What is the difference between “Occupational Employment and Wage estimates” and “Industry Staffing Pattern estimates”?

The Occupational Employment Statistics program produces “Occupational Employment and Wage estimates” and “Industry Staffing Pattern estimates,” both of which consist of employment and wage estimates by occupation. The “Occupational Employment and Wage estimates” consist of national, State, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area estimates. The “Industry Staffing Pattern estimates” contain only national estimates.

The main difference is that the “Occupational Employment and Wage estimates” are cross-industry estimates, and the “Industry Staffing Pattern estimates” are industry-specific estimates.

• Cross-industry estimates are calculated with data collected from establishments in all the industries in which a particular occupation is reported. (Not every occupation is reported in every industry.) For example, the cross-industry occupational employment estimate for mechanical engineers is the sum of all the industry-specific estimates for mechanical engineers. Likewise, cross-industry occupational wage estimates for mechanical engineers are calculated from data collected from establishments in all the industries where mechanical engineers are reported.
• Industry-specific estimates are calculated with data collected from establishments in a particular industry. Industry-specific occupational employment estimates estimate the number of people employed in that occupation in a particular industry. Similarly, the industry-specific occupational wage estimates are calculated with data from establishments in one particular industry. Since different industries employ people in different occupations, the occupations in the staffing pattern for one industry will not be the same as the occupations in the staffing pattern for another industry.

Prior to 1997, national industry-specific estimates of occupational employment were the only OES estimates produced by the BLS; wage estimates were not produced.

Why does the OES program produce estimates from more than one year's data?

Significant reductions in sampling error can be achieved by taking advantage of a full three years of data, covering 1.2 million establishments and about 62 percent of the employment in the United States. This feature is particularly important in improving the reliability of estimates for detailed occupations in small geographical areas. Combining multiple years of data is also necessary to obtain full coverage of the largest establishments. In order to reduce respondent burden, the OES survey samples these establishments with virtual certainty only once every three years. While there are significant advantages, there are also limitations associated with this estimation procedure in that it requires “updating” for the earlier years of data and limits the usefulness of OES data for time series analysis. (See “Can OES data be used to compare changes in employment and wages over time?” for more information.)

The May 2011 employment and wage estimates were calculated using data collected in the May 2011, November 2010, May 2010, November 2009, May 2009, and November 2008 semi-annual panels. The November 2007, May 2008, November 2008, May 2009, and November 2009 wage data have been adjusted to the May 2011 reference period using the over-the-year wage change in the most applicable Employment Cost Index series. The employment from the 6 panels has been benchmarked to the average of the November 2010 and May 2011 employment in each industry cell.

Does the OES survey produce estimates by age, race, sex, or educational attainment?

No. The OES survey program does not gather demographic information. However, the BLS Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey program provides information on employment, unemployment, and weekly earnings, by a variety of demographic characteristics.

Does the OES survey produce estimates by size of establishment?

No. The OES survey does not produce estimates based on total establishment employment. Information pertaining to the number of establishments in various employment size classes and their aggregate employment (economy wide and by industry) can be obtained by contacting the staff at the Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages program.

Does the OES program have any data on unemployment for specific occupations?

No. The OES survey produces estimates of the numbers of employees and their wages collected from the establishments where they work. However, there is some information on selected unemployment indicators (including broad occupational groups) in “The Employment Situation” news release, which is part of Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. More detailed information on characteristics of the unemployed can be obtained by contacting the Current Population Survey staff.

Does the OES program have any information on job vacancies?

No. The OES survey does not ask establishments for vacancy information. Another BLS program, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), asks establishments for the number of job openings on the last business day of each month. However, the data are not available by occupation. Job seekers can find links to State job banks and to private-sector job banks at www.jobbankinfo.org.

Does the BLS have occupational employment projections or information on occupational outlook?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Office of Employment Projections provides 10-year employment projections by occupation. For more than 50 years, the Bureau's Occupational Outlook Handbook has been a nationally recognized source of career information. It describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, wages from the OES survey, and expected job prospects for a variety of occupations.

How are “employees” defined by the OES survey?

“Employees” are all part-time and full-time workers who are paid a wage or salary. The survey does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers, or unpaid family workers.

Does the BLS have occupational employment estimates that include the self-employed?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Office of Employment Projections provides current and projected national economy-wide occupational employment estimates that include the self-employed.

How are “wages” defined by the OES survey?

Wages for the OES survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay.

Included in the collection of wage data are:

• base rate,
• cost-of-living allowances,
• guaranteed pay,
• hazardous-duty pay,
• incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses, and
• tips.

Excluded from the wage data are:

• back pay,
• jury duty pay,
• overtime pay,
• severance pay,
• shift differentials,
• nonproduction bonuses, and
• tuition reimbursements.

Do the OES wage estimates include benefits?

No. OES wage estimates represent wages and salaries only, and do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of nonwage benefits, such as health insurance or employer contributions to retirement plans. Information on cost of benefits, benefit incidence, and detailed plan provisions is available from the National Compensation Survey program.

How long has the OES survey produced wage data?

The OES survey produced both occupational employment and occupational wage data nationwide for the first time in 1997. Prior to 1997, occupational employment estimates by industry were the only OES estimates produced by the BLS.

What are mean wages? What are median wages?

The OES program produces estimates of wages by occupation, i.e., the wages paid to wage or salary employees in a given occupation in the U.S., in a particular State, or in a particular industry. These occupational wage estimates are either estimates of mean wages or percentiles, such as the median wage.

• A mean wage is an average wage. An occupational mean wage estimate is calculated by summing the wages of all the employees in a given occupation and then dividing the total wages by the number of employees.
• A percentile wage is a boundary. For example, an occupational median wage (50th percentile) estimate is the boundary between the highest paid 50 percent and the lowest paid 50 percent of workers in that occupation. Half of the workers in a given occupation earn more than the median wage, and half the workers earn less than the median wage. For more information, see the page on percentiles.

How is the OES survey conducted?

The OES survey is a semiannual mail survey of nonfarm establishments. The BLS produces the survey materials and selects the establishments to be surveyed. The sampling frame (the list from which establishments to be surveyed are selected) is derived from the list of establishments maintained by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) for unemployment insurance purposes. Establishments to be surveyed are selected in order to obtain data from every metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area in every State, across all surveyed industries, and from establishments of varying sizes. The SWAs mail the survey materials to the selected establishments and make follow-up calls to request data from nonrespondents or to clarify data. The collected data are used to produce occupational estimates at the National, State, and sub-State levels.

When will this year's OES estimates be available?

The OES program releases estimates every year in the second quarter. The estimates for 2011 and forward will be released in late March or April.

How does the OES program classify occupations?

In 1999, the OES survey began using the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The May 2010 OES estimates mark the first set of estimates based, in part, on data collected for the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification system. Almost all the occupations in this release are 2010 occupations, however, some are not. In these cases an estimate for a temporary occupation was created from data reported for one or more occupations in the 2000 SOC combined with data reported for one or more 2010 SOC occupations. Some occupations have the same title as a 2010 SOC occupation, but not the same content. These occupations are marked with an asterisk (*) and given a temporary code for the OES data. The May 2012 OES data will reflect the full set of detailed occupations in the 2010 SOC. The detailed SOC occupations are allocated among these twenty-three major groups:

• 11-0000 Management Occupations
• 13-0000 Business and Financial Operations Occupations
• 15-0000 Computer and Mathematical Occupations
• 17-0000 Architecture and Engineering Occupations
• 19-0000 Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
• 21-0000 Community and Social Service Occupations
• 23-0000 Legal Occupations
• 25-0000 Education, Training and Library Occupations
• 27-0000 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
• 29-0000 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
• 31-0000 Healthcare Support Occupations
• 33-0000 Protective Service Occupations
• 35-0000 Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
• 37-0000 Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
• 39-0000 Personal Care and Service Occupations
• 41-0000 Sales and Related Occupations
• 43-0000 Office and Administrative Support Occupations
• 45-0000 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
• 47-0000 Construction and Extraction Occupations
• 49-0000 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
• 51-0000 Production Occupations
• 53-0000 Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
• 55-0000 Military Specific Occupations (not surveyed in OES)

More information about the Standard Occupational Classification system, including the full SOC structure, is available from our SOC page. Detailed information on using the SOC to classify occupations can be found in the SOC User Guide.

