OSCA 2027
Details and resources related to the future release
OSCA 2027 – the future standard classification
The Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) 2024 is Australia’s current standard classification of occupations until the release of OSCA 2027.
The ABS is working with experts across government, industry, education and training to ensure OSCA continues to reflect the structure and language of the modern Australian workforce.
You can contribute to the development of OSCA 2027 and help us to remove gaps or replace outdated terms, among many possible improvements. Timely input will help shape a more accurate, relevant classification when it is released in March 2027.
Scope of the next update
The next update of OSCA in March 2027 will focus on OSCA's 6-digit occupation level.
The update will include:
- separately identifying new and emerging occupations
- retiring occupations that no longer meet the minimum threshold for statistical balance
- modifying skill levels
- modifying elements of occupations, including: specialisations, titles, lead statements, main tasks, licensing and registration requirements, and inclusion or exclusion statements.
Consultation process
The ABS will run a public consultation on the occupation update, with a call for submissions in early 2026 through the ABS Consultation Hub.
| Consultation schedule – 2026 to 2030 | |
|---|---|
| March 2026 | Call for submissions |
| August 2026 | Release draft occupation changes for comment |
| March 2027 | Publish OSCA 2027 |
| March 2028 | Call for submissions |
| August 2028 | Release draft occupation changes for comment |
| March 2029 | Publish OSCA 2029 |
| August 2029 | Release draft structure changes for comment |
| March 2030 | Publish OSCA 2030 |
How to participate
More information on how you can participate will be published here towards the end of 2025. You can also register your interest by subscribing to our email group through Contact us. The team is always open to feedback or to respond to your queries.
Public consultation will follow the same model used to develop OSCA 2024. Participants will be asked to complete a series of questions about existing and proposed occupations. The survey questionnaire will also include prompts on OSCA's structure, even though this will not be updated until 2030.
Provisional Changes to OSCA
The ABS has been busy reviewing and evaluating proposed updates that were identified too late to be included in OSCA 2024.
To keep stakeholders informed we have produced a file showing the first set of changes which are planned to be included in OSCA 2027. These provisional changes are now available as an Excel download linked below.
As detailed above, we are planning public consultation in March 2026 and August 2026 prior to the official classification release in March 2027.
OSCA 2027 Provisional Changes
Provisional set of changes planned to be included in the OSCA 2027 update.