Canada has Introduced NOC 2021- How new Classification of Occupations will impact the immigrants

The NOC (National Occupational Classification) of Canada is a classification of occupations designed chiefly for use in statistical programs. The NOC is crucial for Canadian immigration as both federal and provincial governments of Canada uses it to manage Skilled Migration programs and Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The Canadian government periodically review and overhaul the NOC classification and introduction of this new calcination system is a part of the same.

Introduction to NOC (National Occupational Classification) 2021 Version 1.0

The NOC 2021 Version 1.0 overhauls or renovates the "Skill Level" structure by presenting a new classification representing the degree of Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) essential for an occupation.

Currently, Canadian immigration department, i.e. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as well as various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), use NOC 2016 to evaluate eligibility for skilled worker immigration programs. This classicisation falls under following codes:

• Skill Type 0: management jobs, i.e. restaurant managers, Mine Manager, etc.
• Skill Level A: professional jobs that usually call for a degree from a university, i.e. Doctor, Dentist, etc.
• Skill Level B: technical jobs and skilled trades that usually call for a college diploma or training as an apprentice, i.e. Chef, Plumbers, etc.
• Skill Level C: intermediate jobs that usually call for high school and/or job-specific training, i.e. industrial butchers, long-haul truck drivers, etc.
• Skill Level D: labour jobs that usually give on-the-job training, i.e. fruit pickers, cleaning staff, etc.

Also explore- Existing Canada NOC Occupation List Classification

Now, the NOC 2021 Version 1.0 introduces a new 5-digit hierarchical structure, in comparison of the 4-digit hierarchical structure in the previous versions of the classification.

The NOC 2021 introduces A TEER system, which has six categories: TEER category 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The NOC 2021 Version 1.0 TEER Categories

The "TEER" classification describes the requirements of the occupation by considering the type of training, education and experience required for entry, as well as the complexities and responsibilities typical of an occupation.

Usually, the higher the range and complexity of occupational tasks, the higher the amount of formal education and training, past experience, on-the-job training, and in some cases’ responsibility, required to proficiently perform the set of tasks for that occupation.

NOC 2021 Version 1.0 Classification

The NOC 2021 V1.0 Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER)	When the second digit is…
	TEER
Management - TEER	0
Completion of a university degree (bachelor's, master's or doctorate); OR	1
Previous experience and expertise in subject matter knowledge from a related occupation found in TEER 2 (when applicable).
Completion of a post-secondary education program of two to three years at community college, institute of technology or CÉGEP; OR	2
Completion of an apprenticeship training program of two to five years; OR
Occupations with supervisory or significant safety (e.g. police officers and firefighters) responsibilities; OR
Several years of experience in a related occupation from TEER 3 (when applicable).
Completion of a post-secondary education program of less than two years at community college, institute of technology or CÉGEP; OR	3
Completion of an apprenticeship training program of less than two years; OR
More than six months of on-the-job training, training courses or specific work experience with some secondary school education; OR
Several years of experience in a related occupation from TEER 4 (when applicable).
Completion of secondary school; OR	4
Several weeks of on-the-job training with some secondary school education; or OR
Experience in a related occupation from TEER 5 (when applicable).
Short work demonstration and no formal educational requirements.	5

When will NOC 2021 implement and what does this mean for immigrants?

 The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not officially announced the date of NOC 2021, implementation, however, as per the reports, it may make NOC 2021 Version 1.0 applicable from fall 2022. Once IRCC and ESDC, implements it, the immigration and foreign worker candidates needs to make certain that their NOCs matches with the eligibility requirement of their applied program.

 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%

As of now, it is not clear as to which TEER categories will be applicable for Express Entry and other federal and provincially managed immigration programs that currently involve a “high skilled” NOC. Hence, still there is more clarification and update awaited from the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regarding NOC 2021.

Nomenclature and 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

There are total 516 Unit Groups in NOC 2021 Version 1.0, i.e. 16 more compare to 500 unit groups in NOC 2016 Version 1.3. To explain it further, 7 unit groups were eliminated and 23 new unit groups were added, resulting in a net difference of 16.

For more information on NOC 2021 or to get trusted advice, assistance and support for immigration to Canada, you may call Visas Avenue Canada migration expert on Toll-Free Number- 78-18-000-777 or E-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar