Release date: May 15, 2019 Updated: July 11, 2022
Note: The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0 was released September 21, 2021. The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0 is the latest version of the classification. Given the major restructuring of the NOC for 2021, the 'STEM perspective' was modified to the NOC 2021 Version 1.0 for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The complete variant can be accessed at: Variant of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0 for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This final variant replaces any previous preliminary versions.
Introduction
This NOC 2016 Version 1.2 Variant is a newly created classification variant of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.2 intended for analysis of occupational data. The full title is Variant of the National Occupational Classification 2016 Version 1.2 – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Perspective.
Statistics Canada invites all interested parties to provide their feedback for the draft NOC 2016 Version 1.2 - STEM Perspective variant. This invitation is aimed at occupational data users and data producers, including representatives of business associations, government bodies at the federal, provincial and local levels, academics and researchers, as well as any other interested parties.
Objectives
The collection of interested parties' feedback has two objectives:
- To gather input from users, and
- To ensure users' needs continue to be met
The comments received will be used to verify and further develop the current proposed STEM variant.
Defining STEM
Largely, STEM occupations are those where workers use their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to understand their work and solve work related problems. There is no widely agreed upon definition of STEM for occupations. To address the need of reflecting occupations where STEM knowledge and understanding is used even though the focus of the occupation is not on generating STEM focused advancements and innovations, a "STEM Related" grouping was created for this variant.
This proposed variant includes 3 groupings of the content of NOC 2016 Version 1.2: the STEM grouping, the STEM Related grouping and finally the Other than STEM grouping. This variant would be a new product, developed by incorporating different aspects of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2016 STEM/BHASE variant as well as the United States’ Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC) STEM variant.
Definitions of the three groupings:
STEM: STEM occupations generate advancements and create innovations through the application of knowledge and expertise from one or more fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as a central function of the occupation.
STEM-Related: STEM-related occupations require the application of knowledge and expertise from one or more fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to perform central functions related to the occupation.
Other than STEM: Other than STEM occupations require the application of knowledge and expertise in one or more areas other than STEM to perform central functions related to the occupation. This category includes a wide variety of occupational areas such as senior management, law, culture, recreation, operations and sales. This category also includes occupations which may require knowledge or expertise acquired through formal and non-formal education or training.
How to participate
All feedback must contain:
- Name
- Organization (when an individual is proposing changes on behalf of an organization)
- Mailing address
- E-mail address
- Phone number
Participants are invited to provide their feedback by email to the following address:
STATCAN.OPMIC-Standards-Occupations-BGPVPCI-Normes-Professions.STATCAN@canada.ca
Closing date
We request that all feedback be provided by end of business day July 31, 2019.
Treatment of comments
Statistics Canada will review all feedback received. Statistics Canada reserves the right to use independent consultants or government employees, if deemed necessary, to assess these.
If deemed appropriate, a representative of Statistics Canada will contact respondents by email to request additional questions or seek clarification on a particular aspect of their feedback.
Please note that feedback will not necessarily result in changes to this variant.
Official languages
Feedback may be written in either of Canada's official languages, English or French.
Confidentiality
Statistics Canada is committed to respecting the privacy of consultation participants. All personal information created, held or collected by the Agency is protected by the Privacy Act. For more information on Statistics Canada's privacy policies, please consult the Privacy notice.
Acknowledgments
We thank all participants for their continued interest and participation in this consultation process.