ONS launches consultation on Standard Occupational Classification 2020 (SOC2020) revisions
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has launched a consultation, proposing to revise the SOC2020, the UK’s official framework for classifying occupations by skill level and job content.
This classification assigns all jobs a four-digit code, which is based on the skills and qualifications needed for the job.
Why SOC2020 matters
It is used by the ONS in the UK census and in the production of labour market statistics, as well as being used by other government agencies for their own purposes. For example, employers in the NHS will be familiar with the use of SOC codes in the UK immigration system to determine which occupations qualify for Skilled Worker Visas.
Accurate SOC coding is important because:
- It supports smoother international recruitment processes.
- Clear occupational descriptions ensure that job titles align easily with Skilled Worker Visa categories.
- Correctly classifying new and evolving roles is important to prevent immigration barriers.
What the ONS is proposing
The consultation invites views on areas of SOC2020 that may need updating, including:
- creating new unit groups where the number of job titles have significantly grown and now require their own group
- combining unit groups where numbers have significantly reduced
- updating unit group descriptions to reflect current practice
- reviewing entry qualification levels for occupation
Next steps
Please share your experience of using the SOC coding framework to help shape our consultation response.
Particularly, which areas you think need review and why. For example:
- Are any roles inaccurately coded?
- Have job titles evolved?
- Have skill level or qualification requirements changed?
Information should be submitted to internationalrecruitment@nhsconfed.org
The consultation will remain open until May 2026.
More information on the consultation can be found on the ONS website.
