What is Transferable Skills Analysis (TSA)?
TSA identifies occupations a person could perform based on skills developed in past work, applied to current medical restrictions and labor market conditions. It is the core methodology underlying most vocational expert opinions.
Purpose
TSA translates a person's work history and demonstrated skills into a universe of occupations they could theoretically perform, then filters that universe through current medical restrictions, functional capacity, and labor market viability.
Process
The vocational expert documents the work history with Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and O*NET codes, identifies skills and work fields, applies medical restrictions, searches for occupations within the retained skill set and tolerated physical and cognitive demands, and confirms labor market viability using BLS OEWS (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics) and local data (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d.).
DOT and O*NET as data sources
The DOT provides detailed physical demand and Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) information (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 1991); O*NET provides current task and skill information (National Center for O*NET Development, n.d.). Best practice is to cross-reference both when performing TSA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a TSA guarantee placement in the identified jobs?
No. A TSA establishes theoretical transferability. Whether those occupations actually exist in a hireable form in the claimant's market is tested by a labor market survey.
Are computer-based TSA tools accepted in court?
Computer-based TSA tools (SkillTRAN, OASYS) are widely used. Courts accept them when the underlying methodology is transparent and the expert can explain the results.
Related
References
- U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. (1991). Dictionary of occupational titles (4th ed., rev.). U.S. Government Printing Office. dol.govGovernment
- National Center for O*NET Development. (n.d.). O*NET OnLine. U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. onetonline.orgGovernment
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). U.S. Department of Labor. bls.govGovernment
Recommended next step
Discuss how this applies to your case
KWVRS provides independent, objective analysis for plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide. Tell us about the matter and we will scope the appropriate deliverable, or explore the relevant practice area below.