In order to provide more useful and timely occupational information for program development and evaluation, curriculum design, and labor market response to employer needs, the federal Office of Management and Budget has created a standard system of occupational definitions called the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). Criteria for the SOC require that it cover all occupations in which work is performed for pay or profit; reflect the current occupation structure of the United States and be flexible enough to assimilate new occupations as they become known; and classify occupations based upon work performed, skills, education, training, licensing, and credentials. The SOC defines 821 detailed occupations, organized into a hierarchical structure that includes broad occupations and minor groups and culminates in 23 major groups. The SOC's coding system reflects this four-level hierarchy. The SOC makes several improvements over earlier occupational classifications, including providing a single standard for data collection, more detail, and combinations of similar occupations. New major resources based on the SOC are just beginning to appear. They include the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), the Occupational Employment Statistics Program, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and state and local information resources. (KC)