[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 193 (Thursday, October 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52284-52286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24687]
[[Page 52283]]
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Part IV
Office of Management and Budget
_______________________________________________________________________
Standard Occupational Classification Revision Policy Committee's
Proposals for Revising the SOC's Principles of Classification, Purpose
and Scope, and Conceptual Framework; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 193 / Thursday, October 5, 1995 /
Notices
[[Page 52284]]
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Standard Occupational Classification Revision Policy Committee's
Proposals for Revising the SOC's Principles of Classification, Purpose
and Scope, and Conceptual Framework
AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the
President.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation of comments.
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SUMMARY: Under title 44 U.S.C. 3504, the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) is seeking public comment on the Standard Occupational
Classification Revision Policy Committee's (SOCRPC) proposals for
revising the 1980 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual's
principles of classification, purpose and scope, and conceptual
framework. In a prior Federal Register notice (February 28, 1995, 60 FR
10998-11002), the public was provided the opportunity to comment on the
uses of occupational data; propose changes to the existing 1980 SOC
classification principles, purpose and scope, and conceptual options;
and review the SOCRPC's proposed revision process. OMB plans another
public comment period on the SOCRPC's final recommendations in the fall
of 1996 when the SOCRPC will propose changes to the existing SOC Manual
at the detailed occupation level based on an agreed upon set of
classification principles, purpose and scope, and unified conceptual
framework. The SOC revision is tentatively scheduled for implementation
beginning in July 1997. All Federal agencies that collect occupational
data are expected to utilize the new system.
Request for Comments
The SOCRPC welcomes comments with respect to any topic related to
occupational classification, but is specifically interested in comments
concerning:
(1) The classification principles underlying the new SOC,
(2) The purpose and scope of the new SOC,
(3) The unified conceptual framework used to guide the revision,
and
(4) Public proposals for changes to the existing SOC at the
detailed 4-digit level based on the principles, purpose and scope, and
conceptual framework presented in this notice.
DATES: To ensure consideration in the development of the SOC, all
comments must be in writing and received on or before November 17,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Please send comments to Thomas J. Plewes, Chairman, Standard
Occupational Classification Revision Policy Committee, U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Suite 4945, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington,
DC 20212.
Electronic Availability and Comment
This document is available on the Internet from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics via World Wide Web (WWW) browser and E-mail. To obtain this
document via WWW browser, connect to ``http://stats.bls.gov/
blshome.html'' then select ``Surveys and Programs,'' then select
``Occupational Employment Statistics,'' then select ``Standard
Occupational Classification Documents.'' To obtain this document via E-
mail or to submit comments, send a message to socrevision@bls.gov (use
only lower case letters). Comments received at this address by the date
specified above will be included as part of the official record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Hadlock, U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, E-mail Hadlock-@bls.gov, telephone number (202) 606-6502,
FAX (202) 606-6645.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual was last
revised in 1980. Furthermore, it has not been fully utilized by Federal
occupational data gathering agencies which have frequently departed
from the standard over the years as new occupations have emerged and
opportunities for improvements have presented themselves. In view of
these circumstances, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has
acknowledged the need to develop a new SOC and obtain the cooperation
of all Federal occupational data collection agencies in using the new
standard.
In its February 28, 1995, Federal Register notice, OMB announced
the formation of the Standard Occupational Revision Policy Committee,
chaired by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with representatives
from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce; the
Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor;
the Office of Personnel Management; and the Defense Manpower Data
Center, U.S. Department of Defense. Ex officio members include the
Office of Management and Budget, the National Science Foundation, and
the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee. The
SOCRPC reports to OMB, which has responsibility for all economic
classification systems (other than those for international trade).
Following the issuance of the first Federal Register notice, the
Employment and Training Administration and the Bureau of Labor
Statistics sponsored a Seminar on Research Findings in April 1995, on
behalf of the SOCRPC. The seminar papers provided insights useful in
the decisionmaking process concerning conceptual issues, principles of
classification, compatibility with existing databases, and
measurability. The seminar provided a forum for discussion of key
issues related to the development of the new SOC. These were separated
into three main topics: (1) user needs, (2) conceptual options, and (3)
measurement issues. In addition to the authors who presented their
papers, the seminar was attended by representatives of agencies
involved directly with the SOC revision and by other interested parties
from government, private industry, and research organizations. The
papers from the seminar were published in the SOCRPC's Seminar on
Research Findings, April 11, 1995 and are available through the BLS
information contact.
