Changes to the National Occupational Classification

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Statistics Canada work collaboratively to complete National Occupational Classification (NOC) updates and revisions. Historically, the departments undertook content updates every five years and structural revisions every ten years.

To establish the frequency of updates and revisions, the departments strive to reconcile the need to keep the classification up-to-date with the ability to reflect occupational changes over time, while minimizing disruption to statistical coding and time series analysis. As part of continuous improvement, ESDC and Statistics Canada agreed to update the NOC on a more frequent basis following the publication of the 2016 version of the NOC.

You can find a summary of all the changes that took place since 2001 below:

NOC 2006 updates

NOC 2006 – 2006

This volume represents the updated version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC 2001 edition), first published in 1992. The NOC 2006 is considered a minor update with no revisions to the classification structure. The changes include the addition of new titles and the modification of descriptive content for certain NOC groups. Some changes were also made to reflect consistency between the English and French versions and to correct errors. The update affected approximately 200 of the 520 NOC unit groups.

The original introduction to the NOC 2001 is included with this edition, as the structural changes made for the 2001 revision are still in effect. Since then new titles have gained prominence and much of the 2006 update focused on integrating them in the classification. Certain titles that may be classified in many different groups remain problematic. However, with access to increasingly sophisticated search mechanisms, it is expected that some of these titles will be added to the classification in the next revision projected for Census 2011.

The summary below does not identify specific content changes but provides an indication of the magnitude and types of changes that were made.

Summary of changes

Unit group title changes

Code From 2001 To 2006
0513 recreation and sports program and service directors recreation, sports and fitness program directors
2173 software engineers software engineers and designers
2281 computer and network operators and web technicians computer network technicians
5254 program leaders and instructors in recreation and sport program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness
6251 butchers and meat cutters - retail and wholesale butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale
7321 automotive service technicians, truck mechanics and mechanical repairers automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers

Overview of changes

Review and updates were performed to approximately 150 of the 520 unit group descriptions that included the lead statement, main duties, employment requirements, additional information, and classified elsewhere sections. These changes are minor and do not affect data or group boundaries.

Some groups listed reflect editorial changes only. The focus was on the following unit groups:

CodeLabel
1111Financial Auditors and Accountants
1114Other Financial Officers
1121Specialists in Human Resources
1122Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1221Administrative Officers
1222Executive Assistants
1223Personnel and Recruitment Officers
1225Purchasing Agents and Officers
1231Bookkeepers
1232Loan Officers
1241Secretaries (Except Legal and Medical)
1411General Office Clerks
1413Records Management and Filing Clerks
1422Data Entry Clerks
1423Desktop Publishing Operators and Related Occupations
1431Accounting and Related Clerks
1434Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Clerks
1435Collectors
1451Library Clerks
1453Customer Service, Information and Related Clerks
1454Survey Interviewers and Statistical Clerks
1472Storekeepers and Parts Clerks
1475Dispatchers and Radio Operators
2112Chemists
2121Biologists and Related Scientists
2145Petroleum Engineers
2147Computer Engineers (Except Software Engineers)
2161Mathematicians, Statisticians and Actuaries
2171Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
2172Database Analysts and Data Administrators
2173Software Engineers and Designers
2174Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
2175Web Designers and Developers
2211Chemical Technologists and Technicians
2221Biological Technologists and Technicians
2224Conservation and Fishery Officers
2232Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
2233Industrial Engineering and Manufacturing Technologists and Technicians
2253Drafting Technologists and Technicians
2281Computer Network Technicians
2282User Support Technicians
2283Systems Testing Technicians
3132Dietitians and Nutritionists
3142Physiotherapists
3144Other Professional Occupations in Therapy and Assessment
3152Registered Nurses
3211Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants
3212Medical Laboratory Technicians
3213Veterinary and Animal Health Technologists and Technicians
3232Midwives and Practitioners of Natural Healing
3234Ambulance Attendants and Other Paramedical Occupations
3235Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment
3414Other Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services
4112Lawyers and Quebec Notaries
4122Post-Secondary Teaching and Research Assistants
4131College and Other Vocational Instructors
4141Secondary School Teachers
4142Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers
4143Educational Counsellors
4151Psychologists
4153Family, Marriage and Other Related Counsellors
4161Natural and Applied Science Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers
4163Business Development Officers and Marketing Researchers and Consultants
4164Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers
4167Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program Supervisors and Consultants
4168Program Officers Unique to Government
4212Community and Social Service Workers
4214Early Childhood Educators and Assistants
4215Instructors and Teachers of Persons with Disabilities
4216Other Instructors
4217Other Religious Occupations
5111Librarians
5112Conservators and Curators
5113Archivists
5124Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications
5125Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters
5131Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations
5133Musicians and Singers
5211Library and Archive Technicians and Assistants
5212Technical Occupations Related to Museums and Art Galleries
5222Film and Video Camera Operators
5223Graphic Arts Technicians
5226Other Technical and Co-ordinating Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts
5231Announcers and Other Broadcasters
5232Other Performers
5241Graphic Designers and Illustrators
5243Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers
5244Artisans and Craftspersons
5251Athletes
5252Coaches
5253Sports Officials and Referees
5254Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness
6211Retail Trade Supervisors
6221Technical Sales Specialists - Wholesale Trade
6232Real Estate Agents and Salespersons
6241Chefs
6242Cooks
6251Butchers, Meat Cutters and Fishmongers - Retail and Wholesale
6271Hairstylists and Barbers
6421Retail Salespersons and Sales Clerks
6431Travel Counsellors
6433Airline Sales and Service Agents
6452Bartenders
6465Other Protective Service Occupations
6471Visiting Homemakers, Housekeepers and Related Occupations
6472Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants
6474Babysitters, Nannies and Parents' Helpers
6611Cashiers
6621Service Station Attendants
6622Grocery Clerks and Store Shelf Stockers
6623Other Elemental Sales Occupations
6641Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers and Related Occupations
6651Security Guards and Related Occupations
6661Light Duty Cleaners
6662Specialized Cleaners
6663Janitors, Caretakers and Building Superintendents
6671Operators and Attendants in Amusement, Recreation and Sport
6672Other Attendants in Accommodation and Travel
6683Other Elemental Service Occupations
7218Supervisors, Printing and Related Occupations
7221Supervisors, Railway Transport Operations
7243Power System Electricians
7244Electrical Power Line and Cable Workers
7252Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers
7264Ironworkers
7271Carpenters
7295Floor Covering Installers
7313Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics
7321Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics and Mechanical Repairers
7322Motor Vehicle Body Repairers
7334Motorcycle and Other Related Mechanics
7335Other Small Engine and Equipment Mechanics
7351Stationary Engineers and Auxiliary Equipment Operators
7352Power Systems and Power Station Operators
7382Commercial Divers
7383Other Trades and Related Occupations
7411Truck Drivers
7413Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs
7414Delivery and Courier Service Drivers
7443Automotive Mechanical Installers and Servicers
7445Other Repairers and Servicers
7452Material Handlers
7611Construction Trades Helpers and Labourers
7612Other Trades Helpers and Labourers
7621Public Works and Maintenance Labourers
7622Railway and Motor Transport Labourers
8231Underground Production and Development Miners
8232Oil and Gas Well Drillers, Servicers, Testers and Related Workers
8251Farmers and Farm Managers
8253Farm Supervisors and Specialized Livestock Workers
8256Supervisors, Landscape and Horticulture
8412Oil and Gas Well Drilling Workers and Services Operators
8422Silviculture and Forestry Workers
8431General Farm Workers
8432Nursery and Greenhouse Workers
8611Harvesting Labourers
8612Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Labourers
8615Oil and Gas Drilling, Servicing and Related Labourers
8616Logging and Forestry Labourers
9461Process Control and Machine Operators, Food and Beverage Processing
9462Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters, Poultry Preparers and Related Workers
9472Camera, Platemaking and Other Pre-Press Occupations
9473Binding and Finishing Machine Operators
9482Motor Vehicle Assemblers, Inspectors and Testers
9483Electronics Assemblers, Fabricators, Inspectors and Testers
9485Assemblers, Fabricators and Inspectors, Industrial Electrical Motors and Transformers
9511Machining Tool Operators
9514Metalworking Machine Operators
9612Labourers in Metal Fabrication
9617Labourers in Food, Beverage and Tobacco Processing
9619Other Labourers in Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities

Index of titles

Modifications and/or additions of new titles, including addition of gender-specific titles, were performed in nearly all 520 NOC unit groups. There are now:

  • 42,813 English job titles (example and/or index titles)
  • 80,885 French job titles (example and/or index titles)

Job titles - Moved from one unit group to another

The following job titles (example titles and/or index titles) moved from one NOC group to another:

Job title From 2001 To 2006
health educator 0311 4165
library curator 0511 5112
florist – retail 0621 6421
fitness centre manager 0651 0513
health spa manager 0651 0513
health studio manager 0651 0513
manager, fitness centre 0651 0513
health club manager 0721 0513
manager, health club 0721 0513
histology technician 3211 3212
personal trainer 4167 5254
tutor – elementary school subjects 4216 4142
campground maintenance worker 6671 8612
maintenance worker, campground 6671 8612
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