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O*NET Framework Reference Guide

Comprehensive Data Source Documentation for Work Activities Research​

Document Purpose: Complete reference for accessing O*NET database, understanding the hierarchical work activities framework (GWA → IWA → Task → Occupation), and downloading relevant datasets.

Last Updated: January 21, 2026
Current O*NET Version: 30.1 (Released Q3 2024)
Data Updates: Quarterly (primary update in Q3 each year)

Table of Contents​

  1. Primary O*NET Resources
  2. Understanding the Framework
  3. Work Activities Hierarchy
  4. Database Downloads
  5. API and Web Services
  6. Interactive Tools
  7. Documentation and Research
  8. Data Files Reference

Primary O*NET Resources​

1. O*NET Resource Center (Main Hub)​

URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/

Description:
The central portal for developers, researchers, and workforce professionals. Contains database downloads, technical documentation, research reports, and comprehensive guides.

What You'll Find:

  • Database download page with all data files
  • Content Model framework documentation
  • O*NET-SOC taxonomy information
  • Research papers and technical reports
  • Web Services API documentation
  • Update schedules and release archives

Best For: Researchers, developers, data analysts conducting large-scale analysis

2. O*NET OnLine (Interactive Interface)​

URL: https://www.onetonline.org/

Description:
Web-based application for exploring and searching the O*NET database interactively. User-friendly interface for viewing occupation profiles, searching by H.P.003-SKILLS, activities, or tasks.

What You'll Find:

  • 900+ occupation descriptions
  • Search by job duties, activities, H.P.003-SKILLS
  • Detailed occupation reports
  • Career exploration tools
  • Help documentation

Best For: Career counselors, job seekers, HR professionals, quick occupation lookups

3. O*NET Database Download Page​

URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html

Description:
Direct access to downloadable O*NET database files in multiple formats (Excel, CSV, Access, MySQL, SQL Server). Updated quarterly with latest occupational data.

Current Version: O*NET 30.1
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Formats Available: Excel, CSV, Tab-delimited TXT, Microsoft Access, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server

Best For: Direct database access, custom analysis, system integration

4. U.S. Department of Labor O*NET Page​

URL: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/onet

Description:
Official Department of Labor page for ONET program overview, policy information, and links to ONET family of tools.

Best For: Understanding program sponsorship, policy context, official announcements

Understanding the Framework​

O*NET Content Model​

URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/content.html

Description:
The Content Model is the conceptual foundation of O*NET, organizing occupational information into six major domains with hierarchical taxonomies.

Six Major Domains:​

  1. Worker Characteristics

    • Abilities (52 descriptors)
    • Interests (Holland Codes: RIASEC)
    • Work Values (6 categories)
    • Work Styles (16 descriptors)

  2. Worker Requirements

    • Skills: Basic Skills (10) + Cross-Functional Skills (36)
    • Knowledge (33 categories)
    • Education & Training

  3. Experience Requirements

    • Training
    • Experience (previous positions)
    • Licensing

  4. Occupational Requirements ⭐ INCLUDES WORK ACTIVITIES

    • Generalized Work Activities (41 GWAs)
    • Intermediate Work Activities (332 IWAs)
    • Detailed Work Activities (~2,000 DWAs)
    • Work Context (57 descriptors)
    • Organizational Context

  5. Workforce Characteristics

    • Labor Market Information
    • Occupational Outlook
    • Wages

  6. Occupation-Specific Information

    • Tasks (19,000+ occupation-specific statements)
    • Tools and Technology
    • Alternate Titles

Key Downloads:​

Content Model Outline (Summary):
https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/ContentModel_Summary.pdf

Content Model Outline (Detailed):
https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/ContentModel_Detailed.pdf

Content Model with Descriptions:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/ContentModel_DetailedDesc.pdf

Work Activities Hierarchy​

Hierarchical Structure​

Generalized Work Activities (GWAs) - 41 total
    ↓
Intermediate Work Activities (IWAs) - 332 total
    ↓
Detailed Work Activities (DWAs) - ~2,000 total
    ↓
Tasks - 19,000+ occupation-specific statements
    ↓
Occupations - 923 data-level O*NET-SOC codes

