After the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) developed “hiring preference” levels for each occupation in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) taxonomy, the Labor Market Information Center of the South Dakota Department of Labor endeavored to develop state-specific “hiring preferences” for all occupations in the taxonomy.  “Hiring preference” refers to the level of education, training and work experience employers, on average, seem to prefer when seeking candidates for a job opening in an occupation.

While hiring preferences are the same or very similar across the nation for the majority of occupations, the LMIC felt it was important to address any differences and determine state-specific hiring preferences. In 2000, the LMIC organized a workgroup of 12 individuals for this grueling task.  The LMIC attempted to include a comprehensive cross-section of knowledge, experience and expertise on occupational education and training requirements on the workgroup.  Workgroup members included the following:

Anna Lacher of Aman Collection Service, representing the South Dakota Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Dave Hanson, South Dakota Board of Regents

Gayle Tidemann, South Dakota State University (representing college and university placement offices)

George Rockhold, SD Division of Workforce & Career Preparation

Bill McEntaffer, Pierre One-Stop Career Center

Dennis Coull, Rapid City One-Stop Career Center

Dave Jackson, US Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training

Sue Bogen, Lake Area Technical University (representing vocational and technical institution placement offices)

Mike McKenzie, South Dakota Bureau of Personnel

Gary Gregerson, Sioux Falls One-Stop Career Center

Phillip George, Labor Market Information Center

Melodee Lane, Labor Market Information Center

After agreeing to serve on the workgroup on a voluntary basis, each workgroup participant received a spreadsheet showing the US hiring preference level for each of several hundred SOC occupations.  The BLS had developed 11 hiring preference categories, as shown below.  Workgroup members also received a narrative legend of the 11 categories, with definitions and explanations.  Additionally, members received the complete definitions of all SOC occupations. 

BLS Hiring Preference Levels

Short-term On-the-Job Training*

Moderate-term On-the-Job Training*

Long-term On-the-Job Training*

Work Experience in a Related Occupation*

Post-secondary Vocational Training

Associate Degree*

Bachelor’s Degree*

Work Experience Plus a Bachelor’s or Higher Degree*

Master’s Degree*

Doctoral Degree*

First Professional Degree*

 *Definitions match those shown below for South Dakota.

Workgroup members were asked to analyze the detailed data prior to meeting and come prepared to discuss any occupation for which they felt the US hiring preference was not appropriate for the occupation in South Dakota. The workgroup met in person for a day and a half, going through those occupations one by one for which any members expressed discrepancies from the national hiring preference. Discussions were held for each specific occupation until a consensus was reached as to the appropriate hiring preference for South Dakota.  As this work progressed, the workgroup felt some minor modifications to the 11 BLS categories were needed to accurately reflect labor market expectations and realities in South Dakota.  The 11 BLS categories were altered slightly for South Dakota, as shown below.  Those categories customized for South Dakota are highlighted. 

 South Dakota Hiring Preference Levels

Short-term informal on-the-job training - occupations in which workers generally can achieve average job performance after a short demonstration or up to one month of on-the-job experience and instruction.

Moderate-term informal on-the-job training - occupations in which workers generally can achieve average job performance after one to 12 months of combined on-the-job experience and informal training, including skills learned by observing experienced workers.

Work experience - occupations in which workers generally can achieve average job performance through work experience in the field.

Combination of post-secondary education and related work experience or long-term on-the-job training - occupations that generally require a combination of post-secondary education and related work experience or more than 12 months of on-the-job training.

Post-secondary education at less than the associate level - occupations that generally require completion of technical or vocational education ranging in length from a few weeks to more than a year but less than the associate degree level.

Associate degree - occupations that generally require completion of a post-secondary education program granting an associate degree and usually involving about two years of full-time equivalent academic work, but less than four years.

Bachelor’s degree - occupations that generally require completion of a   post-secondary education program granting a bachelor’s degree and usually involving four years but not more than five years of full-time equivalent academic work.

Bachelor’s degree and related work experience  - occupations that generally require the combination of the completion of a post-secondary education program granting a bachelor’s degree and usually involving four years but not more than five years of full-time equivalent academic work, plus work experience in the field.

Master’s degree - occupations that generally require completion of a post-secondary education program granting a master’s degree and usually involving one or two years of full-time equivalent academic work beyond the bachelor’s degree.

Doctoral degree - occupations that generally require the completion of a post-secondary education program granting a doctoral degree and usually involving at least three years of equivalent academic work beyond the bachelor’s degree.

First professional degree - occupations that generally require the completion of a post-secondary education program granting a professional degree and usually involving at least six years of full-time equivalent academic study, including college study prior to entering the professional degree program.

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