Australian Skills Classification

Occupation Profile

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Similar Occupations

The Similar Occupations are based on a Skills Transition dataset which uses the Australian Skills Classification to quantify the degree of similarity between occupations based on their underlying skills.

The methodology (available in the Australian Skills Classification Release 2.1 Report - September 2022) uses a machine learning technique called Natural Language Processing (NLP) to consider not only shared skills between occupations, but also the similarity in the phrasing, wording and meaning of skills. This similarity is expressed as a ‘similarity score’ between two occupations. The scores have been classified as high, medium and low in this interface.

Click on the search field below to select an occupation and view a list of other occupations that are most similar in terms of their skills profile. You can also download the full Skills Transition dataset below.

Please select an Occupation
Selected Occupation:
Top 10 similar occupations
The skills transition model is unable to find strong matches for this occupation. You can explore the closest matches to this occupation based on the current model in the downloadable data file.
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The results provided above reflect a new release and will be refined and expanded over time (including through the inclusion of additional datasets). The information presented above can inform analysis of potential skills transitions in the labour market, however, it is based on machine learning model outputs and may not fully reflect all aspects of labour market transitions (such as qualification, licensing or regulatory requirements for some occupations). For career information please visit Your Career.
As with all aspects of the ASC the NSC welcomes feedback which can be provided on the Feedback tab above or by emailing skillsclassification@skillscommission.gov.au.

Downloads

csv
Occupation Similarity Top 10 (Sept 2022)
141079 ↓ Download
xls
Occupation Similarity Top 10 (Sept 2022)
141079 ↓ Download
Specialist tasks are designed to describe day-to-day work within an occupation, and skills clusters show groups of similar specialist tasks. Tasks within a cluster are broadly transferable – if you can do one task in the cluster, you can likely do the others. Skills clusters illustrate a new way of looking at the labour market at a ‘deeper’ level than occupational classifications or qualifications, by showing how skills are related and connected to one another outside of the concept of an occupation. Skills clusters do not take into account qualifications, registration or licencing required to undertake certain tasks.
Select a cluster family to see the skills clusters

Downloads

November 2022

xls
Australian Skills Classification - November 2022.xlsx
(7.8 mb) ↓ Download
pdf
Australian Skills Classification Release 2.1 Report - November 2022
(630.6 kb) ↓ Download

Previous releases

pdf
Australian Skills Classification Release 2.0 Report - March 2022
(630.6 kb) ↓ Download
pdf
Australian Skills Classification Release 1.1 Report September 2021
(2.4 mb) ↓ Download
pdf
Australian Skills Classification BETA release discussion paper - March 2021
(655.7 kb) ↓ Download
 
What is the Australian Skills Classification?

The Australian Skills Classification (the Classification) sets out the key core competencies, specialist tasks and technology tools required for occupations in Australia.

The Classification offers a common language of skills, enabling stakeholders to identify and articulate skills using a comprehensive and universal taxonomy.

What is a core competency?

Core competencies are common to all jobs. Currently there are different terms for core competencies, including employability skills, foundational skills and transferable skills.

Our Classification identifies  ten core competencies common to every occupation in Australia. These core competencies align to the definitions of foundation skills typically used in the Australian VET system, specifically the Employability Skills Framework, developed by the Australian Skills Quality Authority, with minor differences recommended by education system experts.

What are the core competency values?
The Classification provides a consistent language and a way to compare the level of competency rather than proxies like education levels or occupation classifications. The Classification uses a 10-point scale to describe the complexity of each core competency for each occupation. Each value has a corresponding description to explain what it means. These definitions are general and not specific to occupations.
What is a specialist task?
Specialist tasks describe day-to-day work within an occupation. While specialist tasks can be transferable across occupations and sectors, unlike core competencies they are not universal. Specialist tasks are useful for differentiating occupations. The Classification can show where another occupation utilises the same specialist task, however, this should not be taken as a measure of overall similarity or direct transferability between those roles.
What is a technology tool?
A technology tool is a technology, such as software or hardware, used within an occupation. The Classification describes software and equipment types or categories rather than specific packages or products. Common technology tools, such as search engines and email, are featured across most occupations. The remaining technology tools are highly specialised and occupation-specific, such as computer-aided design and carbon monoxide analysing equipment.
What are skills clusters?
Skills clusters show clusters of similar specialist tasks. These tasks are broadly transferable – if you can do one task in the cluster, you can likely do the others. While these tasks are broadly transferable, this should not be taken as a measure of overall similarity or direct transferability between the occupations that utilise these skills.
What is a NEC occupation?

NEC is an acronym for “Not elsewhere classified”. NEC occupation groups are groupings of small occupations that are not captured in another part of ANZSCO. They share a similar skill level, and sometimes a similar skill set.

For example, the NEC occupation group 139999 Specialist Managers NEC contains 7 occupations – Airport Manager, Ambassador, Ambulance Services Manager, Archbishop, Bishop, Harbour Master and Security Manager (Non-ICT).

Skills data for NEC occupations is not as comprehensive as for other profiles. It includes specialist tasks and technology tools, but not core competencies or the time that is generally spent by the occupation on each specialist task.

What are Specialisations?

Specialisations are commonly used titles which refer to a subset of jobs belonging to an ANZSCO 6-digit occupation.

These jobs involve the performance of specific tasks and use of specific technology tools in addition to some or all of the broader range of tasks usually performed in the occupation. As the Classification is industry-agnostic, specialisations reflect the specific contexts in which some work is undertaken. This helps stakeholders across sectors see their occupations and skills better reflected in the Classification.

There are more than 1,400 specialisations in ANZSCO. As we continue to expand the Classification, we will prioritise specialisations that add critical value and context to the Classification and that impact the tools and programs supported by our data.

Specialisation profiles only feature the additional specialist tasks and technology tools performed by the specialisation. They do not re-list the adjoining ANZSCO 6-digit occupation’s specialist tasks or technology tools. These components from the adjoining occupation profile should be considered in conjunction with the additional details provided in our specialisation profiles. For core competency information for specialisations, use the scores provided in the adjoining occupation profile. Time spent for specialist tasks is not available for specialisation profiles.

What are Trending skills?

Trending skills are defined as skills that have grown in demand over the past five years (2016 to 2021) in a particular occupation. They are not necessarily new skills, but skills that are increasing in demand as a proportion in all jobs advertised for that occupation over a five-year period.

What are Emerging skills?

Emerging skills are trending skills that are also new to particular occupations. These are distinct from other trending skills in that they have recently emerged in some occupations where they were not previously identified in job advertisements for that occupation within the last five years.

What can the Classification be used for?

We encourage stakeholders to explore the Classification and see how it can add value to their operations – however, some potential use cases are also outlined below.

Individuals

The Classification can improve job matching by systematically linking the skills required in one occupation to another. This can help workers identify common and transferable skills, skills gaps and training opportunities.

Employers and Industry

Widespread adoption of this skills framework can help employers in multiple sectors better understand and articulate job requirements, undertake workforce planning and training, access skilled workers, and offer working-age Australians opportunities for skills development, employment and career advancement.

Policy, research and education

The Classification also provides a more detailed framework to identify critical skills and potential labour market skills gaps. Combined with other information, this resource can help stakeholders including training sectors, industry and governments to research and develop new training options.

What data is the Classification based on?

The National Skills Commission developed the Classification system using a mix of machine learning and human judgement and drew on different data sources including O*Net and the Australian Employability Skills Framework. The employer surveys, education and training course documentation and Australian job advertisement data from Burning Glass Technologies were used for validation and refinement purposes.

Information on the methodology is outlined in Part 3 of the Australian Skills Classification BETA release discussion paper.

Who is responsible for the Classification?
The National Skills Commission is responsible for the release and continuous update of the Classification.
What work have you done to validate the Classification?

As part of the development of the Classification, the National Skills Commission undertook various validation exercises to ensure the accuracy Classification prior to a public release.

This included independent market testing and technical validation exercises outlined in Part 3 of the Australian Skills Classification BETA release discussion paper.

The National Skills Commission is committed to continuous improvement of the Classification based on stakeholder feedback and backed by a data-driven approach.

How do I get access to the Classification?

The National Skills Commission has released the beta version of its Classification in an interactive online interface on its website at https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au.

To encourage take up of this new resource, CSV files of the complete Classification are also available for download.

Can I use the Classification in my product?

The National Skills Commission supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of information provided in the Classification.

Use of, including to copy, redistribute, remix, transform, or build upon, all or any part of the ASC must include one of the following attributions:

Minimum requirement:

Australian Skills Classification, National Skills Commission, Commonwealth of Australia. Used under Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence.

However, we would prefer that you use one of the following two options:

If you use all or part of the Australian Skills Classification verbatim:

This [document/website/app] includes content of the Australian Skills Classification by the National Skills Commission, Commonwealth of Australia. Used under CC BY 4.0 licence.

If you make edits or additions to the Australian Skills Classification:

This [document/website/app] includes content derived from the Australian Skills Classification by the National Skills Commission, Commonwealth of Australia. Used under CC BY 4.0 licence.

[Your name or company] has modified all or some of this content, and the National Skills Commission has not approved, endorsed or tested the modified content.

Can this help me find a job?
The Classification does not duplicate job search tools. The Classification alone does not make career recommendations or link to employment vacancies. However, job seekers can use occupation profiles to more clearly understand employers’ skill needs and identify their transferable skills. Occupation profiles can also help job seekers describe their full range of skills including relevant skills picked up through work experience, formal education and on-the-job training.
Why isn’t my occupation reflected?

The Classification currently contains over 1200 skills profiles covering ANZSCO 4-digit unit groups and 6-digit occupations, as well as NEC occupations and specialisations.

It does not include some emerging occupations which are not yet reflected in ANZSCO or traditional labour market information.

The National Skills Commission will continuously expand and amend the Classification using stakeholder feedback and a data driven methodology. Part of this continuous improvement will be expanding these emerging occupations.

Our occupation titles also align with those in ANZSCO, so it is also possible that the occupation you are searching for is known by an alternative ‘official’ title. Our interface search functionality allows for the entry of common alternative job titles and will match these to the corresponding ANZSCO occupation.

If your occupation is not currently included, we welcome your feedback. Please access the feedback form on the National Skills Commission website or email us at skillsclassification@skillscommission.gov.au.

Are the occupation profiles supposed to be comprehensive?
The Classification’s occupation profiles are detailed but not fully comprehensive, as granular-level detail can make it harder to recognise common and transferable skills.
How does it relate to ANZSCO?
The Australian Skills Classification complements the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
How is this different to the other frameworks out there?

The Classification draws on a range of data sources and includes over 1000 skills profiles. Because it is regularly updated, the Classification will assist in picking up new and emerging skills and jobs more readily, compared to occupational frameworks or training packages with slower update cycles.

The breadth of the Classification also means it offers a common language of skills, enabling stakeholders to identify and articulate skills using a comprehensive and universal taxonomy.

The Classification identifies key skills attached to an occupation. This is to highlight common and transferable skills across occupations.

While organisational or sector-specific taxonomies often include granular-level profiles, fine-detail in an economy-wide classification emphasises the differences between occupations. Instead, the purpose of the Classification is to reveal the relationships – and potential transferability – of specialist tasks across occupations.

Who can provide feedback?
The National Skills Commission welcomes feedback from all stakeholders.
I have feedback, how do I provide it?

Please visit the National Skills Commission website to access the feedback form.

How will my feedback be used?
The National Skills Commission will engage with appropriate stakeholders to improve the occupation profiles and conduct further consultations to obtain more comprehensive feedback and data.
When will the next Classification release happen?
It is expected that a new release of the Classification will occur around every six months.
You have removed the BETA status from the Classification. Does that mean it is finished?

The Classification is a living dataset that will continue to change as jobs in the Australian labour market grow and evolve.

While we will continue to expand and improve the Classification, including by working closely with stakeholders, the removal of the BETA status signals that for the most part we have confirmed the Classification’s structure and approach.

What are ‘similar occupations’?

We have quantified the degree of similarity between occupations using a machine learning technique that considers the shared tasks between occupations as well as the similarity in the phrasing, wording, and meaning of skills.  This similarity is then expressed as a ‘similarity score’.

By identifying similar occupations, we can:

  • identify where emerging skills needs in the Australian labour market might be met by an existing workforce.
  • support workers, job seekers and those providing career advice by recognising transferable skills and identifying similar roles for job transitions.
  • support employers to undertake workforce planning and development by identifying similarities and skills gaps between required and existing roles.
  • support education providers to develop more streamlined training packages that cover a broader range of occupations that utilise similar skills.
  • support policy makers to better target government support for education and employment programs.

The occupation to occupations similarity scores have been released as a dataset and interactive interface, and the top matches for each occupation are now also displayed on occupation profiles in the Classification.

The Australian Skills Classification helps define the skills that underpin jobs in Australia.

As employers, workers, education providers and policy makers recognise that skills are the real currency of the labour market, the Australian Skills Classification can play a pivotal part in enabling new skills-based approaches to workforce and talent strategies, learning and development, and policy.

The Classification identifies three types of skills for every occupation: specialist tasks, technology tools and core competencies. Similar specialist tasks are grouped together into skills clusters, which are further grouped into skills cluster families.

You can explore the data by skills cluster or by occupation. See the Downloads tab for resources such as the latest data set and reports providing detailed information on the Classification and the methodology. The Similar Occupations tab features an application of the Classification.

Feedback on the Classification is welcome either directly or through our survey at the Feedback tab.

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