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.

Different classifications were reviewed to develop the Classification and common principles identified were: 

• could be adapted for the Australian context
• is data driven
• would identify skills that are transferable across occupations
• is comprehensive
• identifies trending skills
• is dynamic.

Among those existing classifications, the American classification O*NET stood out with these principles. O*NET is a rich database containing information on all American occupations through annual surveys of American workers since 2000.

To adapt O*NET data to the Australian occupation classification, we first developed a mapping system between O*NET occupations (the Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC) used in the United States) and the ANZSCO occupations (the Australian and New Zealand standard classification of occupations).

By borrowing from O*NET and mapping to ANZSCO using the concordance table, we then developed a structured skill classification, describing job requirements for the ANZSCO occupations.

This work is supplemented using a mix of machine learning and human judgement and draws on different data sources including O*Net and the Australian Employability Skills Framework. Employer surveys, Australian job advertisement data, and education and training course documentation are used for validation and expansion purposes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jobs and Skills Australia is responsible for the release and continuous update of the Classification.

As part of the development of the Classification, various validation exercises were undertaken to ensure the accuracy of the Classification prior to a public release.

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

Jobs and Skills Australia houses the Classification in an interactive online interface on its website at https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au.

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

Jobs and Skills Australia 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, Jobs and Skills Australia, 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 Jobs and Skills Australia, 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 Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. Used under CC BY 4.0 licence.

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

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.

Jobs and Skills Australia 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 email us at skillsclassification@jobsandskills.gov.au.

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.

Jobs and Skills Australia values the input of our stakeholders and thanks you for taking the time to provide feedback on the Australian Skills Classification.

If you would like to contact us directly about the Australian Skills Classification, or have additional questions about the methodology, licensing or usage, you can email skillsclassification@jobsandskills.gov.au.

Jobs and Skills Australia will engage with appropriate stakeholders to improve the occupation profiles and conduct further consultations to obtain more comprehensive feedback and data.

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.