Help:Professional categories
The table provided is based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08), an internationally recognized system managed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to categorize jobs and measure global labor statistics.
The table given bellow classifies all types of work into 10 Major Groups (numbered 0 through 9), with the purpose of classifying, aggregating and standardizing occupational data across different countries, making it possible to compare employment trends globally.
Professions are categorized primarily by two criteria:
- Skill Level: Each major group is assigned a "Skill Level" from 1 to 4. This level is defined by the type and duration of the formal education typically required to perform the tasks of the job competently, referencing the ISCED (CINE) education levels (s. Academic levels).
- 1: Requires primary or lower secondary education (e.g., manual laborers, cleaners).
- 2: Requires upper secondary education or initial vocational training (e.g., administrative support, trades workers).
- 3: Requires tertiary education of short cycle (e.g., technicians, associate professionals).
- 4: Requires a university degree, Master's, or Doctorate (e.g., scientists, senior managers).
- Skill Specialization: Within each level, occupations are grouped by the expertise required, the tools used, the materials worked with, and the nature of the goods or services provided.
In essence, the ISCO table provides a universal language for describing what people do for a living, linking specific job roles to the educational qualifications typically necessary for them.
| Major Group | English Descriptor | Descriptor en Español | Skill Level | ISCED Equivalence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Managers | Directores y gerentes | 3 + 4 | ISCED 5 to 8 |
| 2 | Professionals | Profesionales científicos e intelectuales | 4 | ISCED 6, 7, 8 |
| 3 | Technicians and Associate Professionals | Técnicos y profesionales de nivel medio | 3 | ISCED 5 |
| 4 | Clerical Support Workers | Personal de apoyo administrativo | 2 | ISCED 3, 4 |
| 5 | Service and Sales Workers | Trabajadores de servicios y vendedores | 2 | ISCED 3, 4 |
| 6 | Skilled Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery | Trabajadores agrícolas y pesqueros cualificados | 2 | ISCED 3, 4 |
| 7 | Craft and Related Trades Workers | Oficiales, operarios y artesanos | 2 | ISCED 3, 4 |
| 8 | Plant and Machine Operators/Assemblers | Operadores de instalaciones y máquinas | 2 | ISCED 3, 4 |
| 9 | Elementary Occupations | Ocupaciones elementales | 1 | ISCED 1, 2 |
| 0 | Armed Forces Occupations | Ocupaciones militares | 1, 2, 4 | Variable |