[1] Users of occupational data include human resources professionals, government program managers, industrial and labor relations practitioners, students considering career training, job seekers, vocational training schools, and employers wishing to set salary scales or locate a new plant.
An occupation is defined as a group of "jobs that are similar with respect to the work performed and the skills possessed by workers.
There are parallel category systems for industries used with SOC data, most commonly NAICS.
For example, the definition of the occupation of Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC code of 47-2141) is: "Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns.
On the other hand, the definition of the occupation of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC code of 27-1013) is: "Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques."
Interested parties can submit suggested additions to the job titles included in the DMTF.
The percentages in the various minimum requirement categories for each major group in the SOC are shown in the following table.
[11] The SOC was established in 1977, and revised by a committee representing specialists from across U.S. government agencies in the 1990s.