The National Occupational Classification – NOC: Codes:
The NOC is a system used by the Government of Canada to classify jobs (occupations). In Canada, jobs are grouped based on the type of work a person does and the types of job duties and description(s) of related tasks.
The National Occupational Classification – NOC is Canada’s national reference on occupations providing a standard taxonomy for dialogue on the world of work and a Canadian framework for collecting, analyzing and disseminating occupational data for labour market information, data, and employment-related program administration.
The national NOC codes contain more than 30,000 occupational titles placed into 500 unit groups, organized according to 4 skill levels and 10 skill types. Unit groups are based on the similarity of skills, defined primarily by functions and employment requirements. Each unit group describes the main duties and employment requirements as well as provides examples of occupational titles.
Who uses the National Occupational Classification System?
The National Occupational Classification is an important tool for everyone including the government, organizations and anyone pursuing research on occupational professions, titles, and related topics and career development.
In addition to serving as the authoritative platform and structure for statistics and the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative data, it is used daily by students, (job seekers), workers, employers, career and vocational counsellors, and educational and training organizations to support career and vocational decisions. The National Occupational Classification is also used to support policy development and program design and administration as well as service delivery.
Further, in many of Canada’s immigration programs, administrators, consultants and others use it to decide if a job, or type of work experience, is valid for that program’s criteria. For instance, if a person wants to apply as a skilled worker they should check the National Occupational Classification – NOC code to see which jobs are considered “skilled” (NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B).
How to search for a title (profession)?
- Search your job title or by NOC code for example code 1123 is for Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations, etc. For more information, please visit The National Occupational Classification website below
Website: National Occupational Classification – NOC
Website Supplementary: Canadian Universities and Colleges List (Education and Career Development)