How Small Businesses Can Standardize Technical Skills Assessment Using O*NET and BLS Data

Small business hiring managers often struggle to sift through piles of resumes and identify candidates with the technical skills required for critical roles. Differences in how candidates showcase their experience make fair and consistent evaluations challenging. A standardized assessment approach can simplify the process, reduce bias, and help employers focus on the skills that truly matter for the job.

Over the past few years, the demand for consistent technical skills assessment has grown dramatically. As labor markets evolve, employers need reliable methods to identify candidates who can perform the necessary tasks, not just those who can impress on paper. This shift is particularly crucial for small businesses, where every hire impacts the entire organization.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides skills data for over 800 occupations, evaluating 17 key skills like adaptability, critical thinking, and technology use. These scores are updated annually to reflect labor market trends, offering a reliable benchmark for what skills are truly needed in various roles. Meanwhile, O*NET's 2025 database update includes over 8,750 technology skills mapped to specific occupations, helping employers identify in-demand technical competencies.

For small businesses struggling to assess technical skills consistently, RiseYou offers a powerful solution. Every candidate completes a real AI Screening interview scored against the role's actual competencies, not resume keywords. This ensures that evaluations are based on standardized data, similar to the BLS and O*NET frameworks, providing a fair and objective assessment of technical abilities.

With RiseYou, small business hiring managers can reduce the variability in cognitive demands across technical roles, ensuring that candidates are evaluated based on the skills that truly matter for the job. This approach not only streamlines the hiring process but also enhances the quality of hires by focusing on demonstrated competencies.

As the labor market continues to evolve, the need for consistent and fair technical skills assessment will only grow. Small businesses that leverage standardized data from O*NET and BLS, and tools like RiseYou, will be better positioned to identify the right candidates for their roles. This approach not only improves hiring outcomes but also enhances the overall quality of the workforce.

Are you looking to reduce time to hire and ensure you're getting the best candidates for your small business? How can RiseYou help you achieve a faster, fairer hiring process without changing your current practices?