Skills requirements for the 30 most-frequently advertised occupations in the United States: an analysis based on online vacancy data

Using a sample of approximately two million job advertisements published online, this paper assesses which educational, skills and other requirements US employers demand the most. [The authors'] analysis is focused on the 30 most-frequently advertised occupations in the United States, of different levels of complexity. [The] results suggest that employers are demanding in their job advertisements, even when these concern low- or medium-skilled occupations. Although vacancies for more complex occupations are generally more demanding than those for less complex ones, there is a lot of...  [+] Show more

Using a sample of approximately two million job advertisements published online, this paper assesses which educational, skills and other requirements US employers demand the most. [The authors'] analysis is focused on the 30 most-frequently advertised occupations in the United States, of different levels of complexity. [The] results suggest that employers are demanding in their job advertisements, even when these concern low- or medium-skilled occupations. Although vacancies for more complex occupations are generally more demanding than those for less complex ones, there is a lot of variation across the 30 occupations. Formal education is the most important criterion for employers in the United States; it is required in 67 per cent of the vacancies examined. Specialised training and licenses, in contrast, appear to be less important. Of the cognitive and non-cognitive skills, service skills in particular are high in demand (called for in 49 per cent of the vacancies). Other non-cognitive skills, both of a social and personal nature, are frequently included as well. Experience is the third key criterion that employers use to screen job applicants. It appears in 38 per cent of the vacancies.

Published abstract.