53136 federal register /vol. 64, no. 189/thursday ...network (o*net) which will replace the...

53136 Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 189 / Thursday, September 30, 1999 / Notices

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT ANDBUDGET

1998 Standard OccupationalClassification

AGENCY: Office of Management andBudget, Executive Office of thePresident.ACTION: Notice of final decisions.

SUMMARY: Under title 44 U.S.C. 3504,the Office of Management and Budget(OMB) is announcing final decisions forthe 1998 Standard OccupationalClassification (SOC). In consultationwith the Standard OccupationalClassification Revision PolicyCommittee (SOCRPC), OMB based itsdecisions on public comments receivedin response to the SOCRPC’s finalrecommendations that were publishedin the Federal Register on August 5,1998 (63 FR 41895–41923). The 1998Standard Occupational Classificationreplaces the 1980 version. It covers alljobs in the national economy, includingoccupations in the public, private, andmilitary sectors.

All Federal agencies that collectoccupational data will use the 1998SOC. Similarly, all State and localgovernment agencies, as well as privatesector organizations, are stronglyencouraged to use this national systemthat provides a common language forcategorizing occupations in the world ofwork. The new SOC system will be usedby the Occupational EmploymentStatistics program of the Bureau ofLabor Statistics for gatheringoccupational information. It will alsoreplace the Bureau of the Census’ 1990occupational classification system andwill be used for the 2000 Census. Inaddition, the new SOC will serve as theframework for information beinggathered through the Department ofLabor’s Occupational InformationNetwork (O*NET) which will replacethe Dictionary of Occupational Titles(DOT).

In four prior Federal Register notices(February 28, 1995, 60 FR 10998–11002;October 5, 1995, 60 FR 52284–52286;July 7, 1997, 62 FR 36337–36409; andAugust 5, 1998 (63 FR 41895–41923)),OMB and the SOCRPC requestedcomment on the uses of occupationaldata; the existing 1980 SOCclassification principles, purpose andscope, and conceptual options; theSOCRPC’s proposed revision process;the composition of detailedoccupations; the hierarchical structureand numbering system; and updateprocedures.

The hierarchical structure, numberingsystem, and occupational categories of

the 1998 SOC are presented inAppendix A of this notice. Changesfrom the SOCRPC’s finalrecommendations are outlined below inthe SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.The SOCRPC is preparing the 1998Standard Occupational ClassificationManual for publication. Committeemembers have completed definitionsand assigned associated titles; agencieswith occupational classification systemsare developing crosswalks from theirexisting systems to the 1998 SOC. Toensure that the successful efforts of theSOCRPC continue and that the 1998SOC remains appropriate to the world ofwork, OMB plans to establish a newstanding committee, the StandardOccupational Classification PolicyCommittee (SOCPC). The SOCPC willconsult periodically to ensure that theimplementation of the 1998 SOC iscomparable across Federal agencies.This consultation will include regularlyscheduled interagency communicationto ensure a smooth transition to the1998 SOC. The SOCPC will also performSOC maintenance functions, such asrecommending changes in the SOCoccupational definitions and placementof new occupations. It is anticipatedthat the next major review and revisionof the SOC will begin in 2005 inpreparation for use in the 2010Decennial Census.DATES: Publication of the 1998 StandardOccupational Classification Manual isplanned for the first half of 2000.Federal statistical agencies will beginusing the 1998 SOC for occupationaldata they publish for reference yearsbeginning on or after January 1, 2000.(The Bureau of Labor Statistics willbegin using it for some data series forthe last quarter of 1999.) Furtherinformation can be found in theSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sectionbelow. Use of the SOC for nonstatisticalpurposes (e.g., for administrative,regulatory, or taxation functions) will bedetermined by the agency or agenciesthat have chosen to use the SOC fornonstatistical purposes. Readersinterested in the effective dates for theuse of the 1998 SOC for nonstatisticalpurposes should contact the relevantagency to determine the agency’s plans,if any, for a transition from the 1980SOC to the 1998 SOC.ADDRESSES: Correspondence about theadoption and implementation of theSOC as described in this FederalRegister notice should be sent to:Katherine K. Wallman, ChiefStatistician, Office of Management andBudget, 10201 New Executive OfficeBuilding, Washington, DC 20503,telephone number: (202) 395–3093, FAX

number: (202) 395–7245 or E-mailed to<[email protected]≤.

