The Standard NOC 2021 Version 1.0 classification structure
We use the 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to identify and categorize jobs (occupations) based on the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) they require.
1. Distribution of NOC Unit Groups by Skill Level / TEER
| NOC 2016 V1.3 Distribution of Unit Groups by Skill Level | NOC 2021 V1.0 Distribution of Unit Groups by TEER | ||
| TEER Category 0 | 9% | ||
| Skill Level A | 28% | TEER Category 1 | 19% |
| Skill Level B | 42% | TEER Category 2 | 31% |
| Skill Level C | 24% | TEER Category 3 | 13% |
| Skill Level D | 6% | TEER Category 4 | 18% |
| TEER Category 5 | 9% | ||
2. TEER categories and examples of jobs
| TEER | Occupation types | Examples |
| TEER 0 | Management occupations | Advertising, marketing and public relations managers Financial managers |
| TEER 1 | Occupations that usually require a university degree | Financial advisors Software engineers |
| TEER 2 | Occupations that usually require
|
Computer network and web technicians Medical laboratory technologists |
| TEER 3 | Occupations that usually require
|
Bakers Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants |
| TEER 4 | Occupations that usually require
|
Home child care providers Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers |
| TEER 5 | Occupations that usually need short-term work demonstration and no formal education | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors |
The standard classification structure uses a five-tiered hierarchical arrangement of occupational groups with successive levels of disaggregation and contains broad, major, sub-major, minor and unit groupings. The structure of the NOC 2021 Version 1.0 is based on two key occupational categorizations: Occupational categories and TEER categories, which are identified in the first two digits of the 5-digit code, as shown in the table below.
| Title of Hierarchy | Format | Digit | Represents: |
| Broad Category | X | First Digit – X | Occupational categorization， 第一个数字 |
| Major Group | XX | Second Digit xX | TEER categorization第二个数字 |
| Sub-major Group | XXX | xxX | Top level of the Sub-Major Group |
| Minor Group | XXXX | xxXX | Hierarchy within the Sub-Major Group |
| Unit Group | XXXXX | xxXXX | Hierarchy within the Minor Group |
Note: As the first digit identifies the Occupation and the second digit identifies the TEER, they are also referred to as the Major Group.
The hierarchical approach of the NOC ensures collection, dissemination and analysis of data at different levels of detail, in a standardized way. Each number or digit at each hierarchical level has a distinct meaning. Each hierarchical level of the classification is described below, from the most detailed to the most aggregated level.
Number of categories within each level of NOC 2021 Version 1.0
| Level | Coding | Number of categories |
| Broad Category | 1-digit and first digit of all codes | 10 |
| TEER | Second-digit of all codes | 6 |
| Major Group | 2-digit representing the broad category code and the TEER code | 45 |
| Sub-major Group | 3-digit | 89 |
| Minor Group | 4-digit | 162 |
| Unit Group | 5-digit | 516 |
Broad categories
The Broad Category (first digit) of the classification represents the occupational categorization which is defined by the type of work performed, the field of study, or the industry of employment. There are 10 Broad categories in NOC 2021 Version 1.0.
TEER categories
The TEER Category (second digit) of the classification represents the necessary training, education, experience and responsibilities of the occupation. There are 6 TEER categories in NOC 2021 Version 1.0.
Major groups
The Major Group (first and second digits) of the classification is represented by the Broad occupational categorization (first digit) and TEER categorization (second digit) together. A major group also encompasses several sub-major groups and thus represents the two-digit code used by the NOC. There are 45 major groups in NOC 2021 Version 1.0.
Sub-major groups
The Sub-major Group (3-digit) of the classification represents the aggregation of several minor groups and thus represents the three-digit code used by the NOC. There are 89 sub-major groups in NOC 2021 Version 1.0.
Minor groups
The Minor Group (4-digit) of the classification represents the domain in which an occupation is carried out (occupational domain). It is an aggregation of several unit groups and thus represents the four-digit code used by the NOC. There are 162 minor groups in NOC 2021 Version 1.0.
