Throughout 2023-24, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), a system that describes and categorises occupations within Australia and New Zealand.
As a Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) Skills Insight is dedicated to improving workforce, skills and training outcomes for the agribusiness, fibre and furnishing industries. We want to support your input into the review of the ANZSCO so that it accurately reflects your workforce and enables solutions to workforce challenges.
Skills Insight has completed three submissions on behalf of industry and will continue to support our input on the ANZSCO, including another submission to the ABS in mid 2024.
Occupations are being reviewed by focus area, with stakeholders invited to provide feedback concerning incorrectly described occupations, inappropriate skill levels, and occupations that are not yet classified (new or emerging).
During each round of consultations, stakeholders were encouraged to provide input either directly through the ABS website or by contributing to a submission being prepared by Skills Insight.
It is important that the ANZSCO is accurate, so that it can be used to properly understand and support workforce needs. Occupations in the ANZSCO are included in the census to gather information about the workforce. This information is then used to inform decisions made by all levels of government in Australia, including about industry support, workforce strategies, tax breaks, apprenticeships and traineeships, skilled migration lists and more.
What’s Next?
This webpage will be updated as more information becomes available from the ABS.
Skills Insight Submissions to Date
Skills Insight has made submissions to three rounds of ANZSCO review in 2023 in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Our submissions have been based on industry consultation and the way the qualifications framework interacts with ANZSCO classifications.
We are grateful to those who have contributed to survey submissions made by Skills Insight on behalf of the industries we service. Thank you for volunteering your time and expertise!
Round 1
From 1 February to 28 April 2023
The ABS has read the submissions from this round and responded in an ANZSCO [Preliminary] Proposed Changes report (round 1). The ABS will seek feedback on the complete set of proposed changes in 2024.
Round 2
From 15 June to 11 August 2023
The ABS has read the submissions from this round and responded in an ANZSCO [Preliminary] Proposed Changes report (round 2). The ABS will seek feedback on the complete set of proposed changes in 2024.
Round 3
From 10 October to 5 December 2023
View our online information session
Round 3 of the comprehensive ANZSCO review featured occupations across most of the industries Skills Insight works with, including agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishing, aquaculture, meat processing, racing and breeding, animal care and management, furnishing, textiles, clothing and footwear.
To help our stakeholders have their say on this round, Skills Insight hosted an online information session with input from the ABS.
The session included information about the ANZSCO, how it relates to you and how to provide feedback. There was also a Q&A section for stakeholders to ask questions of both Skills Insight and the ABS.
Although the session focused on round 3 occupations, it provides key insights into how the ANZSCO works that may be useful for providing feedback in the future.
A note on ANZSCO
skill levels
Each occupation within ANZSCO is assigned a skill level, reflecting the range and complexity of the set of tasks undertaken in the occupation. Each skill level provides an indication of the formal education and training, experience in a related occupation, and on-the-job training required to competently perform the set of tasks required for that occupation. The image below was developed to outline the five broad skill levels used in ANZSCO. For more information see the ANZSCO website.
What is ANZSCO and why is it important?
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is a method of classifying occupations within the Australian and New Zealand labour markets.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) assigns each occupation a title, description and skill level. These occupations are then included in the census to collect information about the workforce.
This information is then used by all levels of government in Australia to inform which job roles receive government support and the kind of support they need.
The data collected in the ANZSCO provides guidance for decision making related to:
