History

The Department of Labor (DOL) created a cross-reference from the 1991 DOT to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. It began at least with a cross-reference to the 1980 version of the SOC, and was replaced by their subsequent DOT cross-reference to the SOC 1998 and SOC 2000 versions. This DOL-developed data file sometimes showed multiple SOC groups for a single DOT. When the SOC system was revised again in 2010, DOL created a cross-reference from the SOC 2000 codes to the SOC 2010 codes, but they did not re-do it from the perspective of DOT to SOC2010 directly. “Not enough resources” to do this, and no doubt their view that the DOT was dead anyway , so why on earth should anyone care?

There is/was a DOL funded resource called the National Crosswalk Service Center, which is a repository for all kinds of these documents. The functions of this center have now been transferred to www.widcenter.org - Historical DOT related data is not yet indexed on this site, but you can obtain the dotsoc10.zip file here at this new link: http://data.widcenter.org/download/soc2010/

There is a document in there – you will have to look around for it and convert it from its .dbf format to something you can open.

O*NET uses these DOL-provided crosswalks. A really good example of the value of this approach is the DOT occupation “Faculty Member” – this one crosswalks to many SOC 2010 groups. O*NET itself has a feature showing how this works – try entering Faculty Member at this web address: http://www.onetonline.org/crosswalk/DOT/

After the release of data using SOC 2010, SkillTRAN approached DOL (O*NET) with nearly 100 suggested DOT-SOC crosswalk changes because there were many DOTs that could map nicely to some of the newest SOC categories. We were rebuffed with DOL's response that it had no resources to look at this; therefore, they were choosing to use their automated cross-reference. That is why when you use the O*NET DOT crosswalk tool above and search for matches to “MRI” you will get 29-2034.00 Radiologic Technologists rather than the correct 29-2035.00 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists.   

Various SkillTRAN Methods

SkillTRAN went ahead and made the proper DOT-->SOC2010 crosswalk changes that made most sense. The Job Browser Pro software uses a one DOT to one SOC approach at this time. SkillTRAN chose what it believed was the "best" SOC groups available for the DOT codes where there are multiple DOTs. This was to simplify development of the software feature that estimates employment at the DOT level. The Job Browser software now allows the user to choose which SOC group to use at some point in the future.

Late in 2010, SkillTRAN acquired the assets, software and personnel of Vertek OIS, Inc., including the OccuBrowse, OccuBrowse+, and OASYS software. These products do offer the multiple SOC codes for some DOTs. This occurs in exactly 89 DOT codes. Vertek products use the DOL developed DOT--> multiple SOC codes data. Recently, products were enhanced so that when multiple codes are available, the SOC/OES code is presented in a contrasting color to emphasize the several drop down choices. When a different SOC/OES code is selected, the corresponding employment data changes.

After the full transition of Employment Projections to the SOC 2018 system in September 2022, SkillTRAN will again offer its suggestions for appropriate DOT codes to map to the newest group of 832 SOC 2018 occupations (of the 848 civilian occupations).