Hierarchy and structure

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 is based on the NOC 2011 four-tiered hierarchical structure. The first level contains 10 broad occupational categories, the second level is made up of 40 major groups, the third level consists of 140 minor groups, and the last level comprises 500 unit groups.

The hierarchy and structure presented below allows you to drill down from one of the broad occupational categories to its associated unit groups and access the profile page of a unit group.

It is possible to select a previous version of the classification (NOC 2006 and 2011) as well as the newly released version (NOC 2021). Please note that the NOC 2021 has been released for data collection purposes but will only be used by ESDC in late 2022.

Structure breakdown – NOC 2021 Version 1.0

4 Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
40 Managers in public administration, in education and social and community services and in public protection services
400 Managers in public administration, in education and social and community services and in public protection services
4004 Managers in public protection services
40040Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services

Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate police force administration and police activities such as maintaining law and order and detecting and preventing crime. They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal governments. This unit group includes officers from the rank of staff sergeant to police commissioner. Commissioned officers in the railway police, deputy chief coroners, and deputy chief medical examiners are also included in this unit group.

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40041Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers

Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate firefighting operations and fire prevention activities in fire departments. They are employed by municipal and federal governments and by industrial establishments with firefighting services.

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40042Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces

Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces plan, organize, command, direct, control and evaluate, the operations of their organization in relation to established objectives. Senior commissioned officers formulate military and strategic policies which establish the direction to be taken by the Canadian Forces. All ranks of commissioned officers in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Navy are included in this unit group.

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