O*NET® 28.2 Database

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 28.2 Database

The 28.2 release includes the following:

  • Related occupations were updated for all 923 data-level occupations.
  • 17 new technology skill linkages related to 9 occupations were identified from customer input.
  • 6 new tools used linkages related to 2 occupations were identified from customer input.
  • Standard Error, Upper CI Bound, and Lower CI Bound metadata fields were expanded from 2 decimal places to 4.

For additional details on the related occupations updates, see Updates to Related Occupations for the O*NET Program Using the O*NET 28.0 Database in our Reports and Documents area.

Previous releases rounded Standard Error and other metadata to 2 decimal places, resulting in a rounded value of zero when the actual value was very small but greater than zero. This release increases the precision to 4 decimal places, providing additional clarity in these cases.

In the 28.0 database, 90 occupations were updated by job incumbents and occupational experts.

  • Addition and update of Task Statement ratings (importance, relevance, and frequency) for 90 occupations
  • Addition and update of Abilities, Skills, Work Activities, Knowledge, and Work Context data for 90 occupations
  • Addition and update of Training and Work Experience and Education data for 90 occupations
  • Addition and update of Work Styles data for 90 occupations
  • Addition and update of Job Zones data for 90 occupations
  • Addition and update of Detailed Work Activities (DWAs) and linkages for 65 occupations
  • Addition and update of Alternate Titles and Sample of Reported Titles for 90 occupations

In the 28.1 database, new Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) and high-point codes were developed, along with updates to “Hot Technologies” and “In Demand” technology skills.

  • RIASEC Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) and high-point codes for all 923 data-level occupations were developed using machine learning.
  • An updated listing of 162 “Hot Technologies,” based on employer job postings from across all occupations, resulted in 11,400+ occupation linkages.
  • Updated “In Demand” technology skill designations, based on employer job postings from within each occupation, led to approximately 2,500 “In Demand” skill linkages across 489 occupations.
  • 90+ new technology skill linkages related to 75 occupations were identified from employer job postings.
  • 450+ alternate titles related to 237 occupations were added from a review of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs), customer input, and other sources.

To learn more about the successful effort to leverage advances in supervised machine learning to update the vocational interest information in the O*NET System, see: Using Machine Learning to Develop Occupational Interest Profiles and High-Point Codes for the O*NET System.

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 28.2 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 28.2 Database is available under a Creative Commons license. See the Database license page for more information.

All Files

O*NET 28.2 Database

Download all 40 files in the O*NET core database, in one convenient ZIP archive.

Data Dictionary

Read the comprehensive documentation for the O*NET 28.2 Database online.

Individual File Documentation

The O*NET 28.2 Database is available under a Creative Commons license. See the Database license page for more information.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Knowledge updated in 28.2

This file contains the Content Model Knowledge data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

Skills updated in 28.2

This file contains the Content Model Skill data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

Abilities updated in 28.2

This file contains the Content Model Ability data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

Education, Experience, Training

Education, Training, and Experience updated in 28.2

This file contains the percent frequency data associated with Education, Training, and Experience Content Model elements. Read more...

Education, Training, and Experience Categories

This file contains the categories associated with the Education, Training, and Experience content area. Read more...

Job Zones

This file contains each O*NET-SOC code and its corresponding Job Zone number. Read more...

Job Zone Reference

This file describes the five O*NET Job Zones, which are groups of occupations that need the same level of experience, education, and training. Read more...

Interests

Interests

This file contains the general occupational interest (RIASEC) high-point codes and numeric profile data for each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

RIASEC Keywords

This file contains action and object keywords for each general occupational interest. Read more...

Basic Interests to RIASEC

This file contains linkages between each basic occupational interest to relevant general occupational interests. Read more...

Interests Illustrative Activities

This file contains illustrative work activities related to the general and basic occupational interests. Read more...

Interests Illustrative Occupations

This file contains illustrative occupations linked to the general and basic occupational interests. Read more...

Work Values and Work Styles

Work Values

This file contains the Content Model Work Values data associated with each O*NET- SOC occupation. Read more...

Work Styles updated in 28.2

This file contains the Content Model Work Styles data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

Tasks

Task Statements

This file contains the tasks associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

Task Ratings updated in 28.2

This file contains the task ratings associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

Task Categories

This file contains the categories associated with the Task content area. Read more...

Emerging Tasks

This file contains new and revised task statements proposed for future data collection. Read more...

Technology Skills & Tools

Technology Skills updated in 28.2

This file contains the Technology Skills examples, including hot and in-demand technologies, associated with O*NET-SOC occupations. Read more...

Tools Used updated in 28.2

This file contains the Tools Used examples associated with O*NET-SOC occupations. Read more...

UNSPSC Reference

This file contains a listing of commodities in the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC), version 23.0701. Read more...

Work Activities

Work Activities updated in 28.2

This file contains the Content Model Work Activity data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

IWA Reference

This file contains each Intermediate Work Activity and its corresponding O*NET Work Activity element ID. Read more...

DWA Reference

This file contains each Detailed Work Activity and its corresponding GWA and IWA identifiers. Read more...

Tasks to DWAs

This file maps each Detailed Work Activity (DWA) to the task statements, and consequently to the O*NET-SOC occupations, requiring that activity. Read more...

Work Context

Work Context updated in 28.2

This file contains the Content Model Work Context data associated with each O*NET-SOC occupation. Read more...

Work Context Categories

This file contains the categories associated with the Work Context content area. Read more...

Occupation Titles

Occupation Data

This file contains each O*NET-SOC code, occupational title, and definition/description. Read more...

Alternate Titles

This file contains alternate, or "lay", occupational titles for the O*NET-SOC classification system. Read more...

Sample of Reported Titles

This file contains job titles frequently reported by incumbents and occupational experts on data collection surveys. Read more...

Related Occupations and Related Domains

For each O*NET-SOC code included, 10 primary and 10 supplemental related O*NET-SOC codes are listed. Read more...

Abilities to Work Activities

This file contains linkages between abilities and relevant work activities. Read more...

Abilities to Work Context

This file contains linkages between abilities and relevant work context. Read more...

Skills to Work Activities

This file contains linkages between skills and relevant work activities. Read more...

Skills to Work Context

This file contains linkages between skills and relevant work context. Read more...

Data Collection

Content Model Reference

This file contains the Content Model elements and descriptions. Read more...

Occupation Level Metadata

This file contains occupational level metadata variables associated with data collection statistics. Read more...

Level Scale Anchors

This file contains the scale anchors associated with the following four content areas – 1) Abilities, 2) Knowledge, 3) Skills, and 4) Work Activities. Read more...

Scales Reference

This file contains the Scale information by which the raw values are measured. Read more...

Survey Booklet Locations

This file contains the Content Model elements that have corresponding survey item numbers in the Survey Booklet. Read more...

Competency Frameworks

The downloads labeled “JSON-LD” contain machine-readable Linked Data external site described using the CTDL-ASN external site schema (Credential Transparency Description Language Profile of Achievement Standards Network Description Language) developed by the Credential Engine external site project.

Knowledge Competency Framework

This file contains the hierarchy of Knowledge competencies from the O*NET Content Model.

Includes the framework from the Content Model Reference file and data from the Knowledge file.

Basic Skills Competency Framework

This file contains the hierarchy of Basic Skills competencies from the O*NET Content Model.

Includes the framework from the Content Model Reference file and data from the Skills file.

Cross-Functional Skills Competency Framework

This file contains the hierarchy of Cross-Functional Skills competencies from the O*NET Content Model.

Includes the framework from the Content Model Reference file and data from the Skills file.

Abilities Competency Framework

This file contains the hierarchy of Abilities competencies from the O*NET Content Model.

Includes the framework from the Content Model Reference file and data from the Abilities file.

Technology Skills Competency Framework

This file contains Technology Skills associated with O*NET-SOC occupations, organized by the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC).

Includes the framework from the UNSPSC Reference file and data from the Technology Skills file.

Work Activities Competency Framework

This file contains the hierarchy of Work Activities competencies, including generalized, intermediate, and detailed work activities. Linked occupation-specific tasks from across occupations are provided as illustrative or “task examples” related to the activities.

Includes the framework from the Content Model Reference, IWA Reference, and DWA Reference files and data from the Work Activities and Tasks to DWAs files.

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 28.2), 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 28.2 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:

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 28.2 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:

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 28.2 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 28.2 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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This license applies only to the downloadable files of the O*NET 28.2 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.