The O*NET® Content Model

The Content Model is the conceptual foundation of O*NET. The Content Model provides a framework that identifies the most important types of information about work and integrates them into a theoretically and empirically sound system.

The Content Model was developed using research on job and organizational analysis. It embodies a view that reflects the character of occupations (via job-oriented descriptors) and people (via worker-oriented descriptors). The Content Model also allows occupational information to be applied across jobs, sectors, or industries (cross-occupational descriptors) and within occupations (occupational-specific descriptors). These descriptors are organized into six major domains, which enable the user to focus on areas of information that specify the key attributes and characteristics of workers and occupations.

Worker Requirements — descriptors referring to work-related attributes acquired and/or developed through experience and education. Worker requirements represent developed or acquired attributes of an individual that may be related to work performance such as work-related knowledge and skill. Knowledge represents the acquisition of facts and principles about a domain of information. Experience lays the foundation for establishing procedures to work with given knowledge. These procedures are more commonly known as skills. Skills may be further divided into basic skills and cross-functional skills. Basic skills, such as reading, facilitate the acquisition of new knowledge. Cross-functional skills, such as problem solving, extend across several domains of activities.

(Outline View | Description View)

Knowledge — Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains

• Business and Management
  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
• Manufacturing and Production
  • Production and Processing
  • Food Production
• Engineering and Technology
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical
• Mathematics and Science
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Geography
• Health Services
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Therapy and Counseling
• Education and Training
• Arts and Humanities
  • English Language
  • Foreign Language
  • Fine Arts
  • History and Archeology
  • Philosophy and Theology
• Law and Public Safety
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
• Communications
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
• Transportation

Primary occupational information source for Content Model items:

U.S. Department of Labor O*NET Data Collection Program

Supplemental sources of information:

	U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics		U.S. Department of Labor America's Career InfoNet
	U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship		U.S. Department of Education Classification of Instructional Programs

Other indicators:

Data not currently available