The O*NET database contains a rich set of variables that describe work and worker characteristics, including skill requirements. Developers and other customers are encouraged to incorporate the O*NET database within their products, services, and research. This section contains an overview of the most recent database and a variety of database download options, as well as format-specific data dictionaries.
Highlights of the O*NET 30.3 Database
The 30.3 release includes a variety of significant O*NET Program updates:
- The O*NET Content Model is modernized:
- A straightforward, three-dimensional structure (Worker, Job, Market) reorganizes and consolidates information.
- Updated taxonomy structures showcase the availability of nested, granular data.
Simplified terminology throughout makes information more approachable.
- A migration reference document helps developers and researchers with the transition, including a database transitional crosswalk, a listing of modified file names, and a mapping of updated terminology.
For the first time, data on 41 specific interest areas for each occupation are available:
Related Domains information is expanded:
- Work Style linkages both to Work Activities and to Work Context are added.
Software Skills information is updated:
- An updated listing of 176 “Employer-Based Hot Technologies,” identified from employer job postings across all occupations, resulted in 11,500+ occupation linkages.
- Updated “Employer-Based In Demand” software skill designations, based on employer job postings within each occupation, led to 2,400+ “In Demand” skill linkages across 285 occupations.
- 50+ new software linkages related to 30 occupations were identified from employer job postings.
For more details, see the migration reference document and the full release notes.
The O*NET Database: A Primary Source of Occupational Information
The O*NET database has a wide variety of worker and job oriented data categories. The O*NET Content Model provides the framework that identifies and organizes this important information about work. The O*NET-SOC Occupation Taxonomy covers work performed in the U.S. economy and defines the set of occupations for which data is collected.
The O*NET Data Collection Program currently makes updates to the O*NET Database on a quarterly basis, with a primary update occurring in the 3rd quarter of each year. Listings showing data updates by category or occupation are available on the Occupation Update Summary page. See Data Publication Schedule for a listing of primary updates and collection history. Past releases of the O*NET Database are available on the Database Releases Archive page.
Science Behind the O*NET Database
We have published several reports to explain the research and procedures involved in developing the O*NET Database. To learn more, visit these sections in our Reports and Documents area:
Share or Adapt the O*NET Database
The O*NET 30.3 Database is available under a Creative Commons license. See the
Database license page for more information.
The O*NET database is provided in five formats:
- Microsoft Excel (XLSX)
- Tab-delimited text files
- SQL files for MySQL, PostgreSQL, or compatible relational databases
- SQL files for Microsoft SQL Server
- SQL files for Oracle Database
Previous releases of the database are available at the Database Releases Archive.
The O*NET 30.3 Database is available under a Creative Commons license. See the
Database license page for more information.
All Files
O*NET 30.3 Database
Download all 45 files in the O*NET core database, in one convenient ZIP archive.
Data Dictionary
Read the comprehensive documentation for the O*NET 30.3 Database online.
Individual File Documentation
The O*NET 30.3 Database is available under a Creative Commons license. See the
Database license page for more information.
Skills
This file contains the Software Skills examples, including hot and in-demand technologies, associated with O*NET-SOC occupations.
This file contains the Content Model Essential Skill data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation.
This file contains the Content Model Transferable Skill data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation.
Knowledge, Abilities
This file contains the Content Model Knowledge data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation.
This file contains the Content Model Ability data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation.
Education, Experience, Training
This file contains the percent frequency data associated with Education Content Model elements.
This file contains the categories associated with the Education content area.
This file contains the percent frequency data associated with Training and Experience Content Model elements.
This file contains the categories associated with the Training and Experience content area.
This file contains each O*NET-SOC code and its corresponding Job Zone number.
This file describes the O*NET Job Zones, which are groups of occupations that need the same level of experience, education, and training.
Career Interests
This file contains the career interest type (RIASEC) high-point codes and numeric profile data for each O*NET-SOC occupation.
This file contains the specific interest area numeric profile data and display rankings for each O*NET-SOC occupation.
This file contains action and object keywords for each career interest type (RIASEC).
This file contains linkages between each specific interest area to relevant career interest types (RIASEC).
