The U.S. Department of Labor is asking SIU members who have been in the industry for at least five years to consider voluntarily participating in a program known as the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).The program is sponsored by the Department of Labor. It is intended to gather occupational information for a national database that is used by millions of employers, workers, educators, and students across the country.
Individual data will be kept strictly confidential. Names are not used in the database, and no identifying information about anyone will be published or released in any form to anyone outside the research team.
The database’s maritime component provides information about the knowledge, skills, abilities, and activities for the occupations of masters, mates, pilots, engineers, deckhands and oilers. “We want to make sure that the right information is presented for these positions,” noted Dr. Jon Blades, who helps head up the project. “It’s important that the information is accurate and up to date, because millions of employers, workers, educators and students use O*NET to help them make informed decisions about education, training and careers.”
He added that the agency seeks volunteers with at least five years of experience to “serve as experts and complete questionnaires about their work. Responses will be strictly confidential and will be combined with all other responses to define the skills, knowledge, and other aspects of work in the maritime field. Each person who completes the questionnaires will receive $40 and a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Department of Labor.”
Seafarers who are interested in participating may contact Dr. Jon Blades at the National Center for O*NET Development, P.O. Box 27625, Raleigh, NC 27611; telephone (919) 733-2790; fax (919) 715-0778; email jon.blades@ncmail.net. Please provide your name, telephone number and a mailing address.
More information about O*NET is available on line at the program's web site here
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