Revision of the National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S)

Since 1991, there have been two versions of Canada’s national occupational classification. One, called the National Occupational Classification (NOC), is maintained by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). The other, now called the National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S), is maintained by Statistics Canada.

The two classifications are updated on a five-year cycle through a co-operative process in which Statistics Canada and HRSDC work together to keep the classifications current, comprehensive and relevant.

NOC and NOC-S are currently being revised for 2011. As part of this revision, we are exploring possible changes to the classification used for publishing highly aggregated occupational data. This classification currently consists of the following ten categories:

• Management Occupations
• Business, Finance and Administrative Occupations
• Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Occupations
• Health Occupations
• Occupations in Social Science, Education, Government Service and Religion
• Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport
• Sales and Service Occupations
• Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related Occupations
• Occupations Unique to Primary Industry
• Occupations Unique to Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities

This set of categories is used, for example:

• In some census products, including: tables on language at work and on the educational characteristics of the labour force; community profiles; census tract profiles; and some special interest profiles, such as those on immigration and the Aboriginal population;
• In providing occupational information for small geographic areas, (i.e., below the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA));
• In providing occupational information from sample surveys, particularly when such information is cross-tabulated with other variables.

Hence, some users only have access to occupational information coded to these ten categories. Could Statistics Canada provide better service to these data users?

Research suggests that categories based partly on skill level might provide information that is more relevant to understanding the occupational structure of Canada.

The following proposal is currently being considered.

If this change is adopted, products from Census 2011 would include some historical data recoded to these new categories. In addition, some products, such as profiles, may include occupation data classified to both the old and new categories in order to facilitate the transition to the new structure.

We would like to know:

1. Would the proposed change be an improvement?
2. How would this proposed change impact you? Would the change have a positive impact; a negative impact; or no impact?
3. Are there any proposed categories that you would like to change or add? What would you suggest?
4. Would you prefer to see trades and skilled transport and equipment operators:

5. Would you rather see Sales and Service combined or separated into two groups?
6. Would you continue to require data on the current ten categories?

Please send your comments to standards@statcan.gc.ca by June 30, 2009.