O*NET Resource Center - O*NET 12.0 Production Database

Production Database — O*NET® 12.0

Highlights of the New O*NET 12.0 Database

O*NET 12.0 Database and Data Dictionary — Download

Special Notice: O*NET Database Product Developers

The O*NET database contains several hundred variables that represent descriptors of work and worker characteristics, including skill requirements. It is provided here to enable product developers to incorporate the O*NET database into their products. This section contains the database, the data dictionary, technical documentation, and other information to support such product development.

Production versus Development Database

For clarity and distinction, the database used in O*NET OnLine is called the production database. It is currently O*NET 12.0 and is available for download below. Those wishing to utilize the database currently in use in O*NET OnLine should use this version.

The most recently developed database is referred to as our development database. This is the version of the database that will be implemented in the next update of O*NET OnLine scheduled for fall 2008. However, an application developer or other user may choose to begin using the O*NET 13.0 database at any point. The 13.0 files can also be used in planning for any future update of existing products or in developing new products. This version is available for download from our Development Database page.

Highlights of the New O*NET 12.0 Database

This eighth major update from the O*NET Data Collection Program brings the number of comprehensively updated occupations to 780. Highlights of this update include:

Addition and update of Task Statement ratings (importance, relevance, and frequency) for 100 occupations
Updated Abilities, Work Activities, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Context data for 100 occupations
Additional Work Context data for 100 occupations
Addition and update of Training and Work Experience and Education data for 100 occupations
Addition and update of Work Styles data for 100 occupations

For those interested in a list of the occupations updated with this release, the files below provide such a list.

Download:
Update by Occupation (PDF - 68 KB)
Update by Occupation (XLS - 101 KB)

Release Cycle and Timetable

The O*NET database is being updated on a regularly scheduled basis (see Data Publication Schedule). These updates occur as a result of the Data Collection Program currently underway. Updated data for the eighth subset of occupations is now included with this 12.0 release. A ninth subset of occupations is included in the 13.0 development database.

O*NET 12.0 Database and Data Dictionary — Download

O*NET 12.0 Database

The database consists of the "core" files contained in the O*NET Content Model. These files are part of the regularly scheduled update resulting from the data collection effort. Other files used in O*NET OnLine or that might support use of the O*NET Database are described and provided on the Supplemental Files page. This manner of distribution offers a regularly scheduled update cycle, while allowing for differing update schedules of other files, such as the various crosswalks.

Note: Users that might prefer Microsoft Access, Visual FoxPro, or SAS/PC versions of the O*NET 12.0 database can find them at the National Crosswalk Service Center's O*NET 12.0 database page .

Download:
Database 12.0 (ZIP - 9.3 MB) - updated June 2008
Read Me file (TXT - 1 KB)
Database 12.0 Errata (PDF - 76 KB) - updated June 2008

Data Dictionary

The O*NET 12.0 Data Dictionary provides a key to the files and data elements included in the database. It serves as documentation for systems analysts, developers, and researchers who plan to use the O*NET 12.0 database as a basis for developing other products, software, or system applications.

Download:
Data Dictionary 12.0 (PDF - 389 KB)

Update by Occupation

For those interested in a list of the occupations updated with this release, the files below provide such a list.

Download:
Update by Occupation (PDF - 68 KB)
Update by Occupation (XLS - 101 KB)

Database History and Update Summary

History

O*NET 98 (October 1998)	Release of the original 'Analyst Database' based on the Occupational Employment Statistical (OES) classification
O*NET 3.0/3.1 (August 2000/June 2001)	Database classification converted to conform to the new Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) standard
O*NET 4.0 (June 2002)	Release of the final 'Analyst Database' with a revised database structure consistent with the OMB-approved Data Collection Program
O*NET 5.0 (April 2003)	First update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 54 occupations
O*NET 5.1 (November 2003)	Occupational-level and item-level metadata added to the O*NET database
O*NET 6.0 (July 2004)	Second update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 126 occupations
O*NET 7.0 (December 2004)	Third update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 100 occupations
O*NET 8.0 (June 2005)	Fourth update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 100 occupations
O*NET 9.0 (December 2005)	Fifth update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 100 occupations
O*NET 10.0 (June 2006)	Sixth update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 100 occupations; release of the updated ONET taxonomy - ONET-SOC 2006
O*NET 11.0 (December 2006)	Seventh update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 101 occupations
O*NET 12.0 (June 2007)	Eighth update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 100 occupations
O*NET 13.0 (June 2008)	Ninth update of database from Data Collection Program with a comprehensive update of 108 occupations

Update Summary 5.0 - 13.0

New or updated O*NET items	O*NET-SOC 2006 Total (812 data-level occupations)
Addition of Task Statement ratings (importance, relevance, and frequency), Work Context, Work Styles, Training and Work Experience, and Education data Updated Abilities, Work Activities, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Context data	807
Updated Job Zones data	809
Updated Interests and Work Values data	812
Supplemental files
Updated with Emerging Tasks	324
Addition of Detailed Work Activities	804
Addition of Tools and Technology	256

The Emerging Tasks, Detailed Work Activities, and Tools and Technology files are distributed separately from the core O*NET database. You can download them from the Supplemental Files page.

For more details about each of the updates, refer to the database summary document provided below.

Download:
O*NET Database Update Summary (PDF - 201 KB)

The O*NET "Analyst" Database

The O*NET 4.0 database represents the final version of an "analyst ratings only" O*NET Database. The ratings for each of the 900+ O*NET-SOC occupations in the 4.0 database were developed by occupational analysts and every occupation contains ratings for the same range of descriptors. The ongoing O*NET data collection program is gradually replacing these original analyst ratings with ratings derived primarily from job incumbents, as well as, ratings from an updated analyst procedure. Major updates are scheduled to occur annually (see Data Publication Schedule). The new data represents improved quality and currency, and also includes additional variables.

Note: Users that might prefer Microsoft Access or Visual FoxPro versions of the O*NET 4.0 database can find them at the National Crosswalk Service Center's O*NET 4.0 database page .

Download:
Database 4.0 (ZIP - 1.8 MB)
Data Dictionary 4.0 (PDF - 93 KB)

Special Notice: O*NET Database Product Developers

Individuals may use O*NET database products freely for their own personal use. If use includes developing other products, software, or system applications using O*NET, users are subject to the terms and conditions described in the O*NET Database Products User Agreement. Users intending to develop other products, software, or systems applications using O*NET database products should register their use by completing the Certification Form — O*NET Database Products.

Complete the:
Certification Form — O*NET Database Products