Electronic Availability: Thisdocument is available on the Internetfrom the Bureau of Labor Statistics viaWWW browser and E-mail. To obtainthis document via WWW browser,connect to <http://stats.bls.gov/soc/soclhome.htm>. This WWW pagecontains links to the 1998 SOC majorgroups; the complete 1998 SOChierarchical structure and detailedoccupational definitions; a numericalindex of detailed occupations; an SOCuser’s guide; and an SOC searchcapability, as well as previous SOCFederal Register notices and relateddocuments. To obtain this document viaE-mail, send a message to<[email protected]>.

Inquiries about the definitions ofparticular occupations or requests forelectronic copies of the SOC structurethat cannot be satisfied by use of theweb site should be addressed to LaurieSalmon, Standard OccupationalClassification Revision PolicyCommittee, Bureau of Labor Statistics,Room 4840, Washington, DC 20212,telephone number: (202) 606–6511, FAXnumber: (202) 606–6645.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PaulBugg, 10201 New Executive OfficeBldg., Washington, DC 20503, E-mailaddress: [email protected], telephonenumber: (202) 395–3093, FAX number:(202) 395–7245.SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose

The 1998 SOC was developed inresponse to a concern that the 1980 SOCdid not meet the need for a universaloccupational classification system thatall Federal Government agencies andother collectors of occupationalinformation would adopt. Despite theexistence of the 1980 SOC, a variety ofGovernment agencies have continued tocollect and use occupational data basedon unique classification systemsdesigned for their individual needs. Theexistence of different occupational datacollection systems in the FederalGovernment presents a major problem.Comparisons across these systems arelimited by the completeness andaccuracy of crosswalks between them.For example, data on occupation byeducational attainment collectedthrough the Current Population Surveycan only be used with data onemployment from the OccupationalEmployment Statistics program forthose occupations that are consideredcomparable in both data collections.Observing this problem, the Bureau ofLabor Statistics hosted an International

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53137Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 189 / Thursday, September 30, 1999 / Notices

Occupational Classification Conferencein September 1992 to establish a newcontext for the SOC revision process.Many new ideas and approaches werepresented that subsequently influencedthe SOCRPC. Similarly, theEmployment and TrainingAdministration’s Advisory Panel for theDictionary of Occupational Titles hadcompleted a review of the dictionaryand in May 1993 had recommendedsubstantial changes. It becameincreasingly clear that development ofan occupational classification standardthat garners universal adherence wouldaid analysis of demographic, economic,educational, and other factors that affectemployment, wages, and other workercharacteristics.

Revision ProcessPersuaded that a reconciliation was in

order, OMB invited all Federal agencieswith occupational classification systemsto join together to revise the SOC andchartered the SOC Revision PolicyCommittee (SOCRPC) in October 1994.The SOCRPC included representativesfrom the Bureau of Labor Statistics, theBureau of the Census, the DefenseManpower Data Center, theEmployment and TrainingAdministration, and the Office ofPersonnel Management. In addition, ex-officio members included the NationalOccupational Information CoordinatingCommittee, the National ScienceFoundation, and OMB. Other Federalagencies, such as the Department ofEducation, the Department of Healthand Human Services, and the EqualEmployment Opportunity Commission,participated either in meetings of theSOCRPC or in the Federal ConsultationGroup, a group of Federal agencyrepresentatives with interests in theoutcome of the SOC revision.

In February 1995, the StandardOccupational Classification RevisionPolicy Committee published a notice inthe Federal Register (February 28, 1995,60 FR 10998–11002) calling forcomments specifically on the following:(1) the uses of occupational data, (2) thepurpose and scope of occupationalclassification, (3) the principlesunderlying the 1980 SOC, (4)conceptual options for the new SOC,and (5) the SOC revision process. TheSOCRPC chose the OccupationalEmployment Statistics system, anoccupational classification currentlyused by the Bureau of Labor Statistics togather occupational information, as thestarting point for the new StandardOccupational Classification framework.The Committee also relied heavily onthe Department of Labor’s OccupationalInformation Network (O*NET), which is

replacing the Dictionary ofOccupational Titles. To carry out thebulk of the revision effort, theCommittee created six work groups toexamine occupations in the followingareas:Administrative and Clerical occupations;Science, Engineering, Law, Health,

Education, and Arts occupations;Services and Sales occupations;Agriculture, Construction, Extraction, and

Transportation occupations;Mechanical and Production occupations; andMilitary Specific occupations.

The Committee charged the workgroups with ensuring that theoccupations under their considerationconformed to the criteria laid out in theOctober 5, 1995, Federal Register notice(60 FR 52284–52286):

The Classification should cover alloccupations in which work is performed forpay or profit, including work performed infamily-operated enterprises by familymembers who are not directly compensated.It should exclude occupations unique tovolunteers.

The Classification should reflect thecurrent occupational structure of the UnitedStates and have sufficient flexibility toassimilate new occupations into the structureas they become known.

While striving to reflect the currentoccupational structure, the Classificationshould maintain linkage with past systems.The importance of historical comparabilityshould be weighed against the desire forincorporating substantive changes tooccupations occurring in the work force.

Occupations should be classified basedupon work performed, skills, education,training, licensing, and credentials.

Occupations should be classified inhomogeneous groups that are defined so thatthe content of each group is clear.

Each occupation should be assigned toonly one group at the lowest level of theClassification.

The employment size of an occupationalgroup should not be the major reason forincluding or excluding it from separateidentification.

Supervisors should be identified separatelyfrom the workers they supervise whereverpossible in keeping with the real structure ofthe world of work. An exception should bemade for professional and technicaloccupations where supervisors or leadworkers should be classified in theappropriate group with the workers theysupervise.

Apprentices and trainees should beclassified with the occupations for whichthey are being trained, while helpers andaides should be classified separately sincethey are not in training for the occupationthey are helping.

Comparability with the InternationalStandard Classification of Occupations(ISCO–88) should be considered in thestructure, but should not be an overridingfactor.

In carrying out their reviews, the workgroups carefully considered all

proposals received in response toFederal Register notices issued by OMBand the SOCRPC. The work groupsinvited experts from many areas totestify and also requested writtenrecommendations using the SOCrevision guidelines. Their procedurewas to develop a proposed structureplus a title, a definition, and a list ofassociated job titles. Each proposedoccupation was reviewed by theSOCRPC.

General Characteristics of the RevisedSOC

The 1998 SOC is designed to ensurecomparable occupational classificationacross the spectrum of surveys of theworld of work while mirroring thecurrent occupational structure in theNation. The new system should lead tothe collection of meaningful data aboutthe workforce and benefit various usersof occupational data. These usersinclude education and trainingplanners; job seekers, students, andothers seeking career guidance; variousgovernment programs, includingoccupational safety and health, welfare-to-work, and equal employmentopportunity; and private companieswishing to relocate or to set salaryscales.

Reflecting advances in factory andoffice automation and informationtechnology, the shift to a services-oriented economy, and increasingconcern for the environment, the newclassification structure has moreprofessional, technical, and serviceoccupations and fewer production andadministrative support occupations.Although the designation ‘‘professional’’does not exist in the 1998 SOC, the newclassification system reflects expandedcoverage of major occupational groups,such as computer and mathematicaloccupations, community and socialservices occupations, healthcarepractitioners and technical occupations,and legal occupations. Designers,systems analysts, drafters, counselors,dentists, physicians, artists, and socialscientists are among the occupationsthat are covered in greater detail in the1998 SOC. For example, the SOC breaksout a number of designer specialties ‘‘commercial and industrial, fashion,floral, graphic, interior, and set andexhibit designers. Similarly, the newclassification breaks out additionalsocial science specialties ‘‘ market andsurvey researchers, sociologists,anthropologists and archeologists,geographers, historians, and politicalscientists.

Examples of new occupations includeenvironmental engineers; environmentalengineering technicians; environmental

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scientists and specialists, includinghealth; environmental science andprotection technicians, includinghealth; computer software engineers;multimedia artists and animators; andforensic science technicians. In theservices groups, gaming occupations,such as gaming and sports book writersand runners, have been added as aresult of growth among theseoccupations in several States. Otherrelatively new service occupationsinclude skin care specialists, concierges,massage therapists, and fitness trainersand aerobics instructors.

