2016 Occupational Requirements in the United States — 2016-12-01

Workers spent 61.0 percent of the workday standing or walking in jobs surveyed in 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This is the first release of the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) which is an establishment-based survey and provides information about the physical demands, mental requirements, education and training, and environmental conditions of jobs in the U.S. economy. Physical demands Physical demands refer to the effort generally required to successfully perform work-related tasks, and include activities such as standing, lifting, pushing and pulling, and hearing and vision requirements. The average maximum weight lifted or carried as required in all civilian (private industry and state and local government) jobs was about 36 pounds. Thirty-seven percent of jobs allowed workers the flexibility to choose alternating between sitting and standing or walking. Overhead reaching was required for 65.9 percent of jobs, while climbing ramps or stairs was required for 29.0 percent of jobs.