Occupation (based on the National Occupational Classification [NOC] 2011)

Part A - Short definition:

Not applicable

Part B - Detailed definition:

Refers to the kind of work performed by persons during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2011, as determined by their kind of work and the description of the main activities in their job.

The 2011 National Household Survey occupation data are produced according to the NOC 2011. The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011 is composed of four levels of aggregation. There are 10 broad occupational categories containing 40 major groups that are further subdivided into 140 minor groups. At the most detailed level, there are 500 occupation unit groups. Occupation unit groups are formed on the basis of the education, training, or skill level required to enter the job, as well as the kind of work performed, as determined by the tasks, duties and responsibilities of the occupation.

Reported in:

2011

Reported for:

Population aged 15 years and over in private households, who worked since January 1, 2010. The variable usually relates to the individual's job held during the week of Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7, 2011. However, if the person did not work during that week but had worked at some time since January 1, 2010, the information relates to the job held longest during that period.

Question number(s):

Coded variable: Questions 42 and 43

Responses:

See the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011.

Remarks:

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011 updates both the National Occupational Classification of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Statistics Canada's National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S) which was based on it. It is the nationally accepted taxonomy and organizational framework of occupations in the Canadian labour market. This revision represents the 20th anniversary of the classification and reflects the unification of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's NOC and Statistics Canada's NOC-S. This revised edition eliminates the differences between the two former systems and incorporates the advantages of both.

The 2011 National Household Survey occupation data were also recoded to the National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S) 2006 for users wishing to compare occupation data based on that classification. As well, empirical NOC 2011-NOC-S 2006 concordance tables have been produced to allow for the conversion of occupation data from one classification to the other. For more information, please see Appendix 2.5.

The 2011 NHS occupation data can be tabulated for a number of populations, among which the most frequently used are:

(a) the employed
(b) the experienced labour force – persons who were either employed or unemployed in the reference week, but who had worked since January 1, 2010
(c) those who have worked since January 1, 2010, regardless of whether or not they were in the labour force in the reference week.

The remaining components of the labour force, unemployed persons who worked prior to January 1, 2010, or who never worked, are shown in the data under the category 'Occupation - Not applicable.'

For more information on the NOC 2011, see the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011, Catalogue no. 12-583-X.

Occupation information is also available from the Labour Force Survey. For more information on the comparability of the 2011 National Household Survey and of the Labour Force Survey data, refer to Appendix 2.1.