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THE STANDARDS
LER-RS V2 Release Candidate
Download the Candidate Release - Documentation included in Zip package - Updated 5/9/2025
This release is focused on developing an updated Learning and Employment Record Resume Standard (LER-RS) schema and Open API. The core objective was to create a specification enabling individuals to utilize products for selecting JSON Resume objects, editing and building LER-based resumes (including Verifiable Credentials), exchanging these resumes with career wallets, and supporting LER-RS as a Verifiable Credential. Key deliverables included a publicly available LER-RS V2 Release Candidate specification, a new Open API for HRIS vendors and wallet holders, an LER-RS VC schema with samples, and a demonstration of LER-RS V2 in a Resume Builder.
The project was executed across five phases, involving significant coordination with project partners, HR technology vendors, and HR practitioners. The HR Open Standards Consortium organized workgroup meetings, secured adoption commitments, and developed draft specifications, use case samples, and demonstrations. The final outcomes provide a foundation for improved learning and employment record standards, with the intent of future adoption by career wallet providers, resume builders, and other HR technology vendors.
JEDx API Open API Specification - Final Release
Posted 10/15/2024
Review the JEDx API Open API Specification release
This release marks a significant step forward in modernizing data reporting processes for employers, government agencies, and other stakeholders in the workforce ecosystem. This specification leverages the power of technology standards, particularly Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), to enable seamless and secure data sharing across various systems. The initial focus of this project is on enhancing state unemployment insurance (UI) reporting, aiming to reduce costs, improve data quality and timeliness, and provide valuable insights for workforce analytics and program administration.
4.4 Final Release
Posted - 01/11/2024
Key highlights of the 4.4 standards include:
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The Assessments Workgroup identified several new use cases to address in HR Open Standards version 4.4 each aligned to continue to work we had initiated with version 4.0 and through the staged assessments version 4.3. Our use cases led us to extend the API standard to provide compatibility and support for xAPI statements. We worked with the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative to design an HR Open Standards xAPI Profile which resides on the ADL xAPI profile server. The xAPI profile documentation is part of the assessments 4.4 standard. By extending the standard to support xAPI statements we have enabled the exchange of assessments item level data and paved the way forward to support learner wallet initiatives and individual skills data. We are excited to have positioned the assessments workgroup to lean into the skill based economy and future skills data standards we could develop.
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Benefits: The 4.4 standard release introduces several key improvements to the benefits standard:
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Increased flexibility to accommodate complex plan configurations: The ability to include multiple classes within a single plan design, catering to the diverse needs of their workforce.
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Enhanced support for COBRA administration: The inclusion of COBRA support streamlines the process for employees who experience qualifying events and need to continue their health insurance coverage. The new fields capture crucial details about eligibility, event type, and impacted enrollments, ensuring smoother administration and communication.
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Recruiting: - The 4.4 Release includes the newly developed Learning Employment Record - Resume Standard (LER-RS.) The LER-RS is based on the following key principles:
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Structured format: The LER-RS provides a consistent and organized layout for resume data, making it easier for employers to scan and analyze.
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Skills-based focus: The emphasis is placed on highlighting demonstrable skills and competencies, rather than simply listing past job titles and duties.
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Digital verification: Credentials and achievements can be linked to verifiable sources, such as digital badges and learning records, enhancing their credibility.
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APPROVED RELEASES
PREVIOUS LIBRARIES
| 3.1 Full HR-XML Release (2010-09-21) | 3.0 Full HR-XML Release (2009-09-23) | 2.6 Staffing Release (2015-05-01) | 2.5 Full HR-XML Release (2007-04-15) |
4.3.0 RELEASE
What's Included?
This release includes two new specifications
- The Employee and Employment Earnings Specification
- The JDX Standard Converted to JSON and XML.
4.2 RELEASE
What's Included?
Included in 4.2 Release:
- Assessments schema
- Benefits schema
- Common schema
- Compensation schema
- Interviewing schema
- Payroll schema
- Recruiting schema
- Screening schema
- Timecard schema
- Wellness schema
- Sample Files
The Common folder includes:
- Shared Components
- Shared Code Lists
- GDPR
HR Open 4.2 release was approved by the Consortium membership.
4.1.1 HR-JSON SPECIFICATION (PATCH)
What's Included?
Included in 4.1.1 JSON patch release:
- Assessments JSON schema
- Benefits JSON schema
- Common JSON schema
- Compensation JSON schema
- Interviewing JSON schema
- Recruiting JSON schema
- Screening JSON schema
- Timecard JSON schema
- Wellness JSON schema
- Sample JSON Files
The Common folder includes:
- Shared JSON Components
- Shared JSON Code Lists
- GDPR
HR Open 4.1.1 JSON patch was built on the 4.1 JSON specification, which was approved by the Consortium membership.
DOWNLOAD 4.1.1 HR-JSON PATCH RELEASE
4.1.1 HR-XML SPECIFICATION (PATCH)
What's Included?
Included in 4.1.1 patch XML release:
- Assessments XML schema
- Benefits XML schema
- Common XML schema
- Compensation XML schema
- Interviewing XML schema
- Recruiting XML schema
- Screening XML schema
- Timecard XML schema
- Wellness XML schema
- Sample XML Files
The Common folder includes:
- Shared XML Components
- Shared XML Code Lists
- GDPR
HR Open 4.1.1 XML patch release has been generated from the 4.1.1 JSON patch release. Both were based on the 4.1 JSON approved release.
DOWNLOAD HR-XML 4.1.1 PATCH RELEASE
ASSESSMENTS HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
HR Open Standards Consortium assessment specification supports the procurement of assessment services and the integration of assessment results. An assessment of an individual may be required during the hiring process, development, and training, or promotion. This specification allows data exchange for these and other scenarios. The assessment standards include:
- AssessmentCatalog. Contains a set of information about assessment services or tests available to a customer.
- AssessmentOrder. Defines a set of information necessary to execute an order for an employment test or assessment.
- AssessmentReport. Provides scores and other details to fulfill or respond to an assessment order.
DOWNLOAD HR-XML ASSESSMENTS 3.3
DOWNLOAD HR-XML ASSESSMENTS 3.2
BENEFITS HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
HR Open Standards Consortium benefit specifications support the enrollment and management of a variety of benefit plans. The benefits download includes three specifications: US Benefits Enrollment, Savings Plan Enrollment, and Stock.
- USBenefitsEnrollment. Supports enrollment in "tier-based" benefit coverages (such as medical, dental, and vision) and in spending accounts (for example, flexible spending accounts). As the name implies, the schema is designed around requirements principally found within the United States market.
- SavingsPlanEnrollment. Provides a means to communicate information about participants' savings plan elections.
The stock specification includes:
- StockPlanParticipant. Contains a collection of information about an account holder in an employer-sponsored stock option or stock purchase program.
- StockDeposit. Contains instructions for the broker to distribute stock to a given set of participants. The broker receives a stock transfer by the ESPP sponsor company's transfer agent and therefore needs this instruction before distribution can take place.
- StockPlan. Contains a collection of information relevant to creating and maintaining employee stock plan records. Supported plans are Stock Option, Stock Purchase Plans, and Stock Awards.
- StockOptionExerciseOrder. Contains a collection of information relating to the exercise of a stock option award.
- StockOptionExerciseConfirmation. Contains information communicated from a broker to a stock option plan administrator regarding the exercise of stock options by a program participant.
- StockOptionGrant. Contains a collection of information relating to the award for an individual's option to purchase company stock shares.
- StockSaleConfirmation. Contains details regarding the outcome of a stock sale. This noun typically would be used by a broker to accomplish certain required reporting back to the administrator of an employee stock purchase plan through which the sold shares were originally acquired.
CONTINGENT STAFFING HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
HR Open Standards Consortium contingent staffing specification enables the exchange of data between the contingent staffing industry's customers (hiring companies), intermediaries (vendor management services), and staffing agencies.
The staffing specification includes:
- StaffingOrder. Contains a set of information sufficient to place and manage an order with a staffing supplier. May also be used in "request for quote" (RFQ) operations under which a customer seeks pricing and offer information from a supplier in connection with a "requisition."
- StaffingResource. Contains information relating to a person proposed, or with which a staffing customer has contracted, to fulfill a staffed position or role.
- StaffingAssignment. Conveys the set of terms and conditions related to the placement of a staffing resource with a staffing customer.
- TimeCard. Allows the capture of time-worked data as well as information about associated expenses and allowances.
- EmploymentEligibilityI-9. Contains the data completed by both the employee and employer on United States Form I-9.
- WorkerOnBoarding. Used to onboard a person as an employee or contingent worker.
DOWNLOAD HR-XML CONTINGENT STAFFING 3.3
DOWNLOAD HR-XML CONTINGENT STAFFING 3.2
EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
Many enterprises recognize that the value of their employee performance management processes increases significantly when supporting EPM systems are well integrated with other talent management components. There are many possible integration scenarios among stakeholders, including detailed performance scores through a rolled-up summary of objectives. These schemas support those transactions. The Employee Performance Management specification includes:
- DevelopmentPlan. Supports the communication of a training or development plan. A common use might be the transfer of training or learning information from a performance management system to a learning management system.
- EPMPartipant. A collection of data relevant to enrolling a participant within an employee performance management program.
- EPMRaterPanel. Contains a collection of information about individuals that are designated to serve as evaluators or "raters" within performance appraisal processes. Note that EPMParticipant may be used as an alternative to the EMPRaterPanel.
- EPMResult. Defines a result from an employee performance management (EPM) process or "appraisal."
- ObjectivesPlan. Supports the specification of objectives, groups of objectives, and related metrics and metadata. Used in the integration of such systems as compensation management, business performance management, employee performance management, and project management systems. ObjectivesResult. Contains information about results, against an objective plan.
DOWNLOAD HR-XML EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 3.3
DOWNLOAD HR-XML EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 3.2
PAYROLL HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
HR Open Standards Consortium payroll specification supports the setup of a worker in the Payroll system. It assumes the company information has already been set up.
- PayrollMasterData. Provides the structure necessary for adding a new worker into the payroll system, including payment details, deductions, garnishments, and taxes. This first release includes localizations for the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands.
PROVISIONING HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
HR Open Standards Consortium provisioning specification supports data exchange to provision HR Information and 3rd party systems.
The provisioning specification includes:
- IndicativeData. Defines a set of data about the relationship between an employer and employee or former employee that is relevant to the provisioning of outsourced benefits and payroll systems.
- HRMasterData. Contains a broad set of information about a human resource, which may be used to provision or synchronize data between and among HR systems.
- UserAccount. Contains a set of information used to establish and maintain user accounts for an application or system.
- OrganizationChart. Provides a simple, "open model" structure for communicating basic information about an organization, its sub-entities, or "organization units," the positions within those units, and the incumbents within those positions.
- CompetencyDefinitions. Contains structured information about the semantics associated with one or more competencies.
- PositionCompetencyModel. Contains a collection of competency information associated with a position or job.
DOWNLOAD HR-XML PROVISIONING 3.3
DOWNLOAD HR-XML PROVISIONING 3.2
RECRUITING HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
HR Open Standards Consortium recruiting specifications support the processes for recruiting and onboarding an employee. These may include data exchanged between a recruiter, job board, candidate, and HRIS, as well as other trading partners. The recruiting specifications may include:
- PositionOpening. Contains details about a position opening, including requirements for the position as well as administrative information, such as how to apply.
- Candidate. Defines a set of information about an applicant or prospective employee or resource. Like a resume, a Candidate document contains details about a person's education and professional experience. However, Candidate may include data that is not typically included on a Resume, such as remuneration requirements and various position preferences.
- SearchDocument. Provides a way for one system, such as an ATS, to request matching documents for a query against another system, such as a Job Board or a Resume Bank.
- ApplicationForm. Includes information for candidate to enter information for an application.
- EmploymentEligibilityI-9. Contains the data completed by both the employee and employer on United States Form I-9.
- WorkerOnBoarding. Used to onboard a person as an employee or contingent worker.
DOWNLOAD HR-XML RECRUITING 3.3
DOWNLOAD HR-XML RECRUITING 3.2
SCREENING HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
Over 70% of companies in the United States utilize background screening as part of their hiring/vetting process for their applicants. In addition, some companies performed re-screening of their employees on a period basis. The HR Open Standards Consortium's Screening specifications relate to data communications between end-user companies/applicant tracking systems, Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA), and Providers. Providers are companies or individual researchers that are responsible for providing search results to the CRA’s. The screening specification includes:
- CreditResult. Contains information returned from a search from one or more consumer reporting or "credit bureaus." This is included in the Screening Order or may be used independently.
- DrugTest. Contains information needed to request a drug or alcohol test, provide status of the request, and provide results of the test.
- EmploymentEligibilityI-9. Contains the data completed by both the employee and employer on United States Form I-9.
- ScreeningCatalogOrder. Contains descriptive information about available screening services or to check current availability or pricing.
- ScreeningCatalogReport. Contains a set of information describing a screening service provider's catalog.
- ScreeningOrder. Contains a set of information necessary to submit or administer screening requests to employment-screening service providers.
- ScreeningReport. Contains a set of data fulfilling or relating to an employment screening order. This may be detailed, fielded information, a link to a location where results can be accessed securely or embedded or attached documents.
- ScreeningPackageOrder. This is a subset of the full ScreeningOrder. It is intended to support an "OrderByPackageID" scenario.
- ScreeningPackageReport. Contains a set of data fulfilling or relating to an employment screening order.
- ScreeningVendorOrder. Provides the data elements required by the Provider to run the appropriate criminal, civil or federal searches requested by the CRA.
- ScreeningVendorReport. The response by the Provider to the Screening Vendor Order request.
TIME MANAGEMENT HR-XML SPECIFICATION
What's Included?
HR Open Standards Consortium time management specification enables the exchange of flexible time worked data, plus a simple format for the representation of expenses and allowances. HR-XML recommends implementing IndicativeData to provision Time and Attendance systems. See Provisioning specification for details.
- TimeCard. Allows the capture of time-worked data as well as information about associated expenses and allowances.
DOWNLOAD HR-XML TIME MANAGEMENT 3.3
DOWNLOAD HR-XML TIME MANAGEMENT 3.2
PREVIOUS LIBRARIES
3.1 FULL HR-XML RELEASE (2010-09-21)
What's Included?
This product contains a condensed file (.zip) for the full 3.1 HR-XML standards library. Included for all Domains:
- Readme file
- Schema (Nouns and Common Files)
- Business Object Documents (BODs)
- Web Service Definition Language (WSDL patterns)
- Instances (sample XML files)
- Documentation (HTML)
- 2.5 to 3.X mappings
Note: Version 3.1 is only available as a full download. Individual domain libraries are available in Version 3.2 and 3.3
DOWNLOAD FULL 3.1 HR-XML RELEASE
3.0 FULL HR-XML RELEASE (2009-09-23)
What's Included?
This product contains a condensed file (.zip) for the full 3.0 HR-XML standards library. Included for all Domains:
- Readme file
- Schema (Nouns and Common Files)
- Business Object Documents (BODs)
- Web Service Definition Language (WSDL patterns)
- Instances (sample XML files)
- Documentation (HTML)
- 2.5 to 3.X mappings
Note: Version 3.0 is only available as a full download. Individual domain libraries are available in Version 3.2
DOWNLOAD FULL 3.0 HR-XML RELEASE
2.6 STAFFING RELEASE (2015-05-01)
What's Included?
This product contains a condensed file (.zip) for the Staffing 2.6 HR-XML standards release. Domains included:
- Staffing Exchange Protocol (SEP)
- Staffing Industry Data Exchange Standard (SIDES)
- Cross-Process Objects (CPO)
- Timecard
2.5 FULL HR-XML RELEASE (2007-04-15)
What's Included?
This product contains a condensed file (.zip) for the full 2.5 HR-XML standards library. Included for all Domains:
- Readme file
- Schema (Nouns and Common Files)
- Instances (sample XML files)
- Use Case Documentation
Note: Version 2.5 is only available as a full download. Individual domain libraries are available in Version 3.2.
DOWNLOAD FULL 2.5 HR-XML RELEASE