Overview

Japan Standard Occupational Classification

The Japan Standard Occupational Classification is a statistical standard established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, first set in 1960 and revised five times to reach the current 2009 version. It consists of three hierarchical levels: 12 major groups, 74 intermediate groups, and 329 minor groups, and is widely used for classifying occupations in statistical surveys such as the Population Census and Labour Force Survey. By providing an objective and unified understanding of occupations, it serves as an essential foundation for employment policy planning and labor market analysis.

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications occupational classification statistical standard labor market population census

code	slug	name	description
A	administrative-and-managerial	Administrative and Managerial Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in administration and management.
B	professional-and-engineering	Professional and Engineering Occupations	Classification for occupations requiring professional and technical knowledge or skills.
C	clerical	Clerical Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in clerical work.
D	sales	Sales Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in merchandise sales and business development.
E	service	Service Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in lifestyle-related and personal services.
F	security	Security Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in security and safety maintenance.
G	agriculture-forestry-fishery	Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishery work.
H	manufacturing-process	Manufacturing Process Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in manufacturing production processes.
I	transport-and-machine-operation	Transport and Machine Operation Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in transportation and machine or equipment operation.
J	carrying-cleaning-packaging	Carrying, Cleaning and Packaging Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in carrying, cleaning, and packaging work.
K	construction-mining	Construction, Mining and Manufacturing Occupations	Classification for occupations engaged in construction, mining, and manufacturing work.
L	unclassifiable	Unclassifiable Occupations	Classification for occupations that do not belong to any of the above major groups.

A statistical standard for systematically classifying occupations established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan.