The O*NET-SOC Taxonomy
About the O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy
The O*NET-SOC 2019 taxonomy structure has been revised based on the transition to the 2018 SOC. The new O*NET-SOC taxonomy includes 1,016 occupational titles, 923 of which represent O*NET data-level occupations.
98 Minor Groups
459 Broad Occupations
1,016
O*NET-SOC 2019 Occupations
(including 867 SOCs)
Data-Level
SOC Level without
detailed O*NET-SOCs
SOC Level with
detailed O*NET-SOCs
Non Data-Level
SOC Military Specific and
Military "All Other"
SOC "All Other" with
detailed O*NET-SOCs
SOC "All Other" without
detailed O*NET-SOCs
O*NET-SOC 2019 Structure
A technical report, Updating the O*NET-SOC Taxonomy: Incorporating the 2018 SOC Structure, is available which describes the new O*NET-SOC 2019 taxonomy structure. The overall relationship between the O*NET-SOC 2019 and the 2018 SOC is summarized. Code, title, or description changes that occurred from transitioning to the new 2018 SOC structure are detailed in the report. The new O*NET-SOC 2019 structure also includes four cybersecurity-related new and emerging occupations.
Transition to the O*NET-SOC 2019
The O*NET 25.1 Database release incorporated the O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy structure. The release of this database occurred November 17, 2020. In addition, at that time, the O*NET websites and O*NET Web Services transitioned to the new structure. This release schedule took into account the implementation schedules for the 2018 SOC
external site of related data on occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau.
To help O*NET Web Services users with the taxonomy transition, Taxonomy Services are available to enable developers to connect occupational data between existing systems based on the legacy O*NET-SOC 2010 taxonomy, and the current O*NET-SOC 2019 taxonomy-based O*NET Web Services.
For customers whose program schedule has not yet enabled them to migrate to the O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy, O*NET OnLine Archives is available. This limited, snapshot version of O*NET OnLine provides access to archived occupation reports that will remain permanently based on the O*NET-SOC 2010 Taxonomy. In addition, the O*NET 25.0 database (last O*NET-SOC 2010 based version) will remain available at O*NET Database Releases Archive.
Data Collection
The O*NET Program has initiated the collection of O*NET data for new or substantively revised O*NET-SOC 2019 occupations. The O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy Development Report describes the process for updating the occupation descriptions, tasks, alternate titles, and exclusionary titles for rolled-up occupations, split-out occupations, and new O*NET-SOC 2019 occupations.
2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
The 2018 SOC
external site has been published by the Office of Management and Budget. See the Standard Occupational Classification Manual, United States, 2018
external site (PDF) and the 2018 SOC Implementation Schedule
external site for the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies.
The O*NET Program transitioned the O*NET-SOC 2010 taxonomy to the 2018 SOC, creating the O*NET-SOC 2019. This transition was completed in November 2020. A crosswalk between the 2018 SOC and the O*NET-SOC 2019 taxnoomy is published for download and integrated within O*NET OnLine's SOC Crosswalk Search and within O*NET Web Services.
Taxonomy History — 2010 to 1998
O*NET-SOC 2010
The February 2011 release of the O*NET 15.1 database (O*NET-SOC 2010) represented the fourth major change to the taxonomy. The taxonomy was revised based on the transition to the 2010 SOC. Details of this update and implementation of the O*NET-SOC taxonomy can be found in our Updating the O*NET-SOC Taxonomy: Incorporating the 2010 SOC Structure report.
97 Minor Groups
461 Broad Occupations
1110
O*NET-SOC 2010 Occupations
(including 840 SOCs)
Data-Level
SOC Level without
detailed O*NET-SOCs
SOC Level with
detailed O*NET-SOCs
Non Data-Level
SOC Military Specific and
Military "All Other"
SOC Level with
detailed O*NET-SOCs
SOC "All Other" with
detailed O*NET-SOCs
SOC "All Other" without
detailed O*NET-SOCs
This structure also included new and emerging (N&E) O*NET-SOC occupations identified by research focused on new workforce requirements, including changes in technology, society, law or business practices, which led to new and emerging occupations in the United States. A detailed description of the N&E effort is available in the New and Emerging (N&E) Occupations Methodology Development report. The O*NET-SOC 2010 taxonomy included a total of 152 N&E occupations identified using this process.
O*NET-SOC 2009
The June 2009 release of the O*NET 14.0 database (O*NET-SOC 2009) represents the third major change to the taxonomy. As a product and result of the New and Emerging Occupations research, 153 new and emerging (N&E) occupations identified within 17 in-demand industry clusters were added to the O*NET-SOC taxonomy. The revised taxonomy included 1102 occupational titles, 965 of which represented O*NET data-level occupations. Details of this update and implementation of the O*NET-SOC taxonomy can be found in our New and Emerging Occupations of the 21st Century: Updating the O*NET-SOC Taxonomy report.
O*NET-SOC 2006
The June 2006 release of the O*NET 10.0 database (O*NET-SOC 2006) incorporated the second major change to the taxonomy. Details of this update and implementation of the O*NET-SOC taxonomy can be found in our Updating the O*NET-SOC Taxonomy report. The O*NET-SOC 2006 taxonomy included 949 occupational titles, 812 of which represented data-level occupations.
O*NET-SOC 2000
As required by the mandate from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
external site, the O*NET taxonomy was converted to one that was SOC-based in 2000 (O*NET-SOC 2000). For more information about the SOC transition, see our Transitioning O*NET to the Standard Occupational Classification report.
O*NET 98
The initial O*NET database release (O*NET 98) was based on the occupational classification used by the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
external site program at that time. This OEWS-based taxonomy was developed and released prior to the update to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
external site.
Occupational Code Assistance
The established Occupational Code Assignment (OCA) process enables users to submit occupational information, and request assistance in identifying a matching O*NET-SOC code and title. In cases where an existing occupational code and title cannot be identified, the submitted information is reviewed and utilized in identifying occupations that eventually might be added to the O*NET-SOC system. For more information, see Understanding the Occupational Code Assignment
(OCA) Process.
Occupational Listings and Files
- Taxonomies:
- Version crosswalks:
- O*NET-SOC 2019 — Occupations by type of change:
- O*NET-SOC 2019 — Data-level occupations:
- O*NET-SOC 2019 — Non data-level occupations:
- O*NET-SOC 2019 — Structure:
- Download all:
