Personal Care Aide -ONET Occupation Study

About this study

Mercor is building a new, more accurate version of O*NET — the U.S. government's framework for describing occupations and the tasks they involve. We are gathering input directly from experienced practitioners to improve how the work of personal care aides is described.

About the role (SOC 31-1122.00 — Personal Care Aides)

Provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambulation. May also help with preparing meals, light housekeeping, and laundry. Work is performed in settings that depend on the care recipient's needs, including the home, place of work, the community, or a daytime nonresidential facility.

What you'll do

• Complete a one-time online survey/interview about your day-to-day work as a personal care aide. It takes up to 30 minutes.
• There may be an optional follow-up survey, task, or short interview afterward, which would be paid separately.

Who we're looking for (eligible applicants have)

• 4+ years of experience working specifically as a personal care aide.
• Current work, or work within the last 12 months, in the role.
• Direct knowledge of daily care tasks, settings, and routines.
• U.S.-based.

Not eligible (common confounders)

• Home health aides whose role centers on health-related tasks such as taking vitals or wound care under clinical supervision (separate occupation, SOC 31-1121.00).
• Nursing assistants or CNAs working under nursing staff in clinical settings (SOC 31-1131.00).
• Housekeepers or maids who provide only cleaning, not personal care.
• Orderlies (SOC 31-1132.00).
• Childcare workers.
• Psychiatric aides (SOC 31-1133.00).

Reference for the occupation: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-1122.00