Occupational Employment Statistics (ICPSR 36219)

Principal Investigator(s):
United States Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics

This is an external resource to which ICPSR links as a courtesy. These data are not available from ICPSR. Users should consult the data owners (via Occupational Employment Statistics) directly for details on obtaining these resources.

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Summary

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program conducts a semiannual survey designed to produce estimates of employment and wages for specific occupations. The OES program collects data on wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in order to produce employment and wage estimates for about 800 occupations. Data from self-employed persons are not collected and are not included in the estimates. The OES program produces these occupational estimates for the nation as a whole, by state, by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and by industry or ownership. The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces occupational employment and wage estimates for approximately 415 industry classifications at the national level. The industry classifications correspond to the sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industrial groups.

The OES program surveys approximately 200,000 establishments per panel (every six months), taking three years to fully collect the sample of 1.2 million establishments. To reduce respondent burden, the collection is on a three-year survey cycle that ensures that establishments are surveyed at most once every three years. The estimates for occupations in nonfarm establishments are based on OES data collected for the reference months of May and November.

The OES survey is a federal-state cooperative program between the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). BLS provides the procedures and technical support, draws the sample, and produces the survey materials, while the SWAs collect the data. SWAs from all fifty states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands participate in the survey. Occupational employment and wage rate estimates at the national level are produced by BLS using data from the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Employers who respond to states' requests to participate in the OES survey make these estimates possible.

The OES features several arts-related occupations, particularly in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations group (Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code 27-0000). Several featured occupation groups include the following:

Art and Design Workers (SOC 27-1000)

  • Art Directors
  • Fine Artists, including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
  • Multimedia Artists and Animators
  • Fashion Designers
  • Graphic Designers
  • Set and Exhibit Designers

Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers (SOC 27-2000)

  • Actors
  • Producers and Directors
  • Athletes
  • Coaches and Scouts
  • Dancers
  • Choreographers
  • Music Directors and Composers
  • Musicians and Singers

Media and Communication Workers (SOC 27-3000)

  • Radio and Television Announcers
  • Reports and Correspondents
  • Public Relations Specialists
  • Writers and Authors

Data for years 1997 through the latest release and can be found on the OES Data page. Also, see OES News Releases sections for current estimates and news releases. Users can analyze the data for the nation as a whole, by state, by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and by industry or ownership. As well, OES Charts are available. Users may also explore data using OES Maps. If preferred, data can also be accessed via the Multi-Screen Data Search or Text Files using the OES Databases page.

Subject Terms

Geographic Coverage

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Data Collection Notes

  1. These data are not available from NADAC. Users should consult the Occupational Employment Statistics Web site for details on obtaining the data and other resources. Also, users are encouraged to explore the OES Documentation and OES Frequently Asked Questions pages for further information on OES Data and OES definitions.

  2. The employment data are benchmarked to an average of the May and November employment levels. The most recent wage data are for May 2017. The OES survey began using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in 2002. For May 2017, the OES survey switched to the 2017 NAICS classification system from the 2012 NAICS. Data prior to 2002 are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system.

    In 1999, the OES survey began using the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The May 2010 OES estimates marked the first set of estimates based, in part, on data collected for the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification system. The May 2017 OES estimates are all 2010 SOC occupations.

    Prior to 1996, the OES program collected only occupational employment data for selected industries in each year of the three-year survey cycle, and produced only industry-specific estimates of occupational employment. The 1996 survey round was the first year that the OES program began collecting occupational employment and wage data in every state. In addition, the program's three-year survey cycle was modified to collect data from all covered industries each year. 1997 is the earliest year available for which the OES program produced estimates of cross-industry as well as industry-specific occupational employment and wages.

  3. The May 2017 OES estimates are benchmarked to the average of the May 2017 and November 2016 reference periods. May 2017 employment and wage estimates are based on all data collected from establishments in the May 2017, November 2016, May 2016, November 2015, May 2015, and November 2014 semiannual samples. Wages for the current panel, May 2017, need no adjustment. However, wages in the five previous panels have been adjusted to the May 2017 reference period by using the over-the-year wage changes in the most applicable national Employment Cost Index series. For additional information, see the Technical Notes for May 2017 OES Estimates.

  4. For further information concerning the OES survey, please contact OES staff.

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