Production occupations, on the otherhand, have undergone significantconsolidation. For example, variousprinting machine operators have beencombined into one occupation in the1998 SOC. Because many factories nowemploy one person to perform the tasksof setting up and operating machines,both tasks have been combined into oneoccupation. In addition, many factoriesnow employ teams in which each teammember is able to perform all or mostof the team assembly activities; thesepeople are included in the occupation,team assemblers. The SOC also includesrelatively new production occupationssuch as semiconductor processors andfiberglass laminators and fabricators.

Office and administrative supportoccupations ‘‘ for example, officemachine operators ‘‘ also have beenconsolidated. Relatively new office andadministrative support occupationsinclude customer servicerepresentatives and executivesecretaries and administrativeassistants.

To accommodate the needs ofdifferent data collection agencies, theSOC enables data collection at moredetailed or less detailed levels, whilestill allowing data comparability atgiven levels of the hierarchy. Inresponse to comments received inreference to the July 7, 1997, FederalRegister notice (62 FR 36337–36409),the SOCRPC significantly modified thehierarchical structure and numberingsystem of the revised SOC to ensure thatall detailed occupations are placedwithin a broad occupation. In the 1998SOC, there are four levels of aggregation:(1) Major group; (2) minor group; (3)broad occupation; and (4) detailedoccupation. All occupations areclustered into 23 major groups (listedbelow), such as ManagementOccupations or Healthcare Practitionersand Technical Occupations. Thesemajor groups are broken down intooccupationally-specific minor groups,such as Operations Specialties Managersin the Management Occupations majorgroup or Health Diagnosing and

Treating Practitioners in the HealthcarePractitioners and TechnicalOccupations major group. Minor groups,in turn, are divided into broadoccupations, such as Human ResourcesManagers or Therapists, which arefurther divided into detailedoccupations, such as Compensation andBenefits Managers, or PhysicalTherapists.

The 1998 SOC contains 822 detailedoccupations, aggregated into 452 broadoccupations. These broad occupationsare grouped into 98 minor groups, thatare, in turn, grouped into the 23 majorgroups. For comparison purposes, the1980 SOC included 664 unit groups(comparable to detailed occupations inthe 1998 SOC), 223 minor groups(comparable to broad occupations in the1998 SOC), 60 major groups(comparable to minor groups in the1998 SOC), and 22 divisions(comparable to major groups in the 1998SOC).

Each item in the hierarchy isdesignated by a six-digit code. The firsttwo digits of the 1998 SOC coderepresent the major group; the thirddigit represents the minor group; thefourth and fifth digits represent thebroad occupation; and the sixth digitrepresents the detailed occupation.Major group codes end with 0000 (e.g.,29–0000, Healthcare Practitioners andTechnical Occupations), minor groupsend with 000 (e.g., 29–1000, HealthDiagnosing and Treating Practitioners),broad occupations end with 0 (e.g., 29–1120, Therapists), and detailedoccupations end with a nonzero digit(e.g., 29–1123, Physical Therapists). Thehyphen between the second and thirddigit is used only for presentationclarity.

All residuals (‘‘Other,’’‘‘Miscellaneous,’’ or ‘‘All Other’’),whether at the minor group, broadoccupation, or detailed occupationlevel, will contain a 9 at the level of theresidual. Minor groups that are majorgroup residuals will end in 9000 (e.g.,11–9000, Other ManagementOccupations); broad occupations thatare minor group residuals will end in 90(e.g., 11–9190, MiscellaneousManagers); and residual detailedoccupations will end in 9 (e.g., 11–9199,Managers, All Other):11–0000 Management Occupations

11–9000 Other ManagementOccupations

11–9190 MiscellaneousManagers

11–9199 Managers, All OtherIn cases where there are more than 9broad occupations in a minor group (ormore than eight, if there is no residual),

the xx-x090 will be skipped (reservedfor residuals), the xx-x000 will beskipped (reserved for minor groups),and the numbering system will go to xx-x110. The residual broad occupationwill then be xx-x190 or xx-x290 (e.g.,51–9190, Miscellaneous ProductionWorkers).

