Workforce Research and Analysis Series, 0140

Individual Occupational Requirements

Series Definition

This series covers positions involving the performance of professional work in workforce research or in workforce programs development and evaluation for the purpose of furthering the development and utilization of the nation's workforce. Such work requires the application of concepts, principles and practices of sociology, psychology, economics, and/or allied social sciences in implementing national programs designed to equip the underemployed, the persistently unemployed and other unemployed with necessary skills to provide an opportunity for their full participation and utilization in the labor force; to increase the general employability of unemployed youth; to aid school dropouts or potential dropouts in continuing or resuming their education; and to insure sufficient availability of the workforce and needed occupational skills.

Basic Requirements

All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

1. Degree that included at least 30 semester hours in one or a combination of the following: sociology, psychology, economics, political science, or allied social science subjects that are especially pertinent to knowledge and understanding of employment and training programs.

   OR

2. Courses in a college or university consisting of 30 semester hours as described in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5 or equivalent)

Professional experience in studying, analyzing, and/or advising on the economic, social and/or psychological factors affecting employment and training problems. This experience must have required knowledge of one or more of the following:

• Labor force dynamics, e.g., the population, economic, cultural, and political factors affecting employment and training problems; problems relating to labor force adjustment to automation and other technological change; the effects of collective bargaining agreements; and the impact on job content and educational and training requirements of a rapidly changing industrial environment.

• The cultural, environmental, political, or sociological factors related to employability or employment, e.g., employment and training problems concerning specific ethnic groups, group imbalances, skill imbalances, patterns of discrimination, rural community life, etc.

• The psychological aspects of employability such as individual differences, attitude formation, motivation, and factors affecting learning.