International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

The occupation classification scheme being used in population census and selected surveys by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) follows closely the International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08) with some local adaptation.

The ISCO-08 was adopted by a tripartite Meeting of Experts on Labour Statistics on updating the ISCO held in 2007 and was endorsed by the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2008. It provides a system for classifying and aggregating occupational information obtained by means of censuses and statistical surveys, as well as administrative records.

The occupation codes and titles currently adopted by C&SD are given below. A full list can be downloaded in PDF format here.

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Managers
Managers details

Chief executives, senior officials, legislators and foreign diplomats
cesoal detail1 ans

Councilors, senior officials and foreign diplomats
Managing directors and chief executives

Administrative and commercial managers
admcom detail1 ans

Business services and administration managers
Sales, marketing and development managers

Production and specialised services managers
proser detail1 ans

Production managers in agriculture and fisheries
Manufacturing, mining, construction, and distribution managers
Information and communications technology services managers
Professional services managers

Hospitality, retail and other services managers
hosret detail1 ans

Hotel and restaurant managers
Retail and wholesale trade managers
Other services managers

Professionals
Pro details

Science and engineering professionals
scieng detail1 ans

Physical, earth science and related professionals
Mathematicians, actuaries, statisticians and related professionals
Life science professionals
Engineering professionals (excluding electrical, electronics and telecommunications)
Electrical, electronics and telecommunications engineering professionals
Architects, surveyors, planners and designers

Healthcare professionals
heapro detail1 ans

Medical doctors
Nursing and midwifery professionals
Chinese medicine practitioners
Dentists
Pharmacists
Veterinarians
Paramedical practitioners
Other traditional and complementary medicine professionals
Other healthcare professionals

Teaching professionals
teaedu detail1 ans

University and post-secondary college lecturers
Lecturers in institute of vocational education and other colleges
Secondary school teachers
Primary school and early childhood teachers
Other teaching professionals

Business, administration and related professionals
busadm detail1 ans

Accountants and auditors
Finance professionals
Administration professionals
Sales, marketing and public relations professionals

Information and communications technology professionals
infcom detail1 ans

Software and applications developers and analysts
Database and network professionals

Legal, social science and cultural professionals
legsoc detail1 ans

Legal professionals
Librarians, archivists and curators
Social and religious professionals
Authors, journalists and linguists
Creative and performing artists

Associate professionals
Ass details

Science and engineering associate professionals
sciass detail1 ans

Physical, chemical and engineering science technicians
Mining, manufacturing and construction supervisors
Process control technicians
Life science technicians and related associate professionals
Ship and aircraft controllers and technicians

Healthcare associate professionals
heaass detail1 ans

Medical and pharmaceutical technicians
Nursing and midwifery associate professionals
Chinese medicine associate professionals
Veterinary technicians and assistants
Other healthcare associate professionals

Business, administration and related associate professionals
busass detail1 ans

Financial and mathematical associate professionals
Sales and purchasing agents and brokers
Business services agents
Administrative and specialised secretaries
Discipline and protective services associate professionals

Legal, social science, cultural and related associate professionals
legass detail1 ans

Legal, social science and religious associate professionals
Sports and fitness workers
Artistic, cultural and culinary associate professionals

Information and communications technology associate professionals
infass detail1 ans

Information and communications technology operations and user support technicians
Telecommunications and broadcasting technology associate professionals

Clerical support workers
Cle details

General and keyboard clerks
genkey detail1 ans

General office clerks
Secretaries (general)
Keyboard operators

Customer services clerks
cussrv detail1 ans

Tellers, money collectors and related clerks
Client information workers

Numerical and material recording clerks
nummat detail1 ans

Numerical clerks
Material-recording and transport clerks

Other clerical support workers
othcle detail1 ans

Other clerical support workers

Services and sales workers
Ser details

Personal services workers
persrv detail1 ans

Travel attendants and guides
Cooks
Waiters and bartenders
Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians and related workers
Housekeeping supervisors
Other personal services workers

Salespersons and models
salmod detail1 ans

Shop salespersons (food)
Shop salespersons (excluding food)
Cashiers and ticket clerks
Other sales workers
Fashion and other models

Personal care workers
carwrk detail1 ans

Child care workers and teachers' aides
Personal care workers in healthcare services

Discipline and protective services workers
dispro detail1 ans

Discipline and protective services workers
Building security guards
Other security guards

Transport and other services workers
trasrv detail1 ans

Transport and related workers
Other services workers

Skilled agricultural and fishery workers
Agr details

Market-oriented skilled agricultural and fishery workers
maragr detail1 ans

Market-oriented skilled agricultural and animal husbandry workers
Fishery workers

Craft and related trades workers
Cra details

Building and related trades workers (excluding electricians)
bldtrd detail1 ans

Building frame and related trades workers
Building finishers and related trades workers
Painters, building structure cleaners and related trades workers

Metal, machinery and related trades workers
metmac detail1 ans

Sheet and structural metal workers, moulders and welders, and other related workers
Blacksmiths, toolmakers and related trades workers
Machinery mechanics and repairers

Handicraft and printing workers
hanpri detail1 ans

Handicraft workers
Printing trades workers

Electrical and electronic trades workers
eleetr detail1 ans

Electrical equipment installers and repairers
Electronics and telecommunications installers and repairers

Food processing, wood working, garment and other craft and related trades workers
fwgctr detail1 ans

Food processing and related trades workers
Wood treaters, cabinet-makers and related trades workers
Garment and related trades workers
Other craft and related workers

Plant and machine operators and assemblers
Mac details

Stationary plant and machine operators
stamac detail1 ans

Mining and mineral processing plant operators
Metal processing and finishing plant operators
Chemical and photographic products plant and machine operators
Rubber, plastic and paper products machine operators
Textile, fur and leather products machine operators
Food and related products machine operators
Wood processing and papermaking plant operators
Other stationary plant and machine operators

Assemblers
assemb detail1 ans

Assemblers

Drivers and mobile plant operators
drimob detail1 ans

Locomotive engine drivers and related workers
Light motor vehicle drivers
Bus and tram drivers
Heavy truck and lorry drivers
Mobile plant operators
Ships' deck crews and related workers

Elementary occupations
Ele details

Cleaners, helpers and related workers
clehlp detail1 ans

Domestic helpers
Hotel and office cleaners and helpers
Vehicle, window, laundry and other hand cleaning workers

Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing, transport, storage, agriculture and fishing
labmcm detail1 ans

Mining and construction labourers
Manufacturing labourers
Transport and storage labourers
Agricultural and fishery labourers

Food preparation assistants
foodpr detail1 ans

Food preparation assistants

Street and related sales and services workers
strsrv detail1 ans

Street and related services workers
Street vendors (food)
Street vendors (excluding food)

Refuse workers and other elementary workers
refoth detail1 ans

Refuse workers
Messengers and deliverers
Other elementary workers