Canada’s NOC 2021 Could Impact Immigrants Next Year

The immigration system in Canada for skilled workers is heavily dependent on the way the country chooses to classify occupations. The older system is now set to change, and Canada will introduce a new classification system in 2022. Some foreign worker applicants, as well as economic class candidates, might be affected due to the change, but one does not know how the situation will fare exactly.

Canada uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) to categorize occupations. The NOC undergoes a thorough review annually and is updated at the end of five years to meet the requirements of the country’s ever-changing labor market. Sometimes Canada decides to overhaul the entire system and this happens to be one of those times. 

Updated System

Canada will most likely implement its new NOC 2021 of categorizing occupations in the second half of 2022. IRCC wants to align the rollout with ESDC so that the work permit application process remains consistent. The Canadian government is planning to replace the NOC skill levels system with a new TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) system.

The present NOC skill levels has four categories- A, B, C, and D. On the other hand, NOC 2021 will utilize the TEER system with six categories: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The TEER system will evaluate the education and work experience necessary for working in a particular occupation instead of the current NOC that does not give enough importance to skills.

The NOC is crucial for Canadian immigration because of its role in the management of skilled worker immigration programs and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) by federal and provincial governments.