Is the OES classification system compatible with other occupational classification systems?

Occupational Employment Statistics uses the Standard Occupational Classification system, which was designed to be used by all Federal statistical agencies reporting occupational data. The SOC is fully compatible with the occupational classifications used by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and O*NET. A crosswalk between the SOC and the Census Occupational Classification System is available from the Census Bureau. The National Crosswalk Service Center provides crosswalks between the SOC and other systems, including O*NET, Military Occupational Classification (MOC), and the OES classification system used before 1999.

How does the OES program define industry classifications? What is the NAICS? What do the "OES designations" for government industries mean?

The OES program uses definitions of industries found in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The NAICS is used throughout the Federal Government to group establishments into industries based on the goods or services they produce. The NAICS structure makes it possible to collect and calculate establishment data by broad industrial sectors, subsectors (3-digit NAICS levels), industry groups (4-digit NAICS levels), and NAICS industries (5-digit NAICS levels). See the North American Industry Classification System, 2007 (Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget), available in many libraries.

The OES survey produces occupational employment and wage estimates for sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5-digit NAICS levels. With the exception of schools and hospitals, industry-specific estimates only include privately owned establishments. Schools and hospitals that are owned by State and local governments are included with the estimates of privately owned schools and hospitals in the appropriate NAICS code. OES classifies most government-owned establishments differently from the NAICS. The NAICS classifies government establishments according to their primary function and includes detailed industries within sector 92 Public Administration. The OES does not use NAICS sector 92. Instead, the OES survey produces occupational employment and wage estimates at the Federal, State, and local Government levels and denotes them with industry codes 9991, 9992, and 9993, respectively. The State and local government data consist of all State and local government establishments, except schools and hospitals. Data for State and local government, including schools and hospitals, are also available. Estimates for schools and hospitals are available across private, state, and local government ownerships as well as by ownership. The Federal Government estimates consist of all establishments in the executive branch of the Federal Government. Beginning in 2010, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) data is included in the Federal Government estimates as well. The judicial and legislative branches of the Federal Government are not surveyed.

What industries are surveyed? What industries are not surveyed?

The OES survey collects occupational employment and wage data from establishments in nonfarm industries. The OES survey produces estimates of occupational employment and wages for sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5-digit NAICS levels. The sectors are: Forestry and Logging; Mining; Utilities; Construction; Manufacturing; Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade; Transportation and Warehousing; Information; Finance and Insurance; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Management of Companies and Enterprises; Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services; Educational Services; Health Care and Social Assistance; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; Accommodation and Food Services; Other Services (except Public Administration); and Government.

The OES program does not survey establishments in NAICS 111 (Crop Production); NAICS 112 (Animal Production); NAICS 114 (Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping); and NAICS 814 (Private Households).

Does the BLS make OES estimates available in print or electronic form?

The BLS makes OES estimates available via this Internet site, as online publications, and in electronic format.

• This Internet site contains cross-industry occupational employment and wage estimates for the U.S., for individual States, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. It also contains estimates by ownership as well as industry-specific estimates for sector, 3-, 4-, and 5-digit NAICS levels. Please refer to the table above to determine where to obtain particular OES estimates.
• OES estimates are available in electronic format. Current estimates for 1997 onward are available at no cost via a download from this website. Please see “Are OES data available for previous years?” for information on requesting OES data for earlier years.
• OES estimates are not available in hardcopy format. However, a variety of publications using OES data are available online in HTML or pdf format, including OES news releases, the OES chart book, OES Highlights, and other publications and articles using OES data.

Can OES data be used to compare changes in employment or wages over time?

Although the OES survey methodology is designed to create detailed cross-sectional employment and wage estimates for the U.S., States, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, across industry and by industry, it is less useful for comparisons of two or more points in time. Challenges in using OES data as a time series include changes in the occupational, industrial, and geographical classification systems, changes in the way data are collected, changes in the survey reference period, and changes in mean wage estimation methodology, as well as permanent features of the methodology.

Changes in occupational classification The OES survey used its own occupational classification system through 1998. The 1999 OES survey data provide estimates for most of the nonresidual occupations in the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The 2004-2009 OES data provides estimates for all occupations in the 2000 SOC. The May 2010 data provides estimates for most occupations in the 2010 SOC (for more on the 2010 occupations, see below). Because of these changes, it may be difficult to compare some occupations even if they are found in both classification systems. For example, both the old OES system and the 2000 SOC include the occupation “computer programmers.” However, estimates for this occupation may not be comparable over time because the 2000 SOC has several computer-related occupations that were not included in the older classification system. Workers in newly classified occupations, such as systems software engineers and applications software engineers, may have been reported as computer programmers in the past. Therefore, even occupations that appear the same in the two systems may show employment shifts due to the addition or deletion of related occupations.

Changes in industrial classification In 2002, the OES survey switched from the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). As a result, there were changes in many industry definitions. Even definitions that appear similar between the two industry classifications may have differences because of the way auxiliary establishments are treated. For example, under SIC the industry “grocery stores” included their retail establishments, warehouses, transportation facilities, and administrative headquarters. Under NAICS, the four establishment types would be reported in separate industries. Only the retail establishments would be included in the NAICS industry for “grocery stores.” The change in industrial classification also resulted in changes to the occupations listed on the survey form for a given industry. In 2008, the OES survey switched to the 2007 NAICS classification system from the 2002 NAICS. The most significant revisions are in the Information Sector, particularly within the Telecommunications area. Beginning in 2010, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) data is included in the Federal Government estimates.

Changes in geographical classification In May 2005, the OES survey began using metropolitan area definitions based on new standards and the results of the Census 2000. Prior to 2005, OES had data for 334 metropolitan areas. As of 2011, OES has data for 586 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, including 380 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and 34 metropolitan divisions which make up 11 of the MSAs.

Changes in the way the data are collected In the past, employment in some occupations in an industry may have been reported in a residual category rather than in the specific occupation. In order to limit the length of most survey forms to 24 pages, the forms list only the occupations that are likely to be found in the employer's industry. Prior to 2001, if an employer had an occupation that was not included on the form, the respondent may have reported the worker in an “all other” or residual category or in a related occupation. Currently, the employer is asked to report detailed occupational information for workers that cannot be placed in one of the occupations listed on the form on a separate page. This change may have the effect of showing increased employment in occupations not on the form for a particular industry. In addition, changes to the occupations listed on forms may cause employers to classify workers differently.

Changes in the survey reference period In 2002, the reference months for the OES survey were changed from October, November, and December to May and November in order to reduce seasonal influences. Industries or occupations that have seasonal employment variations between the two sets of reference months will show employment shifts due to the change in the time of year the data were collected.

Changes in mean wage estimation methodology In 2002, the method of calculating mean wages was changed for occupations with any workers earning above $70 per hour in order to remove a downward bias in mean wage estimates. The result of this change may be seen as higher mean wage estimates for some occupations. However, the median and percentile wage estimates would not be affected by this change.

Permanent features of OES methodology The OES methodology that allows such detailed area and industry estimates also makes it difficult to use OES data for comparisons across short time periods. In order to produce estimates for a given reference period, employment and wages are collected from establishments in six semiannual panels for three consecutive years. Every six months, a new panel of data is added, and the oldest panel is dropped, resulting in a moving average staffing pattern. The three years of employment data are benchmarked to represent the total employment for the reference period. The wages of the older data are adjusted by the Employment Cost Index. This methodology assumes that industry staffing patterns change slowly and that detailed occupational wage rates in an area change at the same rate as the national change in the ECI wage component for the occupational group.

The use of 6 data panels to create a set of estimates means that sudden changes in occupational employment or wages in the population or changes in methodology show up in the OES estimates gradually.

Given the above changes, it is difficult to make conclusive comparisons of OES data over time. However, comparisons of occupations that are not affected by classification changes may be possible if the methodological assumptions hold.

