Statistical information on skill and qualification requirements for occupations is fragmented, inconsistent, difficult to compare across European countries, and usually not detailed enough to reflect the specific characteristics of a given occupation. The occupational skills profile approach aims at integrating several available European sources and supplementing them with data gathered from EU and US surveys. This has been made possible by developing specific methods of data mapping, matching and integration. As a result, the skill requirements of occupations can be not only defined at a detailed level and further aggregated at higher levels as required, but also compared across sectors, countries and over time.