Government at a Glance 2025

Annex E. Classification and definitions of occupations and educational levels

The following classifications resulted from the 2024 OECD Survey on Public Service Leadership and Capability, which also used the same definitions as in the 2024 OECD Survey on the Composition of the Workforce in Central/Federal Governments. It has also been used for the OECD standard survey module on Employee Engagement in civil services.

The classification and the definition of the occupations shown in Table ‎E.1 defines the four main hierarchical levels on occupations. These definitions follow an adapted version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) developed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The reason for the adaptation is that not all countries follow the ISCO model to classify their occupations in government, as the occupations included at the national level may differ due to specific legal and administrative frameworks. Full definitions are available via the following link: https://ilostat.ilo.org/methods/concepts-and-definitions/classification-occupation.

The classification and the definition of the educational levels shown in Table ‎E.2 defines the three aggregate educational levels. These definitions follow an adapted version of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) designed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Full definitions are available via the following link: https://ilostat.ilo.org/methods/concepts-and-definitions/classification-education.

Table ‎E.1. Classification and definition of occupations

Top Managers
D1 Managers (part of ISCO-08 1112) are top public servants just below the minister or Secretary of State/ junior minister. They can be a member of the senior civil service and/or appointed by the government or head of government. They advise government on policy matters, oversee the interpretation and implementation of government policies and, in some countries, have executive powers. D1 managers may be entitled to attend some cabinet/council of ministers meetings, but they are not part of the Cabinet/council of ministers. They provide overall direction and management to the ministry/secretary of state or a particular administrative area. In countries with a system of autonomous agencies, decentralised powers, flatter organisations and empowered managers, D1 managers will correspond to Director Generals.
D2 Managers (part of ISCO-08 11 and 112) are just below D1 managers. They formulate and review the policies and plan, direct, co-ordinate and evaluate the overall activities of the ministry or special