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

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)

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.

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

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)

New Unit Group Titles in NOC 2001 (Examples)

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 work force.
• Companies endorse the classification system.

Importance of Accurate Coding

Facilitate labour market comparisons

Internal Workforce	VS	External Data

Ensure quality of Employment Equity process

Three Different Levels of Aggregation

26 Major Groups

140 Minor Groups

520 Unit Groups

Index of approximately 30,000 job titles, each coded to a unit group.

Example 1

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

Major Attributes of a Job in Developing the NOC

1. Skill Level
2. Skill Type

*Please note that other factors, such as industry and occupational mobility, were also taken into consideration.

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 ( >1000)
    • Confidentiality and reliability reasons
  • Codeability or operational definition of the groups
    • Lack of information in some survey responses

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

The NOC Skill Type Criterion (cont’d)

• 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 and Related Occupations
  • 8) Occupations Unique to Primary Industry
  • 9) Occupations Unique to Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities

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.

NOC Skill Level Criterion

NOC Skill Level Criterion (cont’d)

Example 2

Technical Records Clerk
Skill Type	Skill Level	Minor Group	Unit Group

NOC Skill Level Criterion (cont’d)

• 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 ($$$)

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)

Example 3

Art Gallery Director
Management	Skill Type	Minor Group	Unit Group

Tools to Use for Coding

• The NOC Matrix
• The NOC Occupational Descriptions  binder  (NOC manuals)
• 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

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.

NOC Matrix

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 and skill level.

Occupations Unique to Primary Industry University Degree

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

Steps to Follow for Coding

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

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).

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

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

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)

NOC Internet Version

NOC Search Engine

NOC Web Site Address:

http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/generic/welcome.shtml

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

The End!