are charged with collecting and reporting data on total U.S. employment across the full spectrum of SOC major groups.
Thus, for a detailed occupation to be included in the SOC, either the Bureau of Labor Statistics or the Census Bureau must be able to collect and report data on that occupation.

25. 2010 SOC Coding Guidelines
Guideline 1: Coding should be based on the work performed
Guideline 2: Coding jobs that could be coded to more than one occupation
Guideline 3: Assign workers to the most detailed occupation possible
Guideline 4: Use of residual or “all other” categories
Guideline 5: Coding of supervisors
Guideline 6: Coding of licensed and non-licensed workers performing the same work

26. Standard Occupational Classification Revision

27. Revising the SOC Overview of the SOC revision process
Phases of the process
Soliciting and reviewing public input
What kind of information does the SOCPC need?
General timeframe

28. SOC Revision: Why a 2018 SOC?
Minimizes disruption to data producers and users
Adopt occupational and industry classifications simultaneously for data series that use both
Time SOC revision for year after the 2017 NAICS revision
Coincides with start of the American Community Survey’s next 5-year set of surveys

29. 2018 SOC Revision: General Timeframe
1st Federal Register notice soliciting public input
Late 2013
SOCPC reviews public input, Federal agency input, and conducts own research; develops recommendations to OMB
Through 2014
2nd Federal Register notice requesting comments on SOCPC recommendations
Late 2014 or early 2015
SOCPC reviews comments and develops final recommendations to OMB
Through 2015
OMB reviews SOCPC recommendations
Late 2015
3d Federal Register notice announcing the final 2018 SOC structure, and occupation codes and titles
Early 2016
SOCPC completes occupational definitions and SOC Manual
Through 2016
OMB publishes 2018 SOC Manual
Early 2017
Federal statistical agencies implement 2018 SOC
Beginning 2018

30. SOC Revision Process
Review and possibly revise the Classification Principles and Coding Guidelines
Consider whether major occupation group structure should be changed
Conduct outreach to those who may wish to provide recommendations
Solicit and review input from the public and Federal agencies (1st Federal Register Notice)

31. SOC Revision Process Develop recommendations to OMB
Solicit public comments on the recommendations (2nd Federal Register Notice)
Review public comments and make final recommendations to OMB
OMB considers recommendations and publishes the final 2018 SOC structure and Manual (3rd Federal Register Notice)
Implement the 2018 SOC in Federal statistical programs

32. SOC Revision: Solicit and review input
For the 2018 revision
Comments to 1st Federal Register notice due by March 2014 (approximately)
May request public input on:
Proposed revised Classification Principles
Proposed retention of the 2010 SOC Major Occupation Groups
Corrections and changes to existing detailed occupations
Proposals for new detailed occupations

33. SOC Revision: Solicit and review input
What kind of information about occupations does the SOCPC need?
Nature of the work performed
How the work performed is distinct from that of other detailed SOC occupations
Job titles commonly used
Indications of the number workers in the occupation

34. SOC Revision: Solicit and review input
(cont’d)
Types of employers
Education and training typically required
Licensing requirements, if any
Tools and technologies generally used
Professional or trade associations and unions related to the occupation

35. How you can provide input
Provide your input by responding to the Federal Register notices
Ensures your input will be included in the dockets the SOCPC will review
Carefully review the Federal Register notices
Submit your comments using the procedures described in the Notices

36. How you can provide input
Review the Classification Principles and Coding Guidelines
Review the elements of a detailed SOC occupation
Understand what kind of information the SOCPC needs to know

37. How you can provide input
When recommending a new or revised occupation:
Provide specific information on the nature of the work performed – this is the most important type of information!
Include specific activities and tasks
Indicate which activities and tasks are required of all workers in the occupation
Address the “Input Requested” topics

38. Knowing when to respond
Use the SOC website at
Subscribe to SOC revision updates
We will let you know when a Federal Register notice is published and how to find it, and provide other alerts
Review SOC materials available on the site
Monitor the SOC revision process

39. Your input is important!
The SOC Policy Committee values the comments we receive.
Your comments will be critical to making the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification as current and accurate as it can be.
Thank you.

40. Michelle Washko 301-443-9846 Mwashko@HRSA.gov