Generalized Work Activities (GWAs)​

Count: 41 broad work activities
Scope: Activities common across very large numbers of occupations, performed in almost all job families and industries
Purpose: High-level categorization for broad comparisons

Example GWAs:

  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Working with Computers
  • Analyzing Data or Information

Database File: Work Activities.txt (includes GWA ratings for each occupation)

Reference File: Content Model Reference (includes GWA Element IDs and descriptions)

Intermediate Work Activities (IWAs)​

Count: 332 work activities
Scope: Mid-level activities that apply across multiple occupations but are more specific than GWAs
Purpose: Cross-occupational analysis with sufficient specificity for practical application

Example IWAs:

  • Respond to customer problems or inquiries
  • Provide information to guests, clients, or customers
  • Edit written materials or documents
  • Gather information from physical or electronic sources
  • Explain technical details of products or services

Key Database Files:

  1. IWA Reference File (IWA_Reference.txt)

  2. DWA Reference File (DWA_Reference.txt)

  3. Work Activities Hierarchy (Work_Activities_Hierarchy.txt)

    • URL: Via main database download page
    • Contents: Complete hierarchy showing GWA → IWA → DWA → Task relationships
    • Includes: Task examples from across occupations

Detailed Work Activities (DWAs)​

Count: ~2,000 work activities
Scope: Specific activities performed in moderate numbers of occupations
Purpose: Detailed occupational analysis, transferable H.P.003-SKILLS identification

Example DWAs:

  • Respond to customer inquiries regarding products or services
  • Edit digital or print media content
  • Provide technical information to customers via phone or email
  • Compile statistical data for business reports

Key Database File:

Tasks to DWAs (Tasks_to_DWAs.txt)

  • URL: Via main database download page
  • Contents: Maps DWAs to specific task statements and occupations
  • Purpose: Links detailed activities to occupation-specific tasks

Tasks​

Count: 19,000+ occupation-specific statements
Scope: Specific duties performed within individual occupations
Purpose: Occupation-specific job descriptions and analysis

Key Database Files:

  1. Task Statements (Task_Statements.txt)

    • URL: Via main database download page
    • Contents: O*NET-SOC Code, Task ID, Task statement
    • Format: Tab-delimited

  2. Task Ratings (Task_Ratings.txt)

    • URL: Via main database download page
    • Contents: Task importance and relevance ratings
    • Scales: Importance (1-5), Relevance (% of workers performing)

Occupations​

Count: 1,016 total titles (923 data-level occupations)
Scope: Covers 55,000+ jobs in the U.S. economy
Standard: Aligned with 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)

Key Database Files:

  1. Occupation Data (Occupation_Data.txt)

    • URL: Via main database download page
    • Contents: O*NET-SOC Code, Title, Description

  2. Alternate Titles (Alternate_Titles.txt)

    • Contents: Common job titles mapped to O*NET-SOC codes

Database Downloads​

Main Download Page​

URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html

Available Formats:​

  1. Excel Workbooks - Best for: Excel users, quick exploration
  2. Comma-Separated Values (CSV) - Best for: R, Python, general-purpose
  3. Tab-delimited Text - Best for: Unix/Linux tools, scripting
  4. Microsoft Access - Best for: Access users, integrated queries
  5. MySQL - Best for: MySQL databases, server deployment
  6. Microsoft SQL Server - Best for: SQL Server environments

Complete Database Package​

All Files Package:
Download link available on database page - includes all tables in chosen format

Size: Varies by format (typically 50-200 MB compressed)

Key Data Files for Work Activities Research​

1. IWA Reference File​

Filename: IWA_Reference.txt
URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/dictionary/30.1/excel/iwa_reference.html

Structure:

Element ID | Element Name | IWA ID | IWA Title
4.A.1.a.1  | Getting Information | 1.1.1 | Gather information from physical or electronic sources

Fields:

  • Element ID: O*NET Content Model element identifier (links to GWA)
  • Element Name: GWA name
  • IWA ID: Unique identifier for the IWA
  • IWA Title: Full descriptive title of the IWA

Row Count: 332 (one per IWA)

2. DWA Reference File​

Filename: DWA_Reference.txt
URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/dictionary/30.1/excel/dwa_reference.html

Structure:

DWA ID | DWA Title | IWA ID | GWA Element ID

Purpose: Links Detailed Work Activities to Intermediate Work Activities and GWAs

Row Count: ~2,000 (one per DWA)

3. Work Activities Data File​

Filename: Work_Activities.txt
URL: Via main database download page

Structure:

O*NET-SOC Code | Element ID | Scale ID | Data Value | N | Standard Error | ...

