Chapter 3.
Occupational Employment Statistics

Data Sources and Collection Methods
Employers are the source of occupational data. Within establishments, the main source of occupational data reported by respondents is personnel records. In addition, there are cases, especially for the small reporting units, where personal knowledge of persons completing the reports is also used.

Employment benchmarks for this survey are derived from employment data tabulated from the reports of the Unemployment Insurance program. In some nonmanufacturing industries, supplemental sources are used to obtain lists of establishments that are not covered by unemployment insurance laws. For example, the unemployment insurance file is supplemented by the Federal Railroad Administration's list of railroad establishments when railroad transportation is sampled.

Employment information is currently being collected for approximately 750 occupations in 7 major divisions. A list of occupations has been designed for each industry or for each group of industries having a similar occupational structure.

Two types of survey questionnaires, long and short, are used. Both forms include specific occupational titles and definitions, establishment identification information, and several questions concerning the exact economic activity of the business. In addition, the questionnaire provides descriptions of 3-digit SIC industries to reduce industry misclassifications.

The long form specifies an extensive list of occupations selected for each industry grouped under broad headings such as clerical occupations, professional and technical occupations, and service occupations. The long form includes supplemental sheets for respondents to report significant occupations that could not be reported in a detailed occupation, and were therefore reported in an "all other" residual category. Experience with previous surveys has shown that the supplemental sheets can be a valuable tool in improving the occupational lists and definitions for future surveys, as well as clarifying and correcting reported data.

The short form includes abbreviated occupational lists with accompanying definitions. Broad groups are not specified. Respondents are asked to identify and briefly describe jobs that cannot be matched to the occupations listed on the forms. When the questionnaires are returned, these additional occupations are coded according to the corresponding long-form occupational content. The short form was developed to reduce the reporting burden in smaller establishments by including more industry specific occupations and fewer general occupations.

Data are collected from respondents primarily by mail. Occasionally, visits are made to large employers and to other respondents who indicate particular difficulty in completing the questionnaires. Ordinarily, two mailings follow the initial mailing. After the third mailing, a subsample of the remaining nonrespondents is drawn and contacted by telephone.

Occupational employment data are requested for the pay period including the 12th day of April, May, or June, depending upon the industry surveyed.

Next: Sampling Procedure