What does the OES survey provide?
The OES survey provides accurate, timely information on the numbers of employees
and their wages in nearly 800 occupations and over 400 industries nationally and
for Washington State, its metropolitan and rural areas.
What is the OES survey?
The OES survey is an annual mail survey of employers conducted cooperatively
by the Washington State Employment Security Department and the U.S. Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers are selected to represent
geographic areas, industries and size classes. They receive questionnaires
listing occupations common to their industries and, for each occupation, they are asked
to report employment in specific wage ranges and a total. Based on employer
responses to these questionnaires, we estimate total numbers of employees and
wage rates for occupations and industries.
What is this information used for?
To determine pay rates for jobs.
To assist students and job seekers in making informed career decisions.
To decide whether existing labor force will support new or expanded industrial development.
To match education and training programs with current and future job
requirements.
Why should my business or organization participate in the survey?
Individual businesses are the only source for the data and these data provide the
only current, reliable, and detailed information on occupational employment and wages
that is easily available to business and the public. Each firm in the sample has been
scientifically selected to represent many similar firms. If your firm has been selected,
your response is needed to ensure that the survey information remains accurate and
available. You can be sure that the privacy of your firm's own data will be scrupulously
respected.
How can I get a copy of the most current survey results?
Data based on the survey are available on the Internet at 2000
Occupation and Wage Estimates
(Washington data) and at
http://www.bls.gov/oes/ (national and state data).