This file contains illustrative work activities related to the career interest types and specific interest areas.
This file contains illustrative occupations linked to the career interest types and specific interest areas.
Work Styles
This file contains the Work Styles Impact ratings and Distinctiveness Rank assignments for each O*NET-SOC occupation.
Tasks
This file contains the tasks associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation.
This file contains the task ratings associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation.
This file contains the categories associated with the Task content area.
This file contains new and revised task statements proposed for future data collection.
Work Activities
This file contains the Content Model Work Activity data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation.
This file contains each Intermediate Work Activity and its corresponding General Work Activity element ID.
This file contains each Detailed Work Activity and its corresponding GWA and IWA identifiers.
This file maps each Detailed Work Activity (DWA) to the task statements, and consequently to the O*NET-SOC occupations, requiring that activity.
Work Context
This file contains the Content Model Work Context data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation.
This file contains the categories associated with the Work Context content area.
Occupation Titles
This file contains each O*NET-SOC code, occupational title, and definition/description.
This file contains job or alternate "lay" titles linked to occupations in the O*NET-SOC classification system.
This file contains job titles frequently reported by incumbents and occupational experts on data collection surveys.
Related Occupations and Related Domains
This file contains linkages between abilities and relevant work activities.
This file contains linkages between abilities and relevant work context.
This file contains linkages between essential skills and relevant work activities.
This file contains linkages between essential skills and relevant work context.
This file contains linkages between transferable skills and relevant work activities.
This file contains linkages between transferable skills and relevant work context.
This file contains linkages between work styles and relevant work activities.
This file contains linkages between work styles and relevant work context.
Data Collection
This file contains the Content Model elements and descriptions.
This file contains the scale anchors associated with the following four content areas – 1) Abilities, 2) Knowledge, 3) Skills, and 4) Work Activities.
This file contains the Scale information by which the raw values are measured.
This file contains the Content Model elements that have corresponding survey item numbers in the Survey Booklet.
Competency Frameworks
This file contains the hierarchy of Software Skills competencies from the O*NET Content Model.
This file contains the hierarchy of Essential Skills competencies from the O*NET Content Model.
This file contains the hierarchy of Transferable Skills competencies from the O*NET Content Model.
This file contains the hierarchy of Knowledge competencies from the O*NET Content Model.
This file contains the hierarchy of Abilities competencies from the O*NET Content Model.
This file contains the hierarchy of Work Activities competencies from the O*NET Content Model.
O*NET Web Services provides real-time, up-to-date access to all of the information in the downloadable O*NET Database. With these services, programmers and researchers can:
- Programmatically discover every file in the database, and what data each file contains
- Retrieve all data from any part of the database
- Filter and sort results based on multiple criteria
The Database Services API always provides the latest version of the O*NET Database (currently 30.3), with no need to worry about downloading and integrating quarterly updates.
To learn more:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Except as noted below, the content of the O*NET 30.3 Database is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
external site.
You are free to copy or adapt the information from this database, as long as you:
How to Credit Us
If you use O*NET information verbatim:
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
If you make edits or additions to O*NET information:
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. [Your name or company] has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
If you modify or edit O*NET information, we recommend you also provide a download link to a file listing all changes, or an email address or phone number, so that your audience can determine exactly which material is your own work. For more guidance, see Creative Commons' frequently asked questions
external site and best practices for attribution
external site.
The O*NET Database is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), and developed by the National Center for O*NET Development.
O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The trademark symbol must be properly displayed when referring to O*NET. When using the O*NET name, users must use "O*NET" as an adjective, not as nouns or verbs, followed by the proper generic product name. For example: "...with O*NET data," "...formulated from O*NET data," or "...includes information from the O*NET database," not "...includes O*NET." In addition, the O*NET name must not appear in the possessive or plural form.
Developer Notice
Users intending to develop other products, software or systems applications using the O*NET 30.3 Database are asked to complete an optional registration form. Registration helps us to better understand our audience and to continue developing useful information and products.
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License Exceptions
This license applies only to the downloadable files of the O*NET 30.3 Database linked from the tabbed sections on this page. To copy or adapt other information on websites in the O*NET family, see our License Agreements page.
