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.

Worker Characteristics Worker Requirements Experience Requirements Occupational Requirements Labor Market Characteristics Occupation-Specific Information

The O*NET Content Model, with six major domains contributing to O*NET. See the domain descriptions below.

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.

Experience Requirements — requirements related to previous work activities and explicitly linked to certain types of work activities. This domain includes information about the typical experiential backgrounds of workers in an occupation or group of occupations including certification, licensure, and training data. For example, information about the professional or organizational certifications required for entry and advancement in an occupation, preferred education or training, and required apprenticeships will be documented by this part of the model.

(Outline View | Description View)
Collapse Licensing — Licenses, certificates, or registrations that are awarded to show that a job holder has gained certain skills. This includes requirements for obtaining these credentials, and the organization or agency requiring their possession.
  • America's Career InfoNetLicense, Certificate, or Registration Required
    Source: U.S. Department of Labor, America's Career InfoNet external site
  • Specific License or Certificate Required
    • No sourcePost-Secondary Degree
    • No sourceGraduate Degree
    • No sourceOn-the-Job Training
    • No sourceExamination
    • No sourceCharacter References
  • No sourceAdditional Education and Training
  • Organization and Agency Requirements
    • No sourceLegal Requirement
    • No sourceEmployer Requirement
    • No sourceUnion, Guild, or Professional Association

Primary occupational information source for Content Model items:

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

Supplemental sources of information:

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

Other indicators:

Data not currently available Data not currently available