Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

Industry and Occupational Employment Projections

Anticipated employment trends in Ohio's occupations, job openings and industries.

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

View and download current and historical data for Ohio and twelve metropolitan areas.

Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Nonmetropolitan Statistical Areas

JobsOhio Regions

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Standard Occupational Classification system is a federal statistical standard used to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data. 

• State and local workforce development boards and professionals use the information to determine the need for local employment and training services.
• Researchers use the data to study trends in labor markets and industries to understand labor costs for new markets.
• Students and career counselors use the information for career planning by comparing employment and wages for different occupations, industries and areas.
• Compensation specialists use the data to determine equitable and competitive pay and to develop recruiting packages.
• To project short- and long- term employment.

Base data are obtained from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, a semi-annual mail survey of approximately 13,500 (per year) Ohio employers. Under semi-annual processing, the total sample size is split in half and processed independently.

If you are an employer who receives a request for information, please respond by one of the following:

• Online - Go to idcfoews.bls.gov. Login using your unique IDCF number.
• Email - Send an email with your data, including your IDCF number to oews@idcfmail.bls.gov.
• Mail - Fill out the page labeled Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Report and fax it to (614) 728-0759.
• Phone - Call (614) 752-9494. This is often the fastest method for establishments with fewer than 20 employees. 

If an establishment is closed, please report electronically or by phone.

The OEWS program collects data on wage and salary workers from a sample of nonfarm business establishments to produce employment and wage estimates for approximately 800 occupations. Estimates are derived from a survey of business worksites. The BLS provides the methodology and technical support, draws the sample, and produces the survey forms.

The BLMI is responsible for producing additional solicitation materials, verifying employer information, collecting the data, and analyzing and processing employer responses by applying Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes for each employee. Ohio has the sixth largest sample in the nation. It consists of approximately 13,500 businesses per year, totaling more than 950,000 employees. To be statistically valid, BLMI must meet a 75 percent response rate of sampled business establishments for 18 substate areas and 65 percent of sampled statewide employment, or information on approximately 10,125 business establishments and 617,500 employees.