The 1998 SOC occupational groupsand detailed occupations presented inAppendix A are not alwaysconsecutively numbered, both toaccommodate these coding conventionsand to allow for the insertion ofadditional occupational groups in futurerevisions of the SOC. In addition, datacollection agencies wanting more detailto measure additional workercharacteristics can split a definedoccupation into more detailedoccupations by adding a decimal pointand more digits to the SOC code. Forexample, Secondary School Teachers,Except Special and VocationalEducation (25–2031) is a detailedoccupation. Agencies wishing to collectmore particular information on teachersby subject matter might use 25–2031.1for secondary school science teachers or25–2031.12 for secondary schoolbiology teachers. Additional levels ofdetail also may be used to distinguishworkers who have different training,demographic characteristics, or years ofexperience. It is recommended thatusers needing extra detail use thestructure currently being implementedfor the Employment and TrainingAdministration’s O*NET.

Each occupation in the revised SOCwill be placed within one of thefollowing 23 major groups:11–0000 Management Occupations13–0000 Business and Financial Operations

Occupations15–0000 Computer and Mathematical

Occupations17–0000 Architecture and Engineering

Occupations19–0000 Life, Physical, and Social Science

Occupations21–0000 Community and Social Services

Occupations23–0000 Legal Occupations25–0000 Education, Training, and Library

Occupations27–0000 Arts, Design, Entertainment,

Sports, and Media Occupations29–0000 Healthcare Practitioners and

Technical Occupations31–0000 Healthcare Support Occupations33–0000 Protective Service Occupations35–0000 Food Preparation and Serving

Related Occupations37–0000 Building and Grounds Cleaning

and Maintenance Occupations39–0000 Personal Care and Service

Occupations41–0000 Sales and Related Occupations43–0000 Office and Administrative Support

Occupations



45–0000 Farming, Fishing, and ForestryOccupations

47–0000 Construction and ExtractionOccupations

49–0000 Installation, Maintenance, andRepair Occupations

51–0000 Production Occupations53–0000 Transportation and Material

Moving Occupations55–0000 Military Specific Occupations

For users wanting less detail in datatabulations, the SOCRPC suggestscombining the 23 major groups into 11,or even 6, groups as presented below.

Intermediate Level Aggregation (11groups)

11–0000–13–0000 Management, Business,and Financial Occupations

15–0000–29–0000 Professional and RelatedOccupations

31–0000–39–0000 Service Occupations41–0000 Sales and Related Occupations43–0000 Office and Administrative Support

Occupations45–0000 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

Occupations47–0000 Construction and Extraction

Occupations49–0000 Installation, Maintenance, and

Repair Occupations51–0000 Production Occupations53–0000 Transportation and Material

Moving Occupations55–0000 Military Specific Occupations

High Level Aggregation (6 groups)

11–0000–29–0000 Management,Professional, and Related Occupations31–0000–39–0000 Service Occupations41–0000–43–0000 Sales and Office

Occupations45–0000–49–0000 Natural Resources,

Construction, and MaintenanceOccupations

51–0000–53–0000 Production,Transportation, and Material MovingOccupations

55–0000 Military Specific Occupations

Significant Changes and Responses toComments

In response to public commentsreceived on the August 5, 1998, FederalRegister notice (63 FR 41895–41923),OMB, in consultation with the SOCRPC,revised the SOCRPC’s finalrecommendations by adding a fewoccupations, mostly in the gamingoccupations (to reflect their growth) andthe primary and secondary teachingoccupations (to distinguish furtherspecial and vocational educationteachers); changing some occupationaltitles; and making necessaryrenumbering changes. These changesare reflected in the listing of the 1998SOC presented in Appendix A. Newbroad occupations added include thefollowing:11–9070 Gaming Managers

25–2010 Preschool and KindergartenTeachers

25–2020 Elementary and Middle SchoolTeachers

25–2030 Secondary School Teachers33–9030 Security Guards and Gaming

Surveillance Officers

New detailed occupations addedinclude the following:11–9071 Gaming Managers25–1194 Vocational Education Teachers,

