12/01/2012

The Occupational Outlook Handbook enters the 21st Century

By Kristina Bartsch

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) has been helping students and jobseekers make career decisions for more than 60 years. This national resource was originally developed in 1946 to guide World War II veterans with career choices as they entered or re-entered the workforce. Today’s OOH customers include high school and college students, adult jobseekers and career changers, school and career counselors, and career information delivery systems.

 

First published as a “Handbook,” the OOH quickly outgrew its title. BLS added more occupations and content over the years until, by 2010, the print version boasted nearly 900 pages and weighed in at 7 pounds.

 

The ever-growing size of the OOH also presented problems as Internet use became widespread in the 1990s. Customer usability tests and focus group feedback confirmed that OOH text length and density were difficult to read and information difficult to find online.

 

BLS decided in 2010 to redesign the OOH as a Web product by improving several areas: the presentation and readability of information, the search options, the navigation within the OOH site, and other features. BLS staff spent 2 years creating prototypes for the new online version. Reaching out to customers, the staff conducted usability tests with students and adults; held focus groups with high school and college counselors; sought feedback after demos at professional conferences, including the National Career Development Association and the American School Counselors Association; and invited comments from visitors to the OOH website Beta version.

 

In March 2012, BLS released the new OOH online at www.bls.gov/ooh. The 2012-13 OOH introduces these major changes:

 

Presentation and readability

 

Search options

 

Navigation

 

Other features

 

Since releasing the new OOH, web use has averaged 7.6 million page views per month. In August, an online survey asked customers to identify what they like about the new OOH and what needs improvement. Of the more than 1,500 survey responses received in 1 month, most were overwhelmingly positive about the revamped OOH. However, BLS welcomes all comments, particularly those that will help us continue to improve the OOH.

 

Regardless of how the OOH has changed its look, its goal has remained unchanged since 1946: to provide comprehensive, current occupation information for jobseekers and career planners.


 

Kristina BartschKristina Bartsch is the Chief of the Division of Occupational Employment Projections in the Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Since 2007, she has overseen the development of biennial long-term employment projections for about 800 occupations in more than 300 industries; the preparation of education and training assignments for occupations; and the publication of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, and green jobs career information.

Phone:202-691-6411

Email:Bartsch.kristina@bls.gov

Address:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

2 Massachusetts Ave, NE

Room 2135

Washington, DC 20212

Web:

www.bls.gov/ooh

www.bls.gov/emp

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1 Comment

Niel Carey   on Sunday 12/16/2012 at 04:55 PM

Kristina,
Thanks for this update on one of our most important career counseling tools. The OOH links to occupations that are fastest growing, highest paid, with the most new jobs are especially valuable.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the comments shown above are those of the individual comment authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of this organization.