ANZSCO code vs job title: the most-confused questions, answered

Your job title and your ANZSCO code are not the same thing. That gap confuses a lot of people. Here are the six questions we see most, each with a plain answer and a link to the source.

Why doesn’t my job title match any ANZSCO occupation?

ANZSCO codes describe what a job does, not what a company calls it. A company might call you a “Digital Growth Specialist”. ANZSCO looks at your tasks and calls it Marketing Specialist (225113) or similar. The ABS ANZSCO 2022 classification has 1,076 occupations, each defined by its core tasks, not by job-title fashion.

Can one job title map to more than one ANZSCO code?

Yes, often. “Software Engineer” and “Software Developer” both point to the same code: Software Engineer (261313). But “programmer” could be 261312 or 261313 depending on your actual duties. The ABS groups occupations by skill and task, not by what your employer printed on your business card. When two codes look equally close, check the task lists on each code page.

What is a skill level, and why does it matter?

ANZSCO assigns each occupation a skill level from 1 to 5. Level 1 is the highest, typically requiring a bachelor degree or higher. Level 5 is the lowest, requiring short on-the-job training. Skill level matters for visa pathways: only skill levels 1 to 4 are in scope for the 2025 Occupation Shortage List ratings. The skill level is on every code page in our ANZSCO index.

Does being on a shortage list mean my code is in demand?

These are two separate questions. A code can be on Australia’s Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which opens a visa pathway, and still be rated “No Shortage” by the 2025 Occupation Shortage List. Software Engineer (261313) is one example: it is on the CSOL and New Zealand’s Green List (Tier 1), but the 2025 Occupation Shortage List rates it “No Shortage” nationally. List membership opens a path; the shortage rating is a separate, point-in-time read.

Cook and Chef sound the same. Are they the same code?

No. Cook (351411) and Chef (351311) are different codes. Under the 2025 Occupation Shortage List, Cook is rated national shortage (S) and Chef is rated regional only (R). Getting these two mixed up changes your picture significantly. The task definitions on each code page are the deciding factor, not the title you use day to day.

Is ANZSCO being replaced? Which code should I use now?

The ABS released OSCA (Occupation Standard Classification for Australia) on 6 December 2024 and it replaces ANZSCO for Australian statistical use. However, Australia’s migration system still runs on ANZSCO, benchmarked to the November 2022 release. Whether and when Home Affairs switches to OSCA is not confirmed on any primary source. For visa and skills-assessment purposes today, use the ANZSCO 2022 code.

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Still not sure which code is yours? You can search the codes yourself, and if you would rather not guess, the CV matcher at app.anzscofinder.com will map your CV to its closest codes. Information only, with a source and date on every fact. For advice on which code applies to your situation, speak to a registered migration agent.