The OES program is considering changes in methodology that would make data useful for time-series comparisons, at least at more aggregated levels, but these are only in early stages of discussion. The Bureau of Labor Statistics at present does not use or encourage the use of OES data for time-series analysis. Where users choose to make such comparisons, we would caution them to note the changes in survey procedures and the limits of the methods used with a pooled sample.

Are OES data available for previous years?

If you are using OES data from previous years, please be sure to read "Can OES data be used to compare changes in employment or wages over time?"

OES data for 1997 onward are available online in several formats, although not all formats are available for each year. The OES multi-screen data search can be used to create customized Excel or HTML tables using the most recent OES data. Data for 1997 onward are available as downloadable Zipped XLS files. These files are arranged with the most recent data at the top of the page and the earlier data further down. OES data for the most recent years are also available in table format, with the most recent data in the "Current" section and data for earlier years in the "Archived" section.

Occupational employment data by industry are available for 1988-1995 upon request, with data for each industry available once every three years. These data do not include wage estimates; State, metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan area data; or total national employment by occupation. Please see the "Industry data" section below for more information about these data.

No OES data are available for 1996 or before 1988.

For more information about the years for which specific types of data are available, please see below.

Occupational classification Data are available for most Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations from 1999 onward. Prior to 1999, OES used its own occupational classification system.

Wage data Wage data by area and industry are available beginning in 1997. No OES wage data are available from BLS prior to that year.

State data Cross-industry State data for 1997 onward are available on the OES Web site. Additional State data, including data for earlier years and industry-specific State data, may be available from individual State workforce agencies. Check with the State workforce agencies regarding the availability of these data.

Metropolitan area data OES cross-industry data are currently available for 380 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and 34 metropolitan divisions making up 11 of the MSAs. These data are based on revised metropolitan area definitions designated by the Office of Management and Budget and adopted by OES in May 2008. Data for 334 metropolitan areas based on the old metropolitan area definitions are available on the OES Web site for the years 1997-2004. Additional metropolitan area data, including industry-specific data, may be available from individual State workforce agencies. Check with the State workforce agencies regarding the availability of these data. An Excel file with all counties and towns listed in each area is also available.

Nonmetropolitan area data May 2006 was the first year OES released nonmetropolitan area data. These data cover 172 nonmetropolitan areas in 49 States and Puerto Rico. Nonmetropolitan area data for earlier years may be available from individual State workforce agencies. Check with the State workforce agencies regarding the availability of these data.

Ownership data May 2009 was the first year OES released data by ownership. See Question 38 for more information.

Industry data National industry-specific occupational employment and wage data for 1997 onward are available from the OES web site. In 2002, OES adopted the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Data are currently available by sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5-digit NAICS levels. (Sector and 3-digit NAICS data are not available for 2002.) In 2008, the OES survey switched to the 2007 NAICS classification system from the 2002 NAICS. The most significant revisions are in the Information Sector, particularly within the Telecommunications area. Prior to 2002, OES industry data were produced for 2- and 3-digit industries as defined by the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system.

Industry data for States and local areas are not available from BLS, but may be available from State workforce agencies.

National employment data by industry are available for 1988 through 1995. These data consist of industry-based employment estimates by 2-digit and 3-digit SIC industry, with each industry surveyed once every three years. These data contain no wage estimates or State or metropolitan area employment data. In addition, since not all industries are available in each year, it is not possible to calculate total national employment for a given occupation by summing across industries. As a result, the 1988-1995 estimates are useful mainly to data users interested in occupational staffing patterns for specific industries during this period. The industries available in each year are summarized below:

Industry	1987 SIC Code	Years Available
Agricultural services	07	1992, 1995
Mining	10-14	1990, 1993
Construction	15-17	1990, 1993
Manufacturing	20-39	1989, 1992, 1995
Transportation and public utilities	40-49	1988, 1991, 1994
Wholesale trade	50-51	1988, 1991, 1994
Retail trade	52-59	1988, 1991, 1994
Finance, insurance, and real estate	60-67	1990, 1993
Services (includes health care, except hospitals)	70-87, 89	1990, 1993
Hospitals	806	1989, 1992, 1995
Educational services	82	1988, 1991, 1994
State government	-	1988, 1991, 1994
Local government	-	1988, 1991, 1994

To request OES industry-specific data for 1988-1995 in zipped Excel format, please contact us and specify which year or years of data you require.

