Overview

1
Overview

• National Occupational Classification 2001

2
Background to the NOC

• The NOC is a comprehensive system that classifies
  and describes occupations in the Canadian labour
  market.
• The NOC is based on extensive research, analysis
  and consultation conducted across the country by
  HRSDC in order to take into account the evolution
  of the labour market.
• Developed in co-operation with Statistics Canada
  and over 5,000 companies and sectoral
  associations

3
Background to the NOC

• Statisticians, labour market analysts, career
  counsellors and individual job seekers use this
  system to organize and interpret statistics and
  other labour market facts.
• 1st version 1991 NOC (also referred as 1992 NOC)
• 2nd (and most recent) version 2001 NOC

4
NOC 2001 - Context

• In the decade since the NOC was developed, the
  labour market has undergone significant changes.
• Technological advancement, globalization of the
  globalization of the economy and the increasing
  importance of knowledge in many occupations have
  all contributed to occupational change.
• These changes have been reflected in the 2001
  revised edition of the NOC.

5
NOC 2001 - New Minor Unit Groups

• 217 Computer and Information Systems
  Professionals
• 2171 Information Systems Analysts Consultants
• 2172 Database Analysts Data Administrators
• 2173 Software Engineers
• 2174 Computer Programmers Interactive Media
  Developers
• 2175 Web Designers and Developers
• 228 Technical Occupations in Computer and
  Information Systems
• 2281 Computer Network Operators Web
  Technicians
• 2282 User Support Technicians
• 2283 Systems Testing Technicians

6
NOC 2001 - Deleted Unit Groups

• 0722 Maintenance Managers (now included in 0721)
• 1412 Typists Word Processing Operators (now
  included in 1411)
• 1421 Computer Operators (included in new unit
  group 2281)
• 2162 Computer Systems Analysts (included in new
  minor group 217)
• 2163 Computer Programmers (now included in new
  minor group 217)
• 3412 Dental Laboratory Bench Workers (now
  included in 3223)
• 6473 Early Childhood Educator Assistants (now
  included in 4214)
• 6631 Elemental Medical and Hospital Assistants
  (now included in 3414)
• 6642 Kitchen and Food Service Helpers (now
  included in 6641)
• 9515 Welding, Brazing Soldering Machine
  Operators (now included in 7265)
• Partly Deleted Unit Group
• 6443 Amusement Attraction Operators (now
  included in 6671)

7
NOC 2001 - New Unit Group Titles (Examples)

• Unit
• Group Old Title (1991 NOC)
  New Title (2001 NOC)
• 1433 Tellers, Financial Services
  Customer Service Representatives
• - Financial Services
• Computer Engineers Computer Engineers (Except
  Software Engineers)
• 4163 Economic Development Officers Business
  Development Officers
• and Marketing Researchers and and Marketing
  Researchers and
• Consultants Consultants
• 6443 Amusement Attraction Casino Occupations
• Operators and Other
• Amusement Occupations

8
NOC Benefits

• The NOC provides a realistic structure of the
  Canadian labour market.
• The NOC considers both skill level and skill type
  in a given occupation.
• Unit groups are homogeneous.
• Participation and mobility of designated group
  members are easier to track.
• The NOC simplifies classification of the
  workforce.
• Companies endorse the classification system.

9
Importance of Accurate Coding

• Facilitate labour market comparisons

VS
Internal Workforce
External Data

• Ensure quality of Employment Equity process

10
Three Different Levels of Aggregation
26 Major Groups
140 Minor Groups
520 Unit Groups
Index of over 30,000 job titles, each coded to a
unit group.
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Example 1

• Biologist
• 2121
• Major group 21 Professional Occupations in
  Natural and Applied
• Sciences
• Minor group 212 Life Science Professionals
• Unit group 2121 Biologists and Related
  Scientists

12
Major Attributes of a Job in Developing the NOC

• Skill Level
• Skill Type
• Please note that other factors, such as industry
  and occupational mobility, were also taken into
  consideration.

13
Other Considerations

• Besides industry and occupational mobility, other
  factors were considered in determining the
  boundaries between unit groups and the contents
  of each group.
• Size of each unit group ( gt1000)
• Confidentiality and reliability reasons
• Codeability or operational definition of the
  groups
• Lack of information in some survey responses

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NOC Skill Type Criterion

• Defined as type of work performed (function,
  educational background, industry)
• Ten skill type categories (corresponds to the
  first digit of the unit group)
• 0) Management Occupations
• 1) Business, Finance and Administration
  Occupations
• 2) Natural and Applied Sciences and Related
• Occupations
• 3) Health Occupations
• 4) Occupations in Social Science, Education,
• Government Service and Religion

15
The NOC Skill Type Criterion (contd)

• Defined as type of work performed (function,
  educational background, industry)
• Ten skill type categories (corresponds to the
  first digit of the unit group)
• 5) Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and
  Sport
• 6) Sales and Service Occupations
• 7) Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators an
  Related Occupations
• 8) Occupations Unique to Primary Industry
• 9) Occupations Unique to Processing,
  Manufacturing and Utilities

16
NOC Skill Level Criterion

• Defined as the amount and type of education and
  training required. It also accounts for
  experience required, complexity and
  responsibilities.
• Corresponds to the 2nd digit for all occupations
  except Management to which no skill level is
  assigned (Discussed in detail later).
• NOC identifies 4 skill level categories.

