New Zealand to Replace ANZSCO with New National Occupation List (NOL)
8 October 2024 – New Zealand will soon introduce a new system for classifying occupations, replacing the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), which has been used for visa applications by Immigration New Zealand. The new system, known as the National Occupation List (NOL), will be implemented separately from Australia’s classification system.
Statistics New Zealand announced today that the first version of the NOL will be released on 20 November 2024. This shift follows a consultation period that showed strong support for separate occupation classification systems, reflecting the unique changes in the labour markets of both countries.
The announcement was made in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), signalling a move toward more tailored approaches to occupation classifications for each country.
Transition Period
Immigration New Zealand has stated that there will be a transition period before fully adopting the new NOL system. During this time, they will continue to use the ANZSCO classification for visa applications. An update on the confirmed switch to NOL is expected in 2025, once the transition plans are finalized.
For now, ANZSCO will still be used to categorise occupations by skill level, ranging from 1 (highly skilled) to 5 (less skilled).
Why the Change?
The decision to move away from the shared ANZSCO classification was made jointly by Statistics New Zealand and ABS. Since the introduction of ANZSCO in 2006, both countries have experienced significant shifts in their labour markets. These changes have made it difficult to maintain a single, unified classification system that effectively serves both countries.
Dr. David Gruen, Australian Statistician, and Mr. Mark Sowden, New Zealand Government Statistician, emphasised that while the two countries will have separate systems, they will continue working together to ensure that the classifications remain comparable. This collaboration ensures that economic analysis and mutual recognition of skills between Australia and New Zealand remain unaffected. Concordances will be developed to map occupations between the two systems, ensuring that data continues to align for cross-border analysis.
For more information about the National Occupation List (NOL) and how it will be implemented, visit the Stats NZ website.
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