How should OES data be cited?

The suggested citation for the Occupational Employment Statistics web site is:

“Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [date accessed] [www.bls.gov/oes/].”

The suggested citation for articles from the Occupational Employment and Wages bulletin is:

“Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wages, [year], Bulletin [number], U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, [year].”

Is the survey mandatory?

Laws on survey participation vary by State. Please contact your State office representative for information on the laws in your area. We appreciate the efforts of our survey respondents and hope that you will choose to participate in the survey. OES estimates are used as a major input into CareerOneStop and the Employment and Training Administration's Foreign Labor Certification, and the estimates are used by business firms and educational institutions nationwide for economic planning and career counseling.

Why does the sum of the areas within a State not equal the statewide employment?

The sum of the areas may differ from statewide employment for several reasons:

• The totals include data items that are not released separately due to confidentiality and quality reasons;
• Rounding;
• Many States include metropolitan areas that cross State lines -- these cross-State metropolitan area estimates include data from each State, which should not be included in a total for a single State; and
• A small number of establishments indicate the State in which their employees are located, but do not indicate the specific metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area in which they are located. Data for these establishments are used in the calculation of the statewide estimates, but are not included in the estimates of any individual area.

Why are there no estimates for a particular occupation in a specific area or industry?

Individual occupational employment and wage estimates may be withheld from publication for a number of reasons, including failure to meet BLS quality standards or the need to protect the confidentiality of our survey respondents. In order to further ensure confidentiality, OES is not able to provide the specific reason that an estimate was not released. Unpublished OES estimates cannot be made available to the public.

In general, if either an employment or a wage estimate, but not both, is available for an occupation, the occupation will appear in the data with the unpublished estimate footnoted "Estimate not released." If neither an employment nor a wage estimate could be published, the occupation will not be shown in the data. Occupations for which separate data are unavailable are included in the estimates for the appropriate major group category and in the "all occupations" totals. For this reason, major group and "all occupations" employment estimates may exceed the sum of the employment estimates for the available detailed occupations.

Why don't the major group or "all occupations" employment totals equal the sum of the employment estimates for detailed occupations?"

The major group and "all occupations" totals may include detailed occupations for which separate employment estimates could not be published. As a result, employment totals at the major group and "all occupations" levels may be greater than the sum of employment estimates for the detailed occupations. Please see "Why are there no estimates for a particular occupation in a specific area or industry?" for more information on unreleased estimates.

Because the major group employment totals include employment for the detailed occupations in that group, summing across both detailed occupations and major groups will result in double counting of occupational employment. When this occurs, the calculated employment total will exceed the "all occupations" employment total for the area or industry. To avoid double counting, data users should exclude either the major group or detailed occupation data before summing the employment figures. In the downloadable data files, this can be accomplished by using the spreadsheet program to filter the data on the "group" field.

How are the data accessed?

OES data can be accessed in three ways: by browsing the OES website, creating a "drill down" table, or downloading a dataset. Each method of accessing the data involves navigating the OES website and each has unique advantages and disadvantages.

Browsing the OES website To view the data directly off of the website, click on tables, and view the statistics according to the desired level of analysis (National, State, or Metropolitan or Nonmetropolitan Statistical Area). Click on Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Estimates listed by county or town if unsure about which area a particular county or town is located in. Click on National sector, 3-, 4-, and 5-digit NAICS Industry-Specific to view employment and wage data by industry. Data by ownership, across industries, and for schools and hospitals are also available from the national data page. Occupation profiles allow users to see a sample of all the employment and wage data for a single occupation, including industry data and maps showing area employment, wages, and location quotients. The archived tables section contains the previous years' OES estimates.

Advantages: This method is the most convenient way to access the data. The data contained on the OES website give customers an overview of the OES survey, and there are links within each webpage that provide access to additional information. Overall, the OES website is an excellent "jumping off" point.

Disadvantages: The data contained on the OES website are not customizable. Moreover, the webpages contain selected information. For example, the national occupational profiles display statistics on only the top paying industries for the selected occupation.

