2 Professionals

Science and engineering professionals conduct research; improve or develop concepts, theories and operational methods; or apply scientific knowledge relating to fields such as physics, astronomy, meteorology, chemistry, geophysics, geology, biology, ecology, pharmacology, medicine, mathematics, statistics, architecture, engineering, design and technology. Competent performance in most occupations in this sub-major group requires skills at the fourth ISCO skill level. Tasks performed by workers in this sub-major group usually include: conducting research, enlarging, advising on or applying scientific knowledge obtained through the study of structures and properties of physical matter and phenomena, chemical characteristics and processes of various substances, materials and products, all forms of human, animal and plant life and of mathematical and statistical concepts and methods; advising on, designing and directing construction of buildings, towns and traffic systems, or civil engineering and industrial structures, as well as machines and other equipment; advising on and applying mining methods and ensuring their optimum use; surveying land and sea and making maps; studying and advising on technological aspects of particular materials, products and processes, and on efficiency of production and work organization; preparing scientific papers and reports. Supervision of other workers may be included. Occupations in this sub-major group are classified into the following minor groups: 211 Physical and Earth Science Professionals 212 Mathematicians, Actuaries and Statisticians 213 Life Science Professionals 214 Engineering Professionals (excluding Electrotechnology) 215 Electrotechnology Engineers 216 Architects, Planners, Surveyors and Designers.

Health professionals conduct research,; improve or develop concepts, theories and operational methods; and apply scientific knowledge relating to medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and promotion of health. Competent performance in most occupations in this sub-major group requires skills at the fourth ISCO skill level. Tasks performed by workers in this sub-major group usually include: conducting research and obtaining scientific knowledge through the study of human and animal disorders and illnesses and ways of treating them; advising on or applying preventive and curative measures, or promoting health; preparing scientific papers and reports. Supervision of other workers may be included. Occupations in this sub-major group are classified into the following minor groups: 221 Medical Doctors 222 Nursing and Midwifery Professionals 223 Traditional and Complementary Medicine Professionals 224 Paramedical Practitioners 225 Veterinarians 226 Other Health Professionals Note In using ISCO in applications that seek to identify, describe or measure the health workforce, it should be noted that a number of professions considered to be a part of the health workforce are classified in groups other than Sub-major Group 22: Health Professionals. Such occupations include but are not restricted to: addictions counsellors, biomedical engineers, clinical psychologists and medical physicists.

Teaching professionals teach the theory and practice of one or more disciplines at different educational levels; conduct research; improve or develop concepts, theories and operational methods pertaining to their particular discipline; and prepare scholarly papers and books. Competent performance in most occupations in this sub-major group requires skills at the fourth ISCO skill level. Tasks performed by workers in this sub-major group usually include: conducting classes, courses, or tutorials at a particular educational level for educational and vocational purposes, including private lessons; conducting adult literacy programmes; teaching and educating persons with learning difficulties or special needs; designing and modifying curricula; inspecting and advising on teaching methods and aids; participating in decisions concerning the organization of teaching and related activities at schools and universities; conducting research in particular subjects to improve or develop concepts, theories or operational methods for application in industrial and other fields; preparing scholarly papers and books. Supervision of other workers may be included. Occupations in this sub-major group are classified into the following minor group: 231 University and Higher Education Teachers 232 Vocational Education Teachers 233 Secondary Education Teachers 234 Primary School and Early Childhood Teachers 235 Other Teaching Professionals.

Business and administration professionals perform analytical, conceptual and practical tasks to provide services in financial matters, human resource development, public relations, marketing and sales in the technical, medical, information and communications technology areas; and conduct reviews of organizational structures, methods and systems as well as quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programmes. Competent performance in most occupations in this sub-major group requires skills at the fourth ISCO skill level. Tasks performed by workers in this sub-major group usually include: collecting, analysing and interpreting information on the financial viability, cost structures and trading effectiveness of organizations; conducting audits, preparing financial statements and controlling treasury systems for organizations; developing and reviewing financial plans and strategies, executing buy and sell orders, and negotiating the purchase and sale of commodities; developing, implementing and evaluating staff recruitment, training and development programmes; researching, developing and implementing marketing and public relations campaigns; studying and developing methods and policies to improve and promote government and business operations and effectiveness; acquiring and updating knowledge of employers’ and competitors’ goods and services, and of market conditions; assessing customers’ needs and explaining and demonstrating goods and services to them. Occupations in this sub-major group are classified into the following minor group: 241 Finance Professionals 242 Administration Professionals 243 Sales, Marketing and Public Relations Professionals.

Information and communications technology professionals conduct research; plan, design, write, test, provide advice and improve information technology systems, hardware, software and related concepts for specific applications; develop associated documentation including principles, policies and procedures; and design, develop, control, maintain and support databases and other information systems to ensure optimal performance and data integrity and security. Tasks performed by workers in this sub-major group usually include: researching information technology use in business functions; identifying areas for improvement and researching the theoretical aspects and operational methods for the use of computers; evaluating, planning and designing hardware or software configurations for specific applications including for Internet, Intranet and multimedia systems; designing, writing, testing and maintaining computer programs; designing and developing database architecture and database management systems; developing and implementing security plans and data administration policy, and administering computer networks and related computing environments; analysing, developing, interpreting and evaluating complex system design and architecture specifications, data models and diagrams in the development, configuration and integration of computer systems. Occupations in this sub-major group are classified into the following minor groups: 251 Software and Applications Developers and Analysts 252 Database and Network Professionals.

Legal, social and cultural professionals conduct research; improve or develop concepts, theories and operational methods; or apply knowledge relating to the law, storage and retrieval of information and artefacts, psychology, social welfare, politics, economics, history, religion, languages, sociology, other social sciences, and arts and entertainment. Competent performance in most occupations in this sub-major group requires skills at the fourth ISCO skill level. Tasks performed by workers in this sub-major group usually include: conducting research on legal problems; drafting laws and regulations; advising clients on legal cases; pleading and conducting cases in a court of law; presiding over judicial proceedings in a court of law; developing and maintaining library and gallery collections of archives; conducting research, improving or developing concepts, theories and operational methods or applying knowledge relating to the field of social sciences; conceiving, creating and performing in literary and artistic works; interpreting and communicating news, ideas, impressions and facts. Occupations in this sub-major group are classified into the following minor groups: 261 Legal Professionals 262 Librarians, Archivists and Curators 263 Social and Religious Professionals 264 Authors, Journalists and Linguists 265 Creative and Performing Artists.