Postsecondary25–2011 Preschool Teachers, Except

Special Education25–2012 Kindergarten Teachers, Except

Special Education25–2021 Elementary School Teachers,

Except Special Education25–2022 Middle School Teachers, Except

Special and Vocational Education25–2023 Vocational Education Teachers,

Middle School25–2031 Secondary School Teachers,

Except Special and Vocational Education25–2032 Vocational Education Teachers,

Secondary School25–2041 Special Education Teachers,

Preschool, Kindergarten, and ElementarySchool

25–2042 Special Education Teachers,Middle School

25–2043 Special Education Teachers,Secondary School

27–4011 Audio and Video EquipmentTechnicians

33–9031 Gaming Surveillance Officers andGaming Investigators

39–1011 Gaming Supervisors39–1012 Slot Key Persons39–3011 Gaming Dealers39–3012 Gaming and Sports Book Writers

and Runners39–3019 Gaming Service Workers, All

Other41–2012 Gaming Change Persons and Booth

Cashiers43–3041 Gaming Cage Cashiers47–4091 Segmental Pavers

Next Steps in Process

Implementation of the 1998 SOC

The SOCRPC is preparing the 1998Standard Occupational ClassificationManual for publication. Committeemembers have completed definitionsand assigned associated titles, whileagencies with occupationalclassification systems are developingcrosswalks from their existing systemsto the 1998 SOC. The SOCRPC willconsult periodically to ensure that theimplementation of the 1998 SOC iscomparable across Federal agencies.This consultation will include regularlyscheduled interagency communicationto ensure that there is a smooth Federaltransition to the 1998 SOC. It isanticipated that the next major reviewand revision of the SOC will begin in2005 in preparation for use in the 2010Decennial Census.

All Federal Government agencies thatcollect occupational data are expectedto adopt the 1998 SOC over the next fewyears. The following implementationschedule will be used by the Bureau ofLabor Statistics and the Bureau of theCensus—the agencies with the mostcomprehensive occupational datacollection systems.

Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe annual Occupational

Employment Statistics survey will firstreflect the 1998 SOC in 1999; national,State, and Metropolitan Statistical Areadata are expected to be available in early2001. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’Office of Employment Projectionsdevelops new national employmentprojections every 2 years, reflected in its‘‘industry-occupation matrix.’’ Thismatrix presents estimates of current andprojected employment—covering a 10-year period—by detailed industry andoccupation. The occupational staffingpattern, or detailed occupationalmakeup, of each industry in the matrixreflects Occupational EmploymentStatistics survey data. The 1998 SOCwill first be reflected in the industry-occupation matrix covering the 2002–12period, which is expected to be releasedin late 2003.

The Office of Employment Projectionsalso produces the Occupational OutlookHandbook, which is among the mostwidely used career guidance resourcesin the Nation, and related publicationsbased on the Bureau’s biennialemployment projections. Occupationaldefinitions and data completely basedon the 1998 SOC will be incorporatedfor the first time in the 2004–05 editionof the Handbook, which is expected tobe published in early 2004.

Bureau of the CensusData collected by the 2000 Census of

Population will be coded to the 1998SOC and published in 2002. Data fromthe Current Population Survey will bebased on the new classification for thefirst time in 2003.

Where To Find More InformationThe complete occupational structure

of the 1998 SOC will be contained inBureau of Labor Statistics Report 929,forthcoming. The final 1998 SOCultimately will be published in a two-volume 1998 Standard OccupationalClassification Manual. Volume I willcontain the hierarchical structure, acomplete list of occupational titles andtheir definitions, a description of theSOC revision process, and a section onfrequently asked questions. Volume IIwill contain a list of some 30,000 jobtitles that are commonly used by

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individuals and establishments whenreporting employment by occupationwith their corresponding SOC codes.The second volume also will include analphabetical index of all associated titlesand industries and will reference themto the occupations in which they arefound. Volumes I and II of the 1998 SOCalso will be available at the followingInternet address: http://stats.bls.gov/soc/soclhome.htm

O*NET, the Occupational InformationNetwork of the Employment andTraining Administration, adheres to the1998 SOC. Information on thisoccupational classification systemappears in ‘‘Replace with a Database:O*NET Replaces the Dictionary ofOccupational Titles,’’ OccupationalOutlook Quarterly (Bureau of LaborStatistics, Spring 1999). O*NET alsomay be accessed at the followingInternet address: http://www.doleta.gov/programs/onet

The 1998 SOC will be incorporatedinto the Occupational OutlookHandbook and the Bureau of LaborStatistics industry-occupation matrix.Both the Handbook and matrix can beaccessed at the following Internetaddress: http://stats.bls.gov/emphome.htm

To facilitate historical comparisons,the Bureau of Labor Statistics willdevelop a crosswalk showing therelationship between occupations in the1998 SOC and the 1997 OccupationalEmployment Statistics survey. TheBureau of the Census also is developinga crosswalk showing the relationshipbetween the occupations in the 1998SOC and those of the 1990 and 2000Censuses. This crosswalk will beavailable at the following Bureau of theCensus Internet address: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/occupation.html.

Standard Occupational ClassificationPolicy Committee

It has been eighteen years since thelast revision of the SOC. OMB plans toestablish a new standing committee, theStandard Occupational Classification

Policy Committee (SOCPC), to ensurethat the successful efforts of theSOCRPC continue and that the 1998SOC remains appropriate to the world ofwork. The new committee will meettwice per year to perform SOCmaintenance functions, such asrecommending changes in the SOCoccupational definitions and placementof new occupations. In addition, it willprovide timely advice to the Bureau ofthe Census during its 2000 Censusoccupation coding operation,particularly with respect to the properclassification of unfamiliar jobdescriptions and job titles. Thecommittee will also undertake athorough review of the entire SOC onceper decade, in conjunction withpreparations for the decennial census.The next major review and revision ofthe SOC is expected to begin in 2005 inpreparation for use in the 2010Decennial Census.

It is anticipated that the SOCPC willconsist of representatives of thefollowing agencies:

Department of Commerce, Bureau of theCensus

Department of Defense, Defense ManpowerData Center

Department of EducationDepartment of Health and Human Services,

Bureau of Health ProfessionsDepartment of Labor, Bureau of Labor

StatisticsDepartment of Labor, Employment and

Training AdministrationEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionNational Occupational Information

Coordinating CommitteeNational Science FoundationOffice of Management and Budget (ex-officio)Office of Personnel Management

The Bureau of Labor Statistics will chairthe committee and staff its secretariatwhich will carry out the day-to-daywork of the SOCPC, such as organizingworking groups to makerecommendations for changes.

Nonstatistical Uses of the SOC

The 1998 SOC was designed, as wasthe 1980 SOC, solely for statistical

purposes. Although it is likely that the1998 SOC, like the 1980 SOC, will alsobe used for various nonstatisticalpurposes (e.g., for administrative,regulatory, or taxation functions), therequirements of government agenciesthat choose to use the 1998 SOC fornonstatistical purposes have played norole in its development, nor will OMBmodify the classification to meet therequirements of any nonstatisticalprogram.

Consequently, as has been the casewith the 1980 SOC (Statistical PolicyDirective No. 10, Standard OccupationalClassification), the 1998 SOC is not tobe used in any administrative,regulatory, or tax program unless thehead of the agency administering thatprogram has first determined that theuse of such occupational definitions isappropriate to the implementation ofthe program’s objectives. If the terms,‘‘Standard Occupational Classification’’or ‘‘SOC’’ are to be used in the operativetext of any law or regulation to definean occupation or group of occupations,language similar to the following shouldbe used to ensure sufficient flexibility:‘‘An occupation or grouping ofoccupations shall mean a StandardOccupational Classification detailedoccupation or grouping of occupationsas defined by the Office of Managementand Budget, subject to suchmodifications with respect to individualoccupations or groupings of occupationsas the Secretary (Administrator) maydetermine to be appropriate for thepurpose of this Act (regulation).’’

In addition, if an agency decides torequire its respondents to provide anSOC code for a nonstatistical purpose,the agency needs to have trainedpersonnel available to answer therespondent’s questions and otherwiseassist them in providing the appropriateSOC codes.John T. Spotila,

Administrator, Office of Information andRegulatory Affairs.

BILLING CODE 3110–01–P



[FR Doc. 99–25445 Filed 9–29–99; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 3110–01–C


53136 federal register /vol. 64, no. 189/thursday ...network (o*net) which will replace the...

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