Unit Groups
The Unit Group (5-digit) of the classification is the most detailed level of the classification and represents one or several occupations combined together within the NOC. There are 516 units groups in NOC 2021 Version 1.0.
Example of coding in NOC 2021 Version 1.0: Judges, lawyers and Quebec notaries 第一个数字标识
| Level | NOC 2021 V1.0 Code | NOC 2021 V1.0 Title |
| Broad occupational group | 4 | Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services |
| Major group | 41 | Professional occupations in law, education, social, community and government services |
| Sub-minor group | 411 | Professional occupations in law |
| Minor group | 4110 | Judges, lawyers and Quebec notaries |
| Unit Group | 41100 | Judges |
| Unit Group | 41101 | Lawyers and Quebec notaries |
The Coding system of the NOC 2021 Version 1.0
As identified in the “Classification Criteria” the NOC 2021 Version 1.0 is built through the application of two major attributes of jobs as classification criteria: ten broad occupational categories (BOC) and six TEER categories.
NOC 2021 Version 1.0 Broad Occupational Categories
Broad Occupational Categories are defined as the type of work performed based on, notably, the field of study required for entry into an occupation and the industry of employment. The ten BOCs are classified from 0 to 9.
| NOC 2021 V1.0 Broad Category – Occupation | when the first digit is… |
| BOC 0 – Legislative and senior management occupations This broad category comprises legislators and senior management occupations. |
0 |
| BOC 1 – Business, finance and administration occupations This broad category comprises specialized middle management occupations in administrative services, financial and business services and communication (except broadcasting), as well as professional occupations in financial and business; administrative and financial supervisors and specialized administrative occupations; administrative occupations and transportation logistics occupations; and office and administrative support and supply chain logistics occupations. |
1 |
| BOC 2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations This broad category comprises occupations in natural sciences (including basic and applied sciences and experimental development), engineering, architecture and information technology. These occupations cover specialized middle management occupations in engineering, architecture, science and information systems; professional occupations in natural sciences (basic and applied sciences and experimental development); and technical occupations related to natural sciences (including basic and applied sciences and experimental development). |
2 |
| BOC 3 – Health occupations This broad category comprises specialized middle management occupations in health care, as well as occupations concerned with providing health care services directly to patients (professional and technical occupations in health) and occupations that provide support to health services. |
3 |
| BOC 4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services This broad category comprises managers in public administration, in education and social and community services and in public protection services, as well as occupations concerned with teaching, law, counselling, conducting social science research, developing government policy, and administering government and other programs, and related support occupations. |
4 |
| BOC 5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport This broad category comprises specialized middle management occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport, as well as professional, technical, support and other occupations concerned with art and culture (including the performing arts, film and video, broadcasting, journalism, writing, creative design, libraries and museums), recreation and sports. |
5 |
| BOC 6 – Sales and service occupations This broad category comprises middle management occupations in wholesale and retail trade, and customer services, as well as occupations concerned with wholesale and retail sales, and customer, personal and support service occupations related to a wide range of trade and service industries, such as accommodation and food services, travel, tourism and cleaning services. |
6 |
| BOC 7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations This broad category comprises middle management occupations in trades, transportation and equipment, as well as occupations such as technical trades and transportation officers and controllers; general trades; mail and message distribution, other transport equipment operators and related maintenance workers; and helpers and labourers and other transport drivers, operators and labourers. |
7 |
| BOC 8 – Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations This broad category comprises middle management occupations in natural resources, agriculture and related production, as well as occupations concerned with supervision and equipment operation in the natural resource-based sectors of mining, oil and gas production, forestry and logging, agriculture, horticulture and fishing. Harvesting, landscaping and natural resources labourers are also included. Most occupations in this category are industry specific and do not occur outside of the primary resources industries. |
8 |
| BOC 9 – Occupations in manufacturing and utilities This broad category comprises middle management occupations in manufacturing and utilities, as well as occupations concerned with supervisory, production and labouring in manufacturing, processing and utilities. |
9 |