National Occupational Classification

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The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011 is being jointly released today by Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). This classification replaces Statistics Canada's National Occupational Classification - Statistics (NOC-S) 2006 and HRSDC's National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2006, eliminating the differences that have existed between these classifications.

NOC 2011 maintains the strengths of both of its predecessors. Its Major Groups provide a level of detail that is comparable to that of the Major Groups of NOC-S 2006. Like NOC 2006, its organization is based on the dual criteria of Skill Type and Skill Level, supporting more relevant labour market analysis.

The NOC provides a systematic classification structure that categorizes the entire range of occupational activity in Canada. Its detailed occupations are identified and grouped primarily according to the work performed, as determined by the tasks, duties and responsibilities of the occupation. It is jointly revised by HRSDC and Statistics Canada every five years to incorporate information on new occupations. Every 10 years, structural changes that affect the coding framework, such as the addition of new classes, are considered. NOC 2011 represents a significant structural revision.

As part of this revision, changes in the structure of the Canadian labour force have been reflected through adding new occupational groups, such as that for Allied primary health practitioners; merging groups where there has been increasing similarity in the job titles and the work performed, such as in combining Administrative clerks and General office clerks into General office support workers; merging groups, particularly in manufacturing, where they have been declining in size; and moving occupational groups or specific job titles to different skill levels to reflect changes in job requirements, as illustrated in the movements of midwives, pharmacy technicians and water and waste treatment plant operators.

In addition, changing terminology, new technology in the workplace and the rise of new specializations have been reflected in the addition of numerous job titles, such as oil and gas contractor, mystery shopper, physician assistant and seismic buried facilities locator.

Finally, there is a new variant of the classification to better support the analysis of highly aggregated data.

The National Occupational Classification, 2011 (12-583-X, free), is available on our website.

The first data release based on this classification is expected to be the occupational data from the 2011 National Household Survey, scheduled for release in 2013.

For more information, contact Debra Mair (613-951-2923; fax: 613-951-8578; standards@statcan.gc.ca), Statistics Canada, or Clara Hamory (819-934-8451; fax: 819-997-9256; clara.hamory@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.