ANZSCO Change: Australia and New Zealand Introduce Tailored Occupational Classifications

While maintaining trans-Tasman and international comparability, each country will tailor its classification to better reflect the realities of their evolving labour markets. The joint Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), introduced in 2006, no longer aligns with the unique developments in each market, prompting this mutual decision to move forward independently.

Australian Statistician Dr David Gruen and New Zealand Government Statistician Mr Mark Sowden reaffirmed their commitment to developing concordances that will ensure data continuity and maintain the ability to compare across both countries. Mr Sowden emphasised the benefits for New Zealand, highlighting how the change allows for a more accurate representation of the modern labour market while preserving mutual accreditation recognition with Australia. Dr Gruen noted that the shift enables Australia to update its classification to reflect local conditions, ensuring relevance and accuracy. New Zealand's tailored classification will take effect on 20 November 2024, while Australia’s new system, called the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), will launch on 6 December 2024.

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