Contents: Importance and Level ratings for GWAs across all occupations

Rating Scales:

  • Importance (IM): How important is this activity to the occupation? (1-5)
  • Level (LV): What level of this activity is needed? (0-7)

4. Tasks to DWAs File​

Filename: Tasks_to_DWAs.txt

Structure:

O*NET-SOC Code | Task ID | DWA ID

Purpose: Maps specific occupation tasks to Detailed Work Activities

Use Case: Connecting occupation-specific duties to transferable work activities

5. Task Statements File​

Filename: Task_Statements.txt

Structure:

O*NET-SOC Code | Task ID | Task | Task Type | ...

Contents: All 19,000+ task statements for all occupations

6. Task Ratings File​

Filename: Task_Ratings.txt

Structure:

O*NET-SOC Code | Task ID | Scale ID | Category | Data Value | ...

Rating Types:

  • Importance (IM): How important is this task? (1-5)
  • Frequency (FT): How often is this performed? (Various categories)

7. Work Activities Hierarchy File​

Filename: Work_Activities_Hierarchy.txt

Contents:

  • Complete hierarchical structure
  • GWA → IWA → DWA → Task linkages
  • Example tasks from across occupations

Format: Structured text file showing parent-child relationships

Best Use: Understanding the complete taxonomy structure

8. Content Model Reference File​

Filename: Content_Model_Reference.txt

Contents: Complete list of all Content Model elements with descriptions, scales, and metadata

URL: Via main database download page

9. Occupation Data File​

Filename: Occupation_Data.txt

Structure:

O*NET-SOC Code | Title | Description

Contents: All 1,016 occupation titles and descriptions

API and Web Services​

O*NET Web Services​

URL: https://services.onetcenter.org/

Description:
RESTful API providing real-time access to O*NET database without downloading files. Always returns latest database version (currently 30.1).

Documentation: https://services.onetcenter.org/reference/

Key Endpoints:

  1. Get Occupation Details:

    GET /ws/online/occupations/{onet_soc_code}

  2. Get Work Activities for Occupation:

    GET /ws/online/occupations/{onet_soc_code}/details/work_activities

  3. Get Tasks for Occupation:

    GET /ws/online/occupations/{onet_soc_code}/details/tasks

  4. Search Occupations:

    GET /ws/online/search?keyword={query}

Authentication: Requires free API key (register at services.onetcenter.org)

Rate Limits: Standard limits apply (documented on API page)

Response Format: JSON or XML

Interactive Tools​

1. O*NET OnLine - Browse All Occupations​

URL: https://www.onetonline.org/find/all

Description: Complete alphabetical list of all 900+ occupations with links to detailed profiles

2. O*NET OnLine - Search by Work Activities​

URL: https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/Work_Activities/

Description: Interactive search using work activities to find matching occupations

Features:

  • Browse by GWAs
  • Filter by activity importance
  • Find occupations requiring specific activities

3. O*NET OnLine - Career Exploration Tools​

My Next Move:
URL: https://www.mynextmove.org/

Description: Simplified career exploration tool for job seekers and students

My Next Move for Veterans:
URL: https://www.mynextmove.org/vets/

Description: Specialized version for military personnel transitioning to civilian work

4. O*NET Interest Profiler​

URL: https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip

Description: Assessment tool to identify career interests using Holland Codes (RIASEC model)

5. O*NET Code Connector​

URL: https://www.onetonline.org/crosswalks/

Description: Tools for mapping between O*NET-SOC codes and other classification systems:

  • SOC (Standard Occupational Classification)
  • Military Occupational Codes (MOC)
  • Career Clusters
  • Job titles

Documentation and Research​

1. Reports and Documents​

URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/reports.html

Description: 100+ research papers on O*NET development, methodology, and applications

