It is a little too early to read anything into these changes right now. Just because HRSDC has changed some of the codes, it does not mean that the list of 29 is changing all that much. It will likely only be corrected for NOC code changes and title changes but it is unlikely that they will stick in any new unrelated occupations at this time.
On the CIC website right now, it says:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-instructions.asp#list said:
On January 31, 2012, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Statistics Canada replaced the 2006 edition of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) with a 2011 version. For the purposes of the Federal Skilled Worker Program list of eligible occupations, new applicants are advised to refer to the HRSDC website for the latest job descriptions and duties for each NOC.
CIC will assess FSW applications received at the Centralized Intake Office before January 31, 2012 according to the old NOC system as they were the conditions under which the candidate applied.
CIC is examining the impact the NOC changes will have on immigration programs and will publish updates as soon as they become available.
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers (Cap reached)
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management (Cap reached)
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists (Cap reached)
2151 Architects
3111 Specialist Physicians (Cap reached)
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians (Cap reached)
3113 Dentists (Cap reached)
3131 Pharmacists (Cap reached)
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 Registered Nurses (Cap reached)
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
As you see, the list still has the old NOC codes. Some of the codes and titles are still the same and in some cases, the NOC code has changed or the title has changed or some NOC codes may have been split into different categories or in other cases combined into the same one.
Looking at some codes at http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2011/OccupationIndex.aspx you see for example that 0631 Restaurant and food service managers still keeps the same NOC and title so I think it is very unlikely to see any changes there. On the other hand, 0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture) has changed its title and is now 0811 Managers in natural resources production and fishing so it is possible that this NOC has been split up into different categories which may then also be added to the list or maybe they will just keep 0811 and change the title to match what it is now. 1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners has changed the code, it is now 1312 Insurance adjusters and claims examiners so in that case, they will probably just change 1233 to 1312.
I think it is very unlikely that 4131 will find its way back on the list at this point just because the number changed to 4021. If it comes back, it will be because immigration feel that there is need again, not because the number changed.
As for cooks, nurses and other professions where only the code has changed, they should also not drop from the list just because of that. They will just change the code to the new code.
