2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC) Revision
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The NOC Research Unit would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with valuable input to the revision process for NOC 2011. The Alliance of Sector Councils (TASC) and Sector Councils provided assistance and active involvement in organizing and conducting consultations. Other key contributors to the revision process include the many respondants who provided submissions to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's (HRSDC) Online Consultation in 2008.
Special thanks to the Regional Economic and Labour Market Information (LMI) colleagues of Service Canada who were instrumental in providing input and hosting meetings with regional staff, provincial counterparts and representatives from various ministries and from industry. Continued support from our partners and stakeholders ensures that the revision process results in the improvement, evolution and excellence of the classification system.
CONSULTATION BACKGROUND AND OUTCOMES
A study conducted in 2006 by the firm EKOS Research Inc. identified the key user needs of the NOC and Statistics Canada's National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S).
This study provided a foundation for HRSDC's 2011 NOC Consultation and helped frame on-going discussions with stakeholders on revision requirements. A strong recommendation was made in the study for the development of a unified classification structure of the NOC and NOC-S. In addition, many structural recommendations have been received to aggregate, disaggregate and relocate various NOC unit groups within the Matrix framework.
THE REVISION PROCESS
The NOC is updated every five years in accordance with Census cycles. The process alternates between minor updates and major revisions. There is a major structural revision every ten years which goes beyond minor content changes to group descriptions. Structural changes include adding, aggregating and splitting unit groups and reorganizing the position of unit groups on Skill Type and Skill Level dimensions. Research for the 2011 edition is a major revision and involves in-depth analysis and assessment of the input received through consultations and job studies. Additional validation of information is supported by in-house and contracted occupational research.
Through its regular research activities, the NOC Research Unit has also identified NOC groups subject to non-structural updating of occupational descriptions and titles. These activities include collection and analysis of input from employers, workers, educators and organizations, such as unions and professional associations, representing occupational areas. Revision proposals are presented to a Joint Working Group that includes HRSDC and Statistics Canada (STC) analysts. Adoption of final revision recommendations are determined through the assessment processes of this joint committee.
THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE (IDC)
HRSDC and STC jointly convened an Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) in 2008 to examine the impacts of harmonizing the two classification systems and incorporating these changes in the NOC Matrix. The Committee includes representatives from key federal departments that depend on the NOC or NOC-S for policy, program and/or service delivery purposes. Main structural recommendations and unit group structural change proposals have been presented and discussed during the four meetings held between October 2008 and April 2009. The IDC has provided valuable contributions in the consensus building process for moving forward with these major changes.
REVISION DECISIONS TO DATE:
•Implement a unified coding structure based on the NOC Skill Type by Skill Level logic of the Matrix;
•Realign the NOC-S and NOC structures to a common system of 39 major groups;
•Expand certain Skill Types to account for new major groups;
•Divide the middle management group into three major groups and incorporate all management occupations in Skill Level "A"; and
•Classify all military occupations in one of the two existing unit groups, specific to the military, consistent with NOC-S coding of military personnel for data purposes.
NEXT STEPS
•Research will progress over the summer on reviewing, analyzing and validating revision proposals.
•Job studies are planned to be on-going.
•The Joint HRSDC STC Working Group will resume meetings in the late summer to move foward with the assessment of revision recommendations.
•Two more IDC meetings will be held in fall 2009 and spring 2010.
•The next edition of this Information Bulletin will follow the fall IDC meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The NOC Research Unit would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with valuable input to the revision process for NOC 2011. The Alliance of Sector Councils (TASC) and Sector Councils provided assistance and active involvement in organizing and conducting consultations. Other key contributors to the revision process include the many respondants who provided submissions to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's (HRSDC) Online Consultation in 2008.
Special thanks to the Regional Economic and Labour Market Information (LMI) colleagues of Service Canada who were instrumental in providing input and hosting meetings with regional staff, provincial counterparts and representatives from various ministries and from industry. Continued support from our partners and stakeholders ensures that the revision process results in the improvement, evolution and excellence of the classification system.
CONSULTATION BACKGROUND AND OUTCOMES
A study conducted in 2006 by the firm EKOS Research Inc. identified the key user needs of the NOC and Statistics Canada's National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S).
This study provided a foundation for HRSDC's 2011 NOC Consultation and helped frame on-going discussions with stakeholders on revision requirements. A strong recommendation was made in the study for the development of a unified classification structure of the NOC and NOC-S. In addition, many structural recommendations have been received to aggregate, disaggregate and relocate various NOC unit groups within the Matrix framework.
THE REVISION PROCESS
The NOC is updated every five years in accordance with Census cycles. The process alternates between minor updates and major revisions. There is a major structural revision every ten years which goes beyond minor content changes to group descriptions. Structural changes include adding, aggregating and splitting unit groups and reorganizing the position of unit groups on Skill Type and Skill Level dimensions. Research for the 2011 edition is a major revision and involves in-depth analysis and assessment of the input received through consultations and job studies. Additional validation of information is supported by in-house and contracted occupational research.
Through its regular research activities, the NOC Research Unit has also identified NOC groups subject to non-structural updating of occupational descriptions and titles. These activities include collection and analysis of input from employers, workers, educators and organizations, such as unions and professional associations, representing occupational areas. Revision proposals are presented to a Joint Working Group that includes HRSDC and Statistics Canada (STC) analysts. Adoption of final revision recommendations are determined through the assessment processes of this joint committee.
THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE (IDC)
HRSDC and STC jointly convened an Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) in 2008 to examine the impacts of harmonizing the two classification systems and incorporating these changes in the NOC Matrix. The Committee includes representatives from key federal departments that depend on the NOC or NOC-S for policy, program and/or service delivery purposes. Main structural recommendations and unit group structural change proposals have been presented and discussed during the four meetings held between October 2008 and April 2009. The IDC has provided valuable contributions in the consensus building process for moving forward with these major changes.
REVISION DECISIONS TO DATE:
•Implement a unified coding structure based on the NOC Skill Type by Skill Level logic of the Matrix;
•Realign the NOC-S and NOC structures to a common system of 39 major groups;
•Expand certain Skill Types to account for new major groups;
•Divide the middle management group into three major groups and incorporate all management occupations in Skill Level "A"; and
•Classify all military occupations in one of the two existing unit groups, specific to the military, consistent with NOC-S coding of military personnel for data purposes.
NEXT STEPS
•Research will progress over the summer on reviewing, analyzing and validating revision proposals.
•Job studies are planned to be on-going.
•The Joint HRSDC STC Working Group will resume meetings in the late summer to move foward with the assessment of revision recommendations.
•Two more IDC meetings will be held in fall 2009 and spring 2010.
•The next edition of this Information Bulletin will follow the fall IDC meeting.