O*NET RELEASES 25.1 DATABASE BY ADDING, REMOVING AND UPDATING SOC CODES
by Rabindra Singh
On November 17, 2020, O*NET released its 25.1 database by adding, removing and updating Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes.
The O*NET database is a primary source of occupational information. It contains a rich set of variables that describe work and worker characteristics, including skill requirements. The database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with occupations. This information can be used to facilitate career exploration, vocational counseling, and a variety of human resources functions, such as developing job orders and position descriptions and aligning training with current workplace needs. O*NET is developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA) through a grant to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
The O*NET 25.1 Database is a special release that incorporates the O*NET-SOC 2019 taxonomy structure. The O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy structure has been revised based on the transition to the 2018 SOC. The O*NET 25.1 Database, which incorporates the new O*NET-SOC taxonomy, includes 1,016 occupational titles, 923 of which represent O*NET data-level occupations. The new O*NET-SOC 2019 structure also includes four cybersecurity-related new and emerging occupations. Attached below is the snapshot of the O*NET-SOC 2019 taxonomy structure.
Data from the O*NET 25.0 database (O*NET-SOC 2010) has been incorporated into the new O*NET-SOC 2019 taxonomy, including the new O*NET-SOC codes, titles, and descriptions. In the 25.1 release, taxonomy-related updates include:
- Addition of 62 O*NET-SOC 2019 occupations
- Update of O*NET-SOC codes, titles, and/or descriptions for 345 occupations
- Addition and update of Task Statements for 127 occupations
- Addition of Abilities, Skills, Work Activities, Knowledge, and Work Context data for 53 occupations
- Addition of Work Styles data for 53 occupations
- Addition of Job Zones data for 53 occupations
- Addition and update of Detailed Work Activities (DWAs) and linkages for 127 occupations
- Addition and update of Alternate Titles and Sample of Reported Titles for 127 occupations
- Addition and update of Technology Skills and Tools Used for 98 occupations
Several general changes to the O*NET-SOC taxonomy were included as a result of changes made to the SOC taxonomy. Some of them are listed below:
- A total of one hundred and fifty-seven (157) occupations were removed from the O*NET-SOC taxonomy. Notably, 15-1132.00 code used for Software Developers, Applications, and 15-1133.00 utilized for Software Developers, Applications, have been removed. Chart below lists some of the removed occupations:
| O*NET-SOC 2010 Code | O*NET-SOC 2010 Title |
| 11-2031.00 | Public Relations and Fundraising Managers |
| 13-2051.00 | Financial Analysts |
| 15-1132.00 | Software Developers, Applications |
| 15-1133.00 | Software Developers, Systems Software |
| 15-2091.00 | Mathematical Technicians |
| 19-3031.00 | Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists |
| 19-4011.00 | Agricultural and Food Science Technicians |
| 25-2052.00 | Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School |
| 25-4021.00 | Librarians |
- A total of sixty-three (63) occupations were added to the taxonomy.
- Fifty-one (51) SOC-level occupations were added by aggregating several 2010 SOC occupations, breaking out 2010 SOC occupations into two or more occupations, or incorporating brand-new occupations. Note that Software Developers, 15-1252, is a new addition to the list achieved by aggregating previously used 15-1132.00 and 15-1133.00 codes used for Software Developers, Applications, and Software Developers, Systems Software, respectively. Below chart below lists some newly included codes.
| ONET-SOC 2019 Code | ONET-SOC 2019 Title |
| 11-2032.00 | Public Relations Managers |
| 11-2033.00 | Fundraising Managers |
| 11-3013.00 | Facilities Managers |
| 11-9072.00 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling |
| 11-9179.00 | Personal Service Managers, All Other |
| 13-1082.00 | Project Management Specialists |
| 13-2022.00 | Appraisers of Personal and Business Property |
| 13-2051.00 | Financial and Investment Analysts |
| 13-2054.00 | Financial Risk Specialists |
| 15-1252.00 | Software Developers |
| 15-1255.00 | Web and Digital Interface Designers |
| 15-2051.00 | Data Scientists |
- The following twelve (12) detailed occupations were added to the O*NET-SOC taxonomy through the addition of new and emerging occupations or by aggregating occupations removed from the taxonomy into a detailed occupation.
| ONET-SOC 2019 Code | ONET-SOC 2019 Title |
| 11-3013.01 | Security Managers |
| 13-1199.07 | Security Management Specialists |
| 15-1299.02 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians |
| 15-1299.04 | Penetration Testers |
| 15-1299.05 | Information Security Engineers |
| 15-1299.06 | Digital Forensics Analysts |
| 15-1299.07 | Blockchain Engineers |
| 17-3026.01 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians |
| 19-3039.02 | Neuropsychologists |
| 19-3039.03 | Clinical Neuropsychologists |
| 29-2011.04 | Histotechnologists |
| 29-2012.01 | Histology Technicians |
- Additionally, following thirteen (13) existing detailed 2010 O*NET-SOC occupations were added into the 2018 SOC taxonomy as 2018 SOC-level occupations.
| ONET-SOC 2019 Code | ONET-SOC 2019 Title |
| 15-1243.00 | Database Architects |
| 15-1253.00 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers |
| 19-3034.00 | School Psychologists |
| 19-4012.00 | Agricultural Technicians |
| 19-4013.00 | Food Science Technicians |
| 25-3041.00 | Tutors |
| 29-1213.00 | Dermatologists |
| 29-1217.00 | Neurologists |
| 29-1222.00 | Physicians, Pathologists |
| 29-1224.00 | Radiologists |
| 29-1241.00 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| 29-1291.00 | Acupuncturists |
| 29-9093.00 | Surgical Assistants |
- Further, a number of code, title, and description changes were made based on changes to the 2018 SOC. For instance, Database Administrators will have a new code – 15-1242.00 in place of previously used 15-1141.00.
| ONET-SOC 2019 Code | ONET-SOC 2019 Title |
| 11-3012.00 | Administrative Services Managers |
| 11-3031.03 | Investment Fund Managers |
| 11-3071.04 | Supply Chain Managers |
| 11-9171.00 | Funeral Home Managers |
| 11-9179.01 | Fitness and Wellness Coordinators |
| 11-9179.02 | Spa Managers |
| 13-1041.08 | Customs Brokers |
| 13-1161.01 | Search Marketing Strategists |
| 13-2023.00 | Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate |
| 15-1211.00 | Computer Systems Analysts |
| 15-1211.01 | Health Informatics Specialists |
| 15-1212.00 | Information Security Analysts |
| 15-1221.00 | Computer and Information Research Scientists |
| 15-1231.00 | Computer Network Support Specialists |
| 15-1232.00 | Computer User Support Specialists |
| 15-1241.00 | Computer Network Architects |
| 15-1241.01 | Telecommunications Engineering Specialists |
| 15-1242.00 | Database Administrators |
| 15-1243.00 | Database Architects |
| 15-1243.01 | Data Warehousing Specialists |
Note that O*NET 25.1 Database has not yet been aligned with the Office of the Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system utilized for foreign labor certification programs, including H-2A, H-2B, LCA, CW-1, Prevailing Wage and PERM labor certification applications. As such, old codes are getting populated when filing the LCA for H-1B Petitions and ETA Form 9141 for obtaining prevailing wage determinations.