Updates to the National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 from the Saskatchewan PNP

Familiarize yourself with the National Occupational Classification. All Canadian vocations are listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

An occupation is a group of jobs that can be categorized under a single name because they are sufficiently comparable. A worker performs all of the tasks necessary to carry out their duties as part of a job. The typical labour performed, as well as pertinent tasks, obligations, employment criteria, and responsibilities, are used to identify and categorize NOCs. 

When grouping job titles into occupations and occupations into groups, factors like the materials processed or used, the industrial processes and the equipment used, the level of responsibility and complexity of work, as well as the products made and services provided, are indicators of the work performed.

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The NOC system gets a significant upgrade every ten years, during which all current occupational categories are examined. The NOC 2021 will take into account changes in the economy and the nature of work over the last ten years.

What is Altering There will be a number of noteworthy changes under the new NOC 2021 system.

First, a completely new five-digit codification scheme to replace the existing four-digit scheme:

NOC 2011 Examples	NOC 2021 Update
0113	Purchasing managers 10012 - Purchasing managers
2132	Mechanical engineers 21301 - Mechanical engineers
2282	User support technicians 22221 - User support technicians
4214	Early childhood educators and assistants 42202 - Early childhood educators and assistants
6311	Food Service Supervisors 62020 - Food Service Supervisors

Second, a new terminology for describing skill levels will be used. The degree of Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) necessary for a profession is discussed in this method. Although there are now more levels and work experience is taken into account, the TEERs are still based on the amount of training or educational prerequisites. 

The present NOC "Skill Level" system will be replaced with this (e.g., NOC O, A, B, C, and D).

NOC 2011	NOC 2021
Skill Type O	Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibility (TEER) 0
Skill Type A	TEER 1
Skill Type B	TEER 2
	TEER 3
Skill Type C	TEER 4
Skill Type D	TEER 5

It should be noted that all SINP categories (NOC O, A, and B skill levels) that refer to "high-skilled" occupations will henceforth be eligible for TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3 occupations. The NOC skill levels "C" and "D" will now denote TEER 4 and TEER 5, respectively.

Also read:

✅ How revisions to the NOC affect candidates for Express Entry

✅ Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program for aspiring Indians