Conceptual model

OSCA is a skill-based classification of jobs and occupations. It is based on the concepts of ‘job’ and an ‘occupation’. ‘Occupation’ is based on the concepts of ‘skill level’ and ‘skill specialisation’.

The scope of OSCA is all jobs and occupations in the Australian labour market that are legal in at least one Australian state or territory. For example, a job involving the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics is excluded.

For some occupations there is a legal requirement that persons employed in the occupation must be registered or licensed. Registration or licensing ensures that the person has the necessary skills and knowledge to competently perform their job. It usually requires meeting certain conditions such as specific qualifications, adhering to professional standards and/or codes of conduct, experience, and ongoing professional development.

OSCA excludes jobs which can only be undertaken as a volunteer receiving no pay or profit.

The unit of classification within OSCA is a ‘job’.

A ‘job’ is a set of tasks designed to be performed by one person for an employer in return for pay or profit. This includes jobs undertaken via self-employment and jobs undertaken for payment in kind. For example, monks solely provided with food, housing, and clothing are in scope of OSCA as these are considered payment in kind.

An ‘occupation’ is a group of jobs requiring the performance of highly similar sets of tasks. Task similarity is defined in terms of ‘skill level’ and ‘skill specialisation’.

An occupation's skill level is determined by the range and complexity of the set of tasks performed. The broader and more complex the set of tasks, the greater the skill level of the occupation.

Skill level refers to the requirements for competent performance of a set of tasks. It is measured operationally by considering the following dimensions:

• the level or amount of formal education and training
• the amount of previous experience in a related occupation
• the amount of on-the-job training, and
• personal attributes.

Formal education and training refers to the level and amount of education and training required for competent performance of an occupation’s tasks. It is measured according to qualifications in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

Previous experience is the time spent gaining relevant work experience. It is measured in months or years.

On-the-job training is the amount of training needed after starting work in a job. It is measured in months or years, and may be undertaken at the same time as formal education and training.

Personal attributes are an alternative way to assess skill level. They are used where the other three elements fail to accurately describe the skill level. Creativity, interest, physical fitness and sporting ability are common substitutes. For example, Occupation 231131 Actor states ‘High levels of creative talent, interest and personal commitment may substitute for formal qualifications or years of experience’.

Skill level is an attribute of jobs, not individuals. The skill level of an occupation is based on the requirements for competent performance of the occupation’s set of tasks. For example, a job of laying bricks in mortar is classified to the occupation 'Bricklayer'. A person employed as a Bricklayer may be highly skilled with post-trade qualifications and years of experience, or they may be inexperienced with no qualifications and low competence. In either case, the skill level of the occupation ‘Bricklayer’ is the same.

OSCA assigns occupations to one of five skill levels. The assignment considers advice from employers, industry training bodies, professional organisations, and other stakeholders.

Each skill level describes the general requirements. They do not specify particular qualifications or entry pathways. Some occupations require a specific level of formal education. For these occupations, years of experience cannot replace this requirement. For example, competent performance of the tasks of Occupation 262131 Chiropractor requires the knowledge delivered through a 3-year bachelor degree followed by a master’s degree or a double degree in chiropractic science and clinical science. Registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency is also required.

Skill Level 1

Skill Level 1 occupations have a level of skill commensurate with an AQF Bachelor Degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some cases, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Occupations at Skill Level 1 include: Civil Engineer, Composer, Cotton Grower, Mathematician, Nurse Practitioner, Paediatrician, Sales and Marketing Manager, Secondary School Teacher, and Software Engineer.

Skill Level 2

Skill Level 2 occupations have a level of skill commensurate with:

• AQF Diploma
• AQF Advanced Diploma, or
• AQF Associate Degree.

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some cases, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Occupations at Skill Level 2 include: Executive Assistant, General Duties Police Officer, Hotel or Motel Manager, ICT Customer Support Officer, Medical Laboratory Technician, Office Manager, Plumbing Inspector, Post Office Manager, and Ship’s Officer.

Skill Level 3

Skill Level 3 occupations have a level of skill commensurate with:

• AQF Certificate III which includes at least two years of on-the-job training, or
• AQF Certificate IV.

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some cases, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Occupations at Skill Level 3 include: Automotive Electrician, Bookkeeper, Butcher, Dressmaker or Tailor, Early Childhood Educator, Electrical Fitter, Firefighter, Hairdresser, Real Estate Agent, and Senior Beef Cattle Station Worker.

Skill Level 4

Skill Level 4 occupations have a level of skill commensurate with:

• AQF Certificate II, or
• AQF Certificate III.

At least one year of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some cases, relevant experience may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Occupations at Skill Level 4 include: Accounts Clerk, Assistant in Nursing, Bus Driver, Correctional Officer, Medical Receptionist, Miner, Security Officer, Sewing Machinist, Storeperson, and Waiter.

Skill Level 5

Skill Level 5 occupations have a level of skill commensurate with:

• compulsory secondary education, or
• AQF Certificate I.

A short period of on-the-job training may be required in addition to or instead of the formal qualification for some occupations. In other occupations, no formal qualification or on-the-job training may be required.

Occupations at Skill Level 5 include: Commercial Cleaner, Factory Worker, Freight Handler, Fruit and Vegetable Packer, Kitchenhand, and Sales Assistant.

Illustrative examples of assigning skill level to an occupation

The following examples illustrate how skill level dimensions are used in OSCA 2024, Version 1.0.

Example 1: 264343 Paediatrician (Skill Level 1)

The relevant regulatory authority affirms:

• this occupation cannot be undertaken without registration, and
• registration requires a bachelor degree or higher qualification.

This is an example of skill level relating directly linked to formal education and training.

Example 2: 392132 Hairdresser (Skill Level 3)

A Hairdresser typically needs to complete a hairdressing apprenticeship. The apprenticeship:

• includes at least two years of on-the-job training, and
• leads to a Certificate III.

This is an example of skill level needing both formal education and training and a period of on-the-job training.

Skill specialisation relates to the tasks required of an occupation. Skill specialisation is defined in terms of:

• field of knowledge required
• tools and equipment used
• materials worked on, and
• goods or services produced or provided.

Field of knowledge required is the subject matter knowledge that underpins an occupation. An example field of knowledge is ‘law’.

Tools and equipment used include plant, machinery, computer-based equipment and hand tools. It also includes intellectual tools and processes such as personal interaction, analysis, reasoning, and art and design techniques.

• ‘Plant’ is large mobile or stationary equipment. Plant performs several related functions and is usually controlled by an internal operator.
• ‘Machinery’ is stationary equipment which is not as large as plant. Machinery performs one processing function and is usually controlled by an external operator.
• ‘Hand tools’ are small equipment moved and operated by one person.

Materials worked on include both tangible and abstract material. They are extracted, processed, transformed, refined or fabricated as part of an occupation. Examples of tangible materials worked on include wood, metal, and livestock. Examples of abstract materials include accounting data, text, relationships and organisations.

Goods or services produced or provided are the end products of the set of tasks performed by an occupation. They include physical goods, personal or other services, and abstract products like software and blogs.

Illustrative example of skill specialisation

Example 3: 281331 Solicitor

The main tasks of the occupation Solicitor show that the:

• field of knowledge is law
• tools and equipment used are intellectual tools (research) and personal interaction (interviews, pleading cases)
• materials worked on include text and information, and
• goods or services produced or provided are legal advocacy, advice and documents.