Use this page to submit a proposal for making changes to current occupation classifications or propose a new occupation.
The National Occupation List (NOL) is an independent New Zealand-focused occupation classification.
, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Stats NZ on 8 October 2024, indicates that while maintaining comparability with ABS, we have introduced our own tailored occupational statistical classifications.
The NOL enables us to add new and emerging occupations to meet user demand and need, and better reflect New Zealand’s labour market and economy. Maintaining alignment with Australia and internationally will ensure comparability across the New Zealand, Australian, and international labour markets and economies.
As custodian of the NOL, we are responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the NOL, and for managing the stakeholder and user expectations for keeping the list current.
We also maintain the list in (the platform for classifications, concepts and concordances) and for working with other users, stakeholders, and agencies to ensure seamless and appropriate platform integration and system interoperability.
Please note we are currently seeking feedback on the name of the new list – National Occupation List. This name may change. If it does this page will be updated and users will be notified.
Updating the National Occupation List
We invite stakeholders and users to submit proposals for change to existing content, for example, updating occupation titles, definitions, or skill levels; or submit proposals for new content for the list at any time to Stats NZ.
The form allows you to submit up to 10 proposed changes and 10 new occupations.
If you have more than 10 changes or additions, either submit another form, or download the Excel file below, and send your proposals to .
Questions in the form include details about your proposed changes and the rationale:
- the change you are proposing, is it a change to an existing occupation, title, skill level or definition, or the addition of a new occupation
- the proposed new occupation and provide a title, definition text, and the appropriate NZQCF level and qualification
- the changes proposed to an existing occupation such as title, definition or skill level
- the rationale for the change being proposed: this could include any policy, data, information, workforce planning/development, or skill shortage needs.
Planned updates to the National Occupation List
We plan to publish regular annual updates, though the frequency of this will depend on the amount of change proposed throughout each year.
20 November 2024 – first version of the NOL due for release.
5pm 30 October 2024 – deadline for submissions to be included in the first release. Submissions received after this date will be considered for the next planned release.
The current version of the NOL, which contains changes after the most recent consultation, is available from the downloadable table below.
Privacy implications
ensures all information you provide will be kept confidential. Your information will only be used by the Stats NZ Standards team to review updates to the National Occupation List.
Criteria for accepting your proposal
Once we receive your form, we review the information for inclusion in the list and check for duplications, consistency in terminology, and any other aspect that might need to be addressed before accepting the change. We also engage with other experts to verify the information provided.
We inform all users of proposed changes before any annual release and work collaboratively with users, using an iterative and dynamic approach to content change.