As a result of responses to the previous Federal Register notice
and the Committee's other activities, the SOCRPC, with the concurrence
of OMB, has agreed that a common occupational classification system for
the United States is needed and should be put in place.
Part 1: Standard Occupational Classification Principles
The SOCRPC recommends that the new Standard Occupational
Classification system should conform to a set of common principles, the
immediate purpose of which would be to guide the development of the new
classification structure:
(1) The Classification should cover all occupations in which work
is performed for pay or profit, including work performed in family-
operated enterprises by family members who are not directly
compensated. It should exclude occupations unique to volunteers.
(2) The Classification should reflect the current occupational
structure of the United States and have sufficient flexibility to
assimilate new occupations into the structure as they become known.
(3) While striving to reflect the current occupational structure,
the Classification should maintain linkage
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with past systems. The importance of historical comparability should be
weighed against the desire for incorporating substantive changes to
occupations occurring in the work force.
(4) Occupations should be classified based upon work performed,
skills, education, training, licensing, and credentials.
(5) Occupations should be classified in homogeneous groups that are
defined so that the content of each group is clear.
(6) Each occupation should be assigned to only one group at the
lowest level of the Classification.
(7) The employment size of an occupational group should not be the
major reason for including or excluding it from separate
identification.
(8) Supervisors should be identified separately from the workers
they supervise wherever possible in keeping with the real structure of
the world of work. An exception should be made for professional and
technical occupations where supervisors or lead workers should be
classified in the appropriate group with the workers they supervise.
(9) Apprentices and trainees should be classified with the
occupations for which they are being trained, while helpers and aides
should be classified separately since they are not in training for the
occupation they are helping.
(10) Comparability with the International Standard Classification
of Occupations (ISCO-88) should be considered in the structure, but
should not be an overriding factor.
Request for Comments
The Committee invites comments on the classification principles
proposed for the new SOC.
Part 2: Purpose and Scope
In addition to developing classification principles, it is also
important to define the purpose and scope of the new SOC. The Committee
agrees with many of the original goals and purposes of the 1980 SOC.
The current effort will emphasize the OMB mandate for the use of the
SOC by all Federal occupation data gatherers and the need for
collecting and maintaining the data required to adjust and improve the
SOC on a regular basis.
The basic purpose of the Standard Occupational Classification is to
provide a mechanism for referencing and aggregating occupation-related
data. The system is designed to maximize the analytical utility of
statistics on labor force, employment, income, and other occupational
data collected for a variety of purposes by various agencies of the
United States Government, State and local government agencies,
professional associations, labor unions, research organizations, and
private industry.
The SOC provides a coding system and taxonomy for identifying and
classifying occupations within a framework suitable for a wide variety
of users both in and out of government. Due to the extensive amount of
occupational detail existing within the SOC and the myriad uses for the
data, different users will likely have varying needs for levels of
detail. The SOC is constructed with the flexibility to allow for this
range of detail requirements. It is intended that all major Federal
occupational data gatherers will use this classification as the basic
framework for their information collections. The SOC thus will serve as
the Nation's comprehensive occupational classification system.
To allow for changes in the structure of occupations, periodic
reviews and revisions will draw on the experience gained in using the
system.
Request for Comments
The Committee invites comments on the purpose and scope of the SOC.
Part 3: The Conceptual Framework for the New Standard Occupational
Classification
The February Federal Register notice provided four options for a
conceptual framework for the new SOC. These were: (1) type-of-work
performed, (2) the International Standard Classification of Occupations
(ISCO-88), (3) skills-based systems, and (4) economic-based systems.
Based upon comments received in response to the Federal Register
notice, evaluation of the papers from the Seminar on Research Findings,
and much deliberation by members of the SOCRPC, the Committee has
selected a hybrid concept that focuses on type-of-work performed but
incorporates skills-based considerations as the conceptual framework
for the new SOC. The committee based its decision, in part, on the need
to maximize the ability of users to link the new system with the
historical system. The SOCRPC recognized that, in view of the
predominant uses of the classification system, a skills-based taxonomy
is also needed.
A skills-based system is defined as one that considers the person's
ability to carry out the tasks and duties of a given job. Skill has two
dimensions. The first is related to the complexity and range of tasks
and duties including knowledge and experience, which are often defined
by preparation levels and credentials, considered necessary for new
entrants to an occupation (skill level). The second is related to both
the type-of-work performed and the nature of the work activities. These
encompass all aspects of the work including materials handled, tools
and equipment used, and kinds of goods and services produced (skill
type). Though both will be considered, it is expected that skill type
will be the predominant dimension considered in developing the new SOC,
because type is more measurable than level.
The Committee proposes the use of the BLS Occupational Employment
Statistics (OES) occupational classification system as the starting
point for the new SOC framework. The Committee also proposes the use of
the O*NET (The Occupational Information Network), ETA's new automated
replacement for the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), to inform
the development of the new SOC.
During the period of preparation of the new system, the SOCRPC will
continue to monitor developments in the field, including experience in
other countries, and will evaluate adding skills-based components to
the SOC when agencies can measure and collect them, or when a
dependable skills-oriented database is established. In particular, the
SOCRPC will continue to evaluate the measurability of competencies--
those attributes that the person brings to the job that reflect, in
addition to skill level and type, attitudes and the like.
Request for Comments
The Committee invites comments on the proposal for the conceptual
basis of the SOC, and on the proposal to use the BLS Occupational
Employment Statistics (OES) occupational classification system as the
starting point for the creation of the new SOC framework.
Part 4: Detailed Occupational Level Changes to the Existing SOC Based
on the Principles and Conceptual Framework Presented in This Federal
Register Notice
The Committee is interested in obtaining as much information as
possible concerning the needs of the public for changes to specific
occupational categories. Many of the issues related to the concepts and
principles for the new SOC are broad-based, e.g., whether or not
emerging, highly-technical jobs are adequately represented. However, as
part of the revision, occupations at the most detailed levels must be
considered. Thus, the SOCRPC is seeking suggestions for detailed
occupational
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changes that add or delete current occupations within the 1980 SOC.
Request for Comments
All comments, however specific or general in nature, whether
comprehensive to the entire occupational structure or pertinent to only
one occupation, are welcome.
Work Plan
The SOCRPC intends to begin the detailed development of the new SOC
with the formation of work teams from the Federal agencies in December
1995. Public comments and the input from member agencies will form the
basis for the development of the new classification structure. The
specific milestones for activities of the SOCRPC are as follows:
(1) Work teams established to begin work on the SOC detailed
revision. (December 1995)
(2) Draft SOCRPC recommendations on the detailed SOC revision
completed. (June 1996)
(3) Seminar to discuss the draft SOCRPC recommendations and the
implications of the new SOC for other occupational classification
systems. (August 1996)
(4) Publish Federal Register notice of final SOCRPC recommendations
for public comment. (September 1996)
(5) Publish Federal Register notice of final OMB decisions on SOC.
(January 1997)
(6) Development and publication of new SOC Manual. (July 1997)
Public Review Procedure
All comments and proposals received in response to this notice will
be available for public inspection at the Bureau of Labor Statistics
during normal business hours, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., in Suite 4945, 2
Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington DC 20212. Please call BLS on
(202) 606-6402 to obtain an appointment to enter the suite. The SOCRPC
final recommendations will be published in the Federal Register for
public review and comment prior to final action by OMB.
References
(1) The Standard Occupational Classification Manual, 1980, was
published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Federal
Statistical Policy and Standards and can be found in many reference
libraries. It is now available in print and 9-track magnetic tape
formats from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, catalog number PB81-162521,
telephone number (703) 487-4650, FAX (703) 321-8547.
(2) Standard Occupational Classification Revision Policy Committee,
``Summary of Comments on the February 28, 1995 Federal Register Notice
concerning the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Revision
Policy Committee Proposal to Revise the SOC,'' May 1995. Available from
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.,
Washington DC, 20212, telephone number (202) 606-6502, FAX (202) 606-
6645.
(3) Standard Occupational Classification Revision Policy Committee,
Seminar on Research Findings, April 11, 1995, September 1995. Available
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.,
Washington DC, 20212, telephone number (202) 606-6502, FAX (202) 606-
6645.
(4) The definitions and occupational structure for the Occupational
Employment Statistics (OES) occupational classification system can be
obtained electronically or in hard copy by contacting the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, OES Program, Suite 4840, 2 Massachusetts Avenue,
N.E., Washington DC, 20212, telephone number (202) 606-6569, FAX (202)
606-6645.
Sally Katzen,
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-24687 Filed 10-4-95; 8:45 am]
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