Wednesday's assignment

National Occupational Classification

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is a system of organizing information about occupations in Canada. Every occupation in Canada has a NOC job description, which provides listings of the main duties, employment requirements and job titles. These descriptions are identified by a four-digit code called the NOC code.

Knowing the NOC code for the job you are interested in can make online research easier and quicker. This is because many job search services organize their job listings and occupation information by the NOC code. Here’s how the NOC code works:

• The first number identifies the sector. There are 10 sectors in total (0–9). For example, 0 refers to management occupations, while 6 refers to sales and service occupations.

• The second number refers to the level of education or training the job requires (1–6). Generally:

1 requires a university education

2 or 3 requires a community college or apprenticeship training

4 or 5 requires a high school diploma and/or job-specific training

6 usually requires a short demonstration or on-the-job training

• The third and fourth numbers refer to specific occupations within the sector.

In the example on the right, the 2 refers to the sector Natural and Applied Sciences; the 1 means it generally requires a university degree; together, the code 2146 is the code specific to aerospace engineers. Because the NOC groups occupations that are similar to each other, it is easy to find information about occupations that are related to your occupation of choice. This can be useful if you cannot find a job in your occupation and want to broaden your job search.

Locate the NOC website (www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC). 

Task 1:

List the 10 sectors that the first digit of the NOC code refers to. In small groups, brainstorm three occupations for each sector.

0  Management occupations	6  Sales and service occupations
1  Business, finance and administration occupations	7  Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
2  Natural and applied sciences and related occupations	8  Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
3  Health occupations	9  Occupations in manufacturing and utilities
4  Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
5  Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

Task 2:

Think of an occupation you would like to enter in Canada (either as a survival job, or in the occupation you are trained for). Which of the above sectors is this occupation in?

2152 Landscape architects

Landscape architects conceptualize landscape designs, develop contract documents and oversee the construction of landscape development for commercial projects, office complexes, parks, golf courses and residential development. They are employed by government environmental and development agencies, landscape consulting firms and by architectural and engineering firms, or they are self-employed.

Task 3:

Find the NOC code for an occupation that interests you. Read the NOC description for this occupation.  

1. How many Major Groups are listed in this sector? What are they? 

Two Major Groups are listed by searching with key word "Floral". They are 5244 Artisans and craftspersons and 6421 Retail salespersons.

2. What types of occupations are within this Major Group (represented by the three-digit code)?

524 Creative designers and craftspersons

642 Retail salespersons

3. Read the example titles in the NOC description. Do you think knowing these titles can be useful in your job search? How? 

Yes, I know what other jobs are similar with my aim though reading the titles. 

4. Read the main duties in the NOC description. List the duties you think are most relevant to this position.  

Artistic floral arrangers design bouquets, corsages, sprays, wreaths and other floral arrangements and select natural and artificial flowers, foliage and decorative accessories to create arrangements or other floral items to suit customers' requirements.

Task 4:

Prepare a short presentation for the class about this occupation. Include related job titles, main duties and employment requirements.

This job occupation name is "Artisans and craftspersons". 
Its code number is 5244, the first number "5" stands for Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport.
The second number "2" means it requires a community college or apprenticeship training. I am looking for floral arranagment jobs in this Major Group. 
The related job titles for me are: artistic floral arranger, artistic floral bouquet designer, artistic floral designer, floral arrangements designer, and floral designer. 
Their main duties are: Artistic floral arrangers design bouquets, corsages, sprays, wreaths and other floral arrangements and select natural and artificial flowers, foliage and decorative accessories to create arrangements or other floral items to suit customers' requirements.