Creating Customized Tables To create customized tables click on OES databases, then select Multi-Screen Data Search and choose the appropriate specifications. For example, if a customer wants to compare the mean wage of accountants across a set of given industries she should choose "one occupation for multiple industries" (note that it is possible to choose just one industry). The resulting table can be viewed in either HTML or Microsoft Excel format.

Advantages: The customized tables provide fast answers to specific questions because they are highly customizable. Customers can view data according to particular occupations, industries, and geographical regions. They can also select what statistics are displayed.

Disadvantages: Customized tables can only be created for the most recent estimates. This format is not recommended for people who are just browsing the data.

Downloading the Data The data can be downloaded in two formats. The text files can be accessed by clicking on OES databases, then selecting text files. To download data in the Microsoft Excel format click on Download Estimates in Zipped XLS files, located under More Tools.

Advantages: The downloadable files contain all of the OES survey data. In addition, the downloaded data can be easily analyzed using various programs' functionalities. Microsoft Excel allows researchers to sort and make calculations with the data, while text files are often used as inputs for statistical packages such as SAS.

Disadvantages: The sheer wealth of information may overwhelm some data users. This format is recommended for users who would like to use the OES data in order to make calculations or conduct economic research.

How do the OES data by ownership and for schools and hospitals released since 2009 differ from previously released data?

Until 2009, OES was not able to produce estimates of total private, state, or local employment across all industries. Estimates of state and local government employment excluded schools and hospital employment. Industry employment for schools and hospitals included state, local and private estimates combined. These estimates are still available. After methodology changes introduced in 2006 were applied to a full 3 year sample rotation, new estimates by ownership were made available in 2009. From 2009 forward, estimates are available for state and local government both including or excluding schools and hospitals. Total private sector data is also available for 2009 forward. Schools and hospital data is available across ownerships, as always, and as of 2009 data are available by ownership. For industries other than schools, hospitals, government, and the US Postal Service, only private sector data are available. Data for other industries is included in the OES government total.

Industry/Ownership	2009 and forward or 1997 and forward
Across all industries and ownerships	1997 and forward
Across all industries, private ownership only	2009 and forward
Federal, state, and local government, excluding state and local government owned schools and hospitals and USPS	1997 and forward
All public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including the USPS	2009 and forward
Federal government executive branch only	1997 and forward
Federal government executive branch and the U.S. postal service	2009 and forward
State government, excluding schools and hospitals	1997 and forward
All state government, including schools and hospitals	2009 and forward
Local government, excluding schools and hospitals	1997 and forward
All local government, including schools and hospitals	2009 and forward
Educational services - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Educational Services - Local government owned	2009 and forward
Educational Services - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Educational Services - State government owned	2009 and forward
Elementary and secondary schools - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	2009 and forward
Elementary and Secondary Schools - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Elementary and Secondary Schools - State government owned	2009 and forward
Junior colleges - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Junior colleges - Local government owned	2009 and forward
Junior colleges - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Junior colleges - State government owned	2009 and forward
Colleges, universities, and professional schools - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Local government owned	2009 and forward
Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	2009 and forward
Business schools and computer and management training - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Business schools and computer and management training - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Technical and trade schools - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Technical and trade schools - Local government owned	2009 and forward
Technical and trade schools - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Technical and trade schools - State government owned	2009 and forward
Other schools and instruction - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Other schools and instruction - Local government owned	2009 and forward
Other schools and instruction - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Educational Support Services - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Educational Support Services - Local government owned	2009 and forward
Educational Support Services - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Hospitals - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Hospitals - Local government owned	2009 and forward
Hospitals - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Hospitals - State government owned	2009 and forward
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - All ownerships	1997 and forward
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Local government owned	2009 and forward
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	2009 and forward
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - State government owned	2009 and forward
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals - State government owned	2009 and forward
Specialty hospitals - All ownerships	1997 and forward
Specialty hospitals - Privately owned	2009 and forward
Specialty hospitals - State government owned	2009 and forward

* Some industry by ownership data are not available, including:

• Business schools and computer and management training - Local government owned
• Business schools and computer and management training - State government owned
• Other schools and instruction - State government owned
• Educational Support Services - State government owned
• Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals - Local government owned
• Specialty hospitals - Local government owned

Are industry or ownership data available for different geographic detail?

BLS publishes estimates by industry and ownership at the national level only.

Can the OES data be used to compare private and government pay for similar work?

Occupational wages in the different ownership groups (the private sector, and state, local, and federal governments) are influenced by many factors that the OES measures cannot take into account. Thus, while one can obtain OES data that compare estimates of mean and median wages paid in a wide range of detailed occupations across ownership groups, those comparisons do not explain why they might be different. Among the many reasons are:

• Level of work performed. Workers may have different levels of responsibility, despite being in the same occupation.
  
• Age and experience. More experienced workers tend to have higher wages. (As an example, data from the Current Population Survey show that federal workers, on average, are older and have far more work experience with their employer than the typical private-sector worker.)
  
• Cost of living. Workers concentrated in large urban areas with higher costs of living are more likely to have higher wages than those working elsewhere.
  
• Establishment size. Workers in large establishments generally have higher wages than workers in small establishments.
  
• Work schedules. Full-time workers tend to earn higher hourly wages than part-time workers in the same occupation. (The OES annual wage estimates assume a full-time, year-round schedule of 2,080 hours.)
  
• Unionization. Workers in unionized establishments may have different wages than non-union establishments.
  

OES data are not designed for use in comparing federal and private sector pay because the OES data do not contain information about pay according to the level of work performed. BLS conducts a separate survey, the National Compensation Survey, which provides data by level of work for use by the President's Pay Agent. The President's Pay Agent (the Directors of the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget, and the Secretary of Labor) is charged by law with recommending federal pay adjustments to the President. Questions about federal pay comparability should be directed to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

How were the occupations in the May 2011 estimates created from data based on the 2000 and 2010 SOCs?

The data for the November 2009, May 2010, November 2010, and May 2011 panels were collected based on the 2010 SOC, while data for the two older panels were collected based on the 2000 SOC. With a few exceptions, almost all the occupations are the same in the 2000 and 2010 occupational classifications systems, or occupations could be combined in one year to be the equivalent of an occupation in another year. Whenever possible, the 2010 occupation was used in estimation. However, there were several cases where occupations from the two structures had to be combined into a hybrid occupation, used temporarily in OES only. The starting point for combining data collected under both systems was the SOC crosswalk (see http://www.bls.gov/soc/). In order to better address the OES customers' need for detailed occupational data, however, sometimes OES combined data differently. For example, the SOC crosswalk shows that the new 2010 SOC occupation solar photovoltaic installers is crosswalked to several 2000 occupations, including carpenters, electricians, and roofers. For the 2010 OES estimates, these lines of the crosswalk were ignored, and estimates are available for each of the occupations carpenters, roofers, and electricians, even though it is possible that in the four earlier panels of data, employers may have reported solar photovoltaic panel installers in these occupations. The full set of occupations for 2010 and the occupations on which they are based is available for download here. Listed below are the occupations which are in the 2010 OES estimates, but not in the 2010 SOC.

Can I use OES data to obtain prevailing wages for foreign labor certification or federal contracts?

The Foreign Labor Certification (FLC) program is administered by the Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor, and covers foreign workers who are admitted to the U.S. under H1-B and other types of visas. Although OES data are used as an input in calculating FLC prevailing wages, FLC prevailing wage data are not identical to the OES wage estimates. Employers who need prevailing wages for the purpose of foreign labor certification should use the FLC Online Wage Library instead of OES data. More information about the Foreign Labor Certification program is available from the FLC home page.

The Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) cover federal, District of Columbia, or federally assisted construction contracts. The McNamara-O?Hara Service Contract Act applies to federal and District of Columbia service contracts. Both programs are administered by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. Prevailing wage determinations for contracts subject to DBRA or SCA should be obtained using the Wage Determinations Online program. More details about the Davis Bacon and Related Acts are available from the DBRA home page; additional information about the Service Contract Act can be found on the SCA website.

Last Modified Date: August 23, 2012

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