Innovation
Occupational Mix
Description: Occupational employment and wage data are collected annually via a survey of employers. Only one-third of the survey is conducted each year. Thus, the latest data from May 2006 include information collected during 2004, 2005, and 2006. Data are available by metropolitan area, county, state, and the nation. Employment and wage data are reported for 22 occupational groups and hundreds of occupations, though much of the data are withheld due to federal disclosure restrictions.
Both employment and annual wage data are displayed on the dashboard. Occupational group employment as a share of total employment is graphed for Arizona, as is the difference in the share between Arizona and the United States. The median annual wage in Arizona by occupational group also is graphed.
Rationale: Occupational data are more useful than industrial data in identifying certain types of activity, such as high technology and innovation. Employment shares that are above average in highly skilled, highly paid occupations indicate that a workforce is positioned to make innovative advances.
Data Sources: Data for Arizona, including counties and metro areas within the state, are available from the Arizona Department of Economic Security http://www.workforce.az.gov/?PAGEID=67&SUBID=160. The occupational employment statistics are at the bottom of the page. These data, as well as national data and data for other states, also can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Survey http://www.bls.gov/oes/home.htm. For the national data, select National Cross-Industry, part-way down the page under Tables Created by BLS.
Comments on the Quality of the Data: The data are subject to sampling error. Considerable data are withheld, even at the occupational group level in populous counties. Because of the sample design, comparisons over time should use three-year intervals.