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NOC Skill Level Criterion (contd)
SKILL LEVEL EDUCATION/TRAINING
SECOND DIGIT
A B
1 (Professional) 2 or 3 (Technical,
Paraprofessional, Skilled)
University degree 1) College or CEGEP
diploma 2) Apprenticeship training (2-5
years) 3) Supervisory responsibilities 4)
Significant health safety
responsibilities, e.g. firefighters
18
NOC Skill Level Criterion (contd)
SKILL LEVEL EDUCATION/TRAINING
SECOND DIGIT
C D
4 or 5 (Intermediate) 6 (Labouring or
Elemental)

• One to four years of secondary school education
• Up to two years of on-the-job training, training
  courses or specific work experience
• No educational prerequisites
• Short demonstration or on-the-job training

19
Example 2
Technical Records Clerk
1
4
1
3
Minor Group
Skill Type
Unit Group
Skill Level
20
NOC Skill Level Criterion (contd)

• WHY ARE MANAGEMENT OCCUPATIONS NOT ASSIGNED TO A
  SKILL LEVEL CATEGORY?
• Factors other than education and training are
  often more significant determinants for
  employment

e.g. previous experience capital ()
21
Management

• Senior Management Occupations (Major Group 00)
• Divided on the basis of industry of employment (6
  unit groups)
• Breakdown based on the North American Industry
  Classification system (NAICS).
• Middle and Other Management Occupations
• Divided into 16 minor groups and 39 unit groups
• Basis of specialization (e.g. Purchasing
  Managers)
• Basis of industry of employment (e.g.
  Transportation Managers)

22
Example 3
Art Gallery Director
0
5
1
1
Minor Group
Unit Group
Skill Type
Management
23
Tools to Use for Coding

• The NOC Matrix
• The NOC Occupational Descriptions binder (NOC
  Manual)
• The Index of Titles
• Internet version of the NOC (NOC search engine)
• Structure of the Employment Equity Occupational
  Groups (EEOGs) with corresponding NOC unit groups

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NOC Matrix

• Provides a context for understanding the world of
  work.
• Plots the entire classification on a skill
  level/skill type grid down to the minor group
  level.
• Gives an overview based on the four aggregate
  skill levels and the ten skill type categories.
• Shows flexibility of the system can approach the
  NOC from two perspectives.

25
NOC Matrix
Skill Types
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9
0
A
Skill Levels
B
C
D
26
NOC Matrix

• WHAT DO THE EMPTY SPACES IN THE MATRIX MEAN?
• Empty spaces are as important and as informative
  as the spaces that have occupations in them.
• They signify that there is an absence of
  occupations of a particular skill type at a
  particular skill level.
• For example
• Occupations Unique to Primary Industry ?
  University Degree

27
NOC Manual Information

• Classification structures
• Descriptions of 520 occupational unit groups
• brief description of each unit group
• examples of titles classified in each unit group
• main duties
• employment licensing requirements
• additional information
• related groups or occupations classified elsewhere

28
Steps to Follow for Coding

• Review job description, identifying skill type
  skill level
• Job title job description
• Refer to A) Index of Titles B) NOC manual,
  or C) NOC matrix, or D) NOC electronic
  version
• Assign NOC unit groups
• Refer to the Employment Equity Occupational
  Groups (EEOGs) Structure.
• Assign NOC Unit Groups to the appropriate EEOG.

29
Remember

• You code the position, not the person!
• The position of a statistical clerk who holds
  a diploma in computer programming should still be
  classified as a statistical clerk (NOC unit group
  1454).

30
Apprentices, Trainees, Interns and Students

• Classified in the same unit groups as the
  occupations for which they are training. Why?
• Prevent a large proliferation of unit groups of
  apprentices
• Not intended to imply equivalence or
  interchangeability of apprentices or trainees
  with fully qualified workers

31
Supervisors

• Supervisors of professionals are usually
  classified within the same unit group they
  supervise, at skill level A.
• Chief Civil Engineer - 2131
• Supervisors of other occupations are usually
  classified in specific unit groups at skill level
  B within the same skill type as those supervised
• Data Entry Supervisor - 1211

32
Owners of Small Business or Self-employed
Contractors

• Usually classified at skill level B or as middle
  management
• Proprietor - taxicab operations (7222)
• Proprietor - retail store (0621)
• Contractor - home builder (0712)
• Contractor - roofing (7219)

33
NOC Internet Version
NOC Web Site Address http//www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.c
a/2001/e/generic/welcome.shtml
34
NOC Web Page Labour Program

• Information on NOC in the context of employment
  equity can be accessed at the following address
• http//www.rhdcc.gc.ca/en/lp/lo/lswe/we/ee_tools/
  data/noc/index-we.shtml

35
NOC Manual 2001 Version
(MP53-25-2001E)
Price 99.95 Taxes Shipping Handling Fees
To place an order Canadian Government
Publishing Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A
0J4 1-819-956-4800 1-800-635-7943
36
NOC CD-ROM 2001 Version
(MP53-25-2001-MRC)
Price 29.95 Taxes Shipping Handling Fees
Canadian Government Publishing Ottawa,
Ontario Canada K1A 0J4 1-819-956-4800 1-800-635-79
43
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The End!