What is the New Zealand Skills Classification?

The New Zealand Skills Classification is an essential tool for employers, offering a standardised framework for classifying and describing various occupations. Such a framework assists employers in understanding the specific skills required for different professions. On a larger scale, the skills classification contributes to better workforce planning and more efficient training and development.

The New Zealand Skills Classification?

The New Zealand Skills Classification, as outlined in the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), is a comprehensive system that categorises occupations based on their skill level and the nature of the profession.

Occupations are ranked according to the difficulty of the qualifications required for each level.

Categories fall into:

Major groups
Sub-major groups
Minor groups
Unit groups

Understanding the skills breakdown

The ANZSCO assigns professions into different categories to help job seekers, employers, and recruiters understand where an occupation exists in relation to the workforce.
The categories used are:

Major groups: This is the broadest category representing a general field of work. For example, a major group distinguishes between managers, professionals, technicians, and trade workers. There are eight categories that form major groups.
Sub-major groups: These groups are subdivisions of the major groups and provide a more specific breakdown. For example, the sub-major group titled "automotive and engineering trade workers" branches off from the major group "technicians and trade workers". There are 43 categories that form sub-major groups.
Minor groups: Each sub-major group is divided into minor groups. For example, the minor group titled "bricklayers, and carpenters and joiners" stems from the broader "construction trade workers".
Unit groups: A unit group categorises each group by a finer application of skill specialisation, further distinguishing the difference between skills and competencies. Specific tasks involved with each occupation are considered.
Occupations: This is the most specific category with detailed job titles and descriptions. For example, this is where an occupation like "registered nurse (aged care)" will be listed.

Determining a skill level

The ANZSCO defines a "skill level" as the scope (range and difficulty) of tasks performed within a job profession.

The factors used to assess a skill level are:

Formal qualifications or training: The ANZSCO regards formal education or training as those that the New Zealand Qualifications Framework formally recognises.
On-the-job training: The training needed after acquiring a job.
Previous experience: Time spent gaining experience in related occupations or relevant fields.

Essentially, the classification determines what skill level is needed to perform the job description of each occupation competently.

Code Scheme

Digit codes are assigned to different categories within the major, sub-major, minor, and unit groups and specific occupations. They are ordered as follows:

The major and sub-major groups are arranged by skill level and then listed alphabetically.
The minor groups are ordered alphabetically, and "miscellaneous" minor groups are listed at the end.
Unit groups are ordered alphabetically (except for the "residual" groups, which are listed last).
Occupations are then listed alphabetically.

The comprehensive system allows for more straightforward navigation and assists users in completing a job search more efficiently.

Why classify skill levels?

Classifying skills support employers, recruiters, job seekers and educators in various ways, such as:

Giving a better understanding of jobs and their skill levels.
Providing accurate job descriptions to assist with job design.
Comparing skills and competencies against standardised benchmarks.
Identifying skills gaps.
Giving insight into career progression pathways.
Highlighting in-demand skills.

Skills snapshot - New Zealand

Skills classification is a helpful tool to determine what skills are in high demand. Currently, there is a skill shortage across multiple industries in New Zealand as those areas continue to grow. The specific skills employers in New Zealand are looking for will differ across companies and organisations, but there is a noticeable skills gap across the board.

Here are some skills that are currently in demand (this is not an exhaustive list):

Skills in shortage

Analyst programmer
Automotive Electrician
Chemical Engineer
Electrician
Industrial Engineer
Multimedia Specialist
Physiotherapist
Sonographer
Surveyor
Veterinarian
Web Developer

Are you looking to fill a skills gap in your team? Register a vacancy today, and an expert Hays recruiter can source your business's essential talent.

Hays NZ recruits across multiple industries including, but not limited to architecture, banking, engineering and legal. Contact us today or visit your nearest office.