Occupational Classification and Research on Emerging Occupations

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Occupational Classificationand Research on
Emerging Occupations The Canadian Experience
Brazil, June 2002
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Introduction

• Canadas National Occupational Classification
  (NOC) is
• an organizational system
• a framework used to collect data
• a standardized way to describe work
• a system used for many applications
• NOC published in 1992 updated in 2001

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Components of the NOC

• Occupational Descriptions Binder
• Index of Titles
• Matrix
• CD-ROM
• Career Handbook
• Training Tutorial
• Web site
• www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/noc

4
Applications

• National collection and analysis of occupational
  data for comparability
• Provision of labour market information for job
  seekers/students, researchers etc.
• Human resources management programs
• Administrative applications in government
• Basis for many career information products and
  systems

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Exploring the NOC

• The two main classification criteria for
  organizing occupations in the NOC
• 1) Skill Type
• Ten main skill types or areas of work
• 2) Skill Level
• four levels of education/training

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Skill Type 1st Digit

• Reflects main work domain or area
• Based on the kind of work performed
• 1st digit of NOC code identifies skill type
• Ten skill types digits range from 0 to 9

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Skill Level 2nd Digit

• Four global skill levels relate to the nature
  of education and/or training required

A - usually requires university education B -
skilled apprenticeship, college or
technical training C - completion of high school
and courses related to the work or
on- job-training D - short demonstration
training
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Management Occupations

• Found throughout all areas or sectors of the
  labour market
• Displayed across top of Matrix spanning the
  entire classification
• First digit of management occupations is 0
• Determinants for employment not necessarily
  dependent on educational qualifications

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Organizational Structure

• Major Groups identified by the first two digits
  of an NOC code
• Minor Groups three-digit codes
• Unit Groups four-digit breakdown of minor
  groups into occupational groups
• Data collection and descriptions are at the Unit
  Group level

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The Digital Hierarchy
26
140
520
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The Groups
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Future Directions

• NOC will remain the occupational data collection
  structure
• Collaboration between HRDC and Statistics Canada
  is ongoing
• Revision of Career Handbook in progress to
  reflect changes in NOC 2001
• Expanding and integrating occupational
  information via the Internet enabling interaction
  with a multitude of users

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Revising the Classification

• Revision is tied to census phases
• Research is an ongoing function
• Information collected from a wide range of
  sources
• HRDC leads content development
• Work collaboratively with Statistics Canada

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Census Phases

• Structure of classification is used for
  statistical collection
• Structural changes are assessed from a
  statistical implementation view
• Changes must not jeopardize statistical
  reliability and validity
• Revisions need to update content but not at the
  cost of statistical integrity

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Emerging Occupations

• Emerging or evolving which one?
• What criteria are used for deciding?
• How do you find whats emerging?
• Who are the sources to contact?
• What do you look for or find out?
• How is the new information classified?
• What conditions need to be met?