Roadmaps for the Skills of Today and Tomorrow

Most Canadians are concerned about developing the right set of skills to guarantee success in the workplace. With increased competition both at home and abroad, people's skills and knowledge have never been more important than they are today. Occupational standards help Canadians identify the skills they need to succeed.

What are national occupational standards?

Occupational standards describe the skills and knowledge needed to perform competently in the workplace. Occupational standards help companies and individuals plan their skills development and maintain their competencies. Although occupational standards are voluntary, their introduction to the workplace will greatly benefit both employers and employees.

Occupational standards help industries to define and achieve the following goals:

• recruit, develop and maintain a skilled workforce;
• ensure that occupational requirements are equitable;
• increase competitiveness and productivity;
• facilitate mobility of labour within Canada;
• identify and communicate human resources and training needs;
• create instructional programs;
• upgrade employee skills;
• design assessment and evaluation guidelines;
• develop accreditation/ certification process;
• and enhance corporate image

How do national occupational standards help employees?

• Identify skills and knowledge needed for occupations.
• Provide a reference to assess ability and training needs.
• Identify and support clear career paths.
• Provide guidelines for certification/accreditation.
• Increase mobility within Canadian industries.
• Act as a benchmark for rewarding experience, knowledge and competence.

How do national occupational standards help employers?

• Increase productivity.
• Improve quality of goods and services.
• Reduce costs for recruitment by facilitating the selection of new employees.
• Provide a means for better human resources planning.
• Help effective skills upgrading.

How are national occupational standards developed?

Occupational standards are developed by employers and employees working together through a Standards Development Committee. This committee selects a small group of practitioners to develop a draft occupational analysis. Then the draft is validated nationally. The analysis becomes an occupational standard when it is endorsed by industry.

Human Resources Development Canada contributes to the development of occupational standards through the Sectoral Partnerships Initiative by providing funding, technical advice and guidance.

Occupational Standards Development Process