Designating the Skilled Technical Workforce Using O*NET-SOC (2019)

In 2015, Rothwell defined the Skilled Technical Workforce (STW) and operationalized it using the Content Model survey data from the Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET). This paper uses Rothwell’s metrics and criteria to assign STW designations using the O*NET 25.1 Content Model data which aligns with the most current Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) codes. In the first part of our paper, we provide a discussion of the issues inherent in Rothwell’s metrics when used to classify the current occupation titles and offer suggestions on how to address these issues. In the second, we discuss the changes in the STW designations between O*NET-SOC 2010 and O*NET-SOC 2019 using the crosswalk provided by O*NET and discuss the obstacles the current STW definition poses to constructing metrics and pathways. We conclude by providing next steps.