In a previous post we indicated that the structure of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011 had changed and is replacing Statistics Canada’s National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S) 2006 and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s (HRSDC) NOC 2006, eliminating the differences that existed between these two classifications. In addition, the NOC was being adapted to reflect the significant structural changes in the Canadian labour market since 2001.
On January 31, 2012, The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011 was jointly released for free by Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). Its organization is based on the dual criteria of Skill Type and Skill Level, supporting more relevant labour market analysis.
As part of NOC 2011, you will find 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. There is also a new variant of the classification to better support the analysis of highly aggregated data.
The NOC will be 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, will be considered.
Yosie Saint-Cyr
First Reference Human Resources and Compliance Managing Editor