Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC), the country’s official system for classifying jobs, is set for a major update in 2026. The NOC provides a standardized framework for understanding occupations in Canada, including key duties, required education, and employment conditions, and is widely used for career planning, employment, and immigration purposes.

The NOC organizes information about Canadian occupations, making it easier to determine which classification a job belongs to and what skills or qualifications are required. It serves as an essential reference for job seekers, employers, and immigration applicants alike.

Historically, the NOC has been updated every five years to reflect changes in job duties and requirements, with major structural revisions every ten years. The last significant revision took place in 2021. The 2026 update is designated as a comprehensive revision, involving both content and structural changes.

• Over 150 unit groups updated
  About one-third of all unit groups will be revised. Most changes are content updates, while some will involve structural modifications.
• Focus areas of revision
  • Indigenous-related occupations: Updated in collaboration with Indigenous communities to ensure accuracy and respect.
  • Health, science, and public protection occupations: Revised based on stakeholder feedback to reflect current roles and requirements.
  • Education and emergency services occupations: Thorough internal review to better capture current duties and responsibilities.

The goal of the revisions is to accurately reflect evolving roles, clarify occupations with similar duties, and update outdated information and employment conditions.

Detailed information will be published in October 2025 by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Statistics Canada. The NOC 2026 update is expected to provide more accurate and up-to-date occupational information, benefiting those pursuing careers, employment, or immigration in Canada.