Previous standard - Occupation

Status

This standard was replaced by a new departmental standard on June 21, 2010.

Definition

Occupation refers to the kind of paid work performed. The kind of work is described in terms of tasks, duties and responsibilities, often including factors such as materials processed or used, the industrial processes used, the equipment used, and the products or services provided. Occupations are generally homogeneous with respect to skill type and/or skill level.

Classification(s)

Occupations are organized in hierarchical classifications, whose classes are mutually exclusive and exhaustive of the universe of paid work.

Standard Classification

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 1991). For details, see Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 1991), Catalogue No. 12-585E/F.

The conceptual basis of the SOC 91 is homogeneity with respect to skill type. The SOC 91 has four levels in its structure, with each lower level increasing in homogeneity with respect to skill type. It uses a two-part coding system. The first part is a four-character, alpha-numeric code, as follows:

The second part, which applies to the minor group and unit group level, is a three or four digit numeric code that relates the SOC class to its corresponding class in the National Occupational Classification (see below).

Other Classifications

National Occupational Classification (NOC 1991): The National Occupational Classification is used by Human Resources Development Canada. The NOC contains a variety of information not found in a statistical classification, such as employment requirements of an occupation and typical occupational progression.

The 1991 SOC and the NOC share a common hierarchical framework. Both are divided into ten broad occupational categories. These are further divided into major groups. The major groups are composed of minor groups. Finally, the minor groups are broken down into unit groups.

The classes of the NOC are organized into 10 skill types. The major groups subdivide the skill types by skill level. Each class of the classification is assigned to one of four skill levels based on entry level education (including experience and inherent talent where applicable) required for an occupation. There may be as many as four possible skill levels for each skill type. The skill level major groups are the distinctive feature of the NOC structure and are presented as a matrix within its documentation.

The two occupational classifications share the same 514 unit groups (506 identical and 8 comparable), and 139 minor groups. The minor groups are then aggregated into different major groups. The SOC 1991 contains 47 major groups compared to 26 in the NOC. At the highest level of aggregation, both classifications share the same 10 broad occupational groups.

For more information on the differences and similarities between the SOC and the NOC, see Guide to the SOC 91 and the NOC, available from Standards Division.

International Standard Classification of Occupations 1988. This classification is referred to as ISC0 88. It is developed and maintained by the International Labour Organization.

Concordance and conversion: The 1991 SOC replaces the 1980 Standard Occupational Classification (1980 SOC). Concordances between the 1991 SOC, the 1980 SOC and other occupational classifications are available from Standards Division. These are classification concordances that show the relationship between each class of the object classification with one or more classes of the target classification. In the case of the 1980 and 1991 SOC, they cannot, however, be used to convert statistical estimates based on one classification to estimates based on the other. Such a conversion requires statistical techniques designed for the purpose and require that data files be coded to both classifications. Such conversion algorithms exist for the Labour Force Survey and the Census of Population.