DOL July 2026 Wage Update: OFLC Revises O*NET-SOC Education & Training Categories

The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has announced the publication of an updated Appendix A to the Preamble, covering Education and Training Categories classified by O*NET-SOC occupations. This update applies to the July 2026 through June 2027 wage year and is a routine but important annual revision that governs how occupational classifications are used in prevailing wage determinations. For EB-3 applicants and their sponsoring employers, this update is directly relevant to the PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) labor certification process. The O*NET-SOC system is used by OFLC to classify job positions and assign appropriate education and training requirements, which in turn affects the prevailing wage level assigned to a position. Accurate classification is critical to ensuring that foreign workers are paid fair wages consistent with U.S. labor standards. Employers currently in the PERM process or planning to file labor certifications during the July 2026 to June 2027 period should review the updated Appendix A to confirm that their job positions are correctly categorized. Misclassification of education or training requirements can lead to incorrect prevailing wage determinations, potentially triggering audits or denials. Immigration attorneys and HR professionals managing EB-3 petitions should incorporate this updated appendix into their compliance reviews. Staying aligned with OFLC's current classifications helps avoid procedural delays that can extend already lengthy EB-3 processing timelines.