These educational requirements reflect a need for highly skilled workers who can perform complex, ever-changing tasks. Economists have classified the intensity of five types of tasks across occupations using the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). 15 The taxonomy gauges the degree to which each occupation uses non-routine analytic skills (such as mathematics, used by architects), non-routine interactive skills (directing and planning, used by school teachers), routine cognitive skills (adhering to strict limits or standards, used by machinists), non-routine manual skills (physical coordination, used by fire fighters), and routine manual skills (manipulating objects with fingers rapidly, used by tool and.