Key Topics:

  • Content Model development
  • Data collection methodology
  • Taxonomy updates
  • Technical reports
  • Validation studies

2. Occupation Update Summary​

URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/updates.html

Description: Detailed information on which occupations have been updated in each database release

Update Schedule: Quarterly releases (primary update in Q3)

History: Shows which occupations updated when, which data elements changed

3. Database Releases Archive​

URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html#archive

Description: Historical O*NET database versions for longitudinal research

Available Versions: ONET 1.0 (1998) through ONET 30.1 (current)

Use Cases:

  • Tracking occupational changes over time
  • Historical comparisons
  • Reproducible research

4. Data Dictionary​

URL: https://www.onetcenter.org/dictionary/30.1/

Description: Comprehensive data dictionary for O*NET 30.1, explaining all files, fields, and codes

Formats Available:

  • Online HTML
  • PDF downloads
  • Excel reference files

5. O*NET Overview Help​

URL: https://www.onetonline.org/help/onet/

Description: Comprehensive help documentation explaining O*NET structure, Content Model, and data

Data Files Reference​

Complete List of Work Activities Files​

File NameDescriptionRow CountKey Fields
Content_Model_Reference.txtAll Content Model elements~270Element ID, Element Name, Description
IWA_Reference.txtIWA taxonomy332IWA ID, IWA Title, GWA Element ID
DWA_Reference.txtDWA taxonomy~2,000DWA ID, DWA Title, IWA ID
Work_Activities.txtGWA ratings by occupation~38,000O*NET-SOC Code, Element ID, Importance, Level
Work_Activities_Hierarchy.txtComplete hierarchyVariesGWA, IWA, DWA, Task examples
Tasks_to_DWAs.txtTask-to-DWA mappings~60,000O*NET-SOC Code, Task ID, DWA ID
Task_Statements.txtAll task descriptions~19,000O*NET-SOC Code, Task ID, Task text
Task_Ratings.txtTask importance/frequency~19,000O*NET-SOC Code, Task ID, Importance, Frequency
Occupation_Data.txtOccupation profiles1,016O*NET-SOC Code, Title, Description

Using O*NET for AI Applicability Research​

Goal: Classify AI conversations by O*NET work activities and measure AI applicability to occupations

Steps:

  1. Download Core Files:

    • IWA_Reference.txt - Get all 332 IWA titles
    • Tasks_to_DWAs.txt - Link tasks to IWAs (via DWAs)
    • Task_Ratings.txt - Get task importance/relevance weights
    • Occupation_Data.txt - Map to occupations

  2. Build IWA Taxonomy:

    • Extract 332 IWA titles and descriptions
    • Group by GWAs for categorization
    • Create embeddings for semantic matching

  3. Classify Conversations:

    • Match conversation text to IWAs
    • Track both user goals and AI actions
    • Measure completion and scope

  4. Aggregate to Occupations:

    • Use task importance weights from Task_Ratings.txt
    • Calculate occupation-level AI applicability scores
    • Compare across SOC major/minor groups

Framework Summary​

Hierarchical Levels​

LevelCountScopeExample
GWA41Very broad, cross-industry"Getting Information"
IWA332Mid-level, cross-occupational"Gather information from physical or electronic sources"
DWA~2,000Specific, moderate occupation range"Compile research data from online databases"
Task19,000+Occupation-specific"Search medical journals using PubMed for patient case research"
Occupation923 (data-level)Job level"Medical Records Specialist" (29-2072.00)

Data Quality and Updates​

Update Frequency​

  • Quarterly: New database releases (every ~3 months)
  • Primary Update: Q3 each year (largest update with most occupations refreshed)
  • Coverage: Rotating schedule updates all occupations over ~5 years

Data Collection Methods​

  1. Incumbent Surveys: Workers in occupations complete questionnaires
  2. Occupational Expert Panels: Subject matter experts review data
  3. Job Analysis: Professional analysts evaluate job content
  4. Hybrid AI-Expert Methods: New approach combining ML and expert review (introduced in O*NET 30.0)

Sample Sizes​

  • Typical occupation: 20-30 incumbent surveys
  • Total annual surveys: 42,000+ across all occupations
  • Response rates: Vary by occupation and method

License and Usage​

Creative Commons License​

Type: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Permitted Uses:​

✅ Copy and redistribute in any format
✅ Adapt, transform, and build upon
✅ Commercial and non-commercial use
✅ No cost for access

Requirements:​

📋 Credit the O*NET database and version
📋 Indicate if changes were made
📋 Provide link to license

Attribution Example:​

Data source: O*NET 30.1 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration. 
Retrieved from https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html

Contact and Support​

O*NET Customer Service​

Email: onet@onetcenter.org
Purpose: Technical questions, data issues, general inquiries

O*NET Updates Email List​

Subscribe: https://www.onetcenter.org/updates_email.html
Purpose: Notifications of new releases, features, and updates

Social Media​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onetcenter
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/onetcenter
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/onetcenter

Additional Resources​

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
URL: https://www.bls.gov/soc/
Description: Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational classification system (O*NET-SOC aligns with 2018 SOC)

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
URL: https://www.census.gov/naics/
Description: Industry classification system (used with O*NET for industry-occupation matrices)

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
URL: https://www.bls.gov/
Description: Employment data, wages, occupational outlook (complements O*NET)

Academic and Technical References​

National Academies Review:
"A Database for a Changing Economy: Review of the Occupational Information Network (ONET)"*
URL: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12814/
Description: Comprehensive 2010 evaluation of O*NET Content Model and methodology

Journal Articles:

Quick Start Guide​

For Researchers Studying AI and Work​

Step 1: Visit https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html

Step 2: Download these files (Excel or CSV format):

  • IWA_Reference.txt (332 rows - your work activities taxonomy)
  • Occupation_Data.txt (1,016 occupations)
  • Task_Ratings.txt (task importance weights for aggregation)

Step 3: Explore the Content Model:

Step 4: For API access:

Step 5: Join updates list:

Conclusion​

The O*NET database provides a comprehensive, publicly accessible framework for understanding work and occupations in the U.S. economy. With its hierarchical structure (GWA → IWA → DWA → Task → Occupation), researchers can analyze work activities at multiple levels of granularity.

Key Strengths:

  • 332 Intermediate Work Activities (IWAs) applicable across occupations
  • Free access with permissive Creative Commons license
  • Quarterly updates maintain currency
  • Multiple access methods (download, API, interactive tools)
  • Rich documentation and research support

For AI Research: The IWA level (332 activities) provides ideal granularity for classifying AI capabilities and measuring occupational applicability, as demonstrated in the Microsoft Research study "Working with AI: Measuring the Applicability of Generative AI to Occupations" (Tomlinson et al., 2025).

Version History​

O*NET 30.1 (Current, Q3 2024)

  • Work Styles updated via hybrid AI-expert method
  • Related occupations refined via ML and analyst review
  • 171 "Hot Technologies" identified from job postings

O*NET 30.0 (Q3 2023)

  • Introduced hybrid AI-expert methodology for Work Styles
  • Updated Work Styles Taxonomy
  • Expanded technology H.P.003-SKILLS data

O*NET 29.0 (Used in Microsoft Study, 2024)

  • 332 IWAs (established structure)
  • 41 GWAs
  • ~2,000 DWAs

Historical Archive: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html#archive

Document Prepared: January 21, 2026
Prepared For: Research on AI applicability to occupations using ONET framework
Next Review: Upon ONET 31.0 release (expected Q3 2025)

O*NET 30.1 Database (Current)​

Excel Format:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/database/db_30_1_excel.zip

CSV Format:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/database/db_30_1_text.zip

Access Format:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/database/db_30_1_access.zip

MySQL Format:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/database/db_30_1_mysql.zip

SQL Server Format:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/database/db_30_1_mssql.zip

Key Individual Files (Tab-Delimited Text)​

IWA Reference:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dictionary/30.1/text/iwa_reference.html

Work Activities:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dictionary/30.1/text/work_activities.html

Task Statements:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dictionary/30.1/text/task_statements.html

Occupation Data:
https://www.onetcenter.org/dictionary/30.1/text/occupation_data.html

End of Reference Document