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 2011 updates

NOC 2011 – 2011

The NOC 2011 updates both ESDC’s National Occupational Classification 2006 and Statistics Canada’s National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S) 2006. This revised edition eliminates the differences between the two former systems of classification.

Summary of changes

  • Adopts a unified coding structure of 500 unit groups
  • Realigns the NOC-S and NOC structures to a harmonized system of 40 major groups
  • Divides the middle management group into three major groups and incorporates all management occupations into the Skill Level A dimension.
  • Classifies all military occupations into one of two existing unit groups, specific to the military, and consistent with NOC-S coding of military personnel for data purposes.

The NOC 2011 edition is the result of a major revision cycle that involved in-depth research, analysis and assessment of the input received through consultations and job studies. Structural changes include adding, aggregating or merging, and splitting of unit group contents and reorganizing the position of certain groups on the broad occupational category and skill level dimensions.

NOC concordance tables

Please view the NOC concordance tables for more details regarding all the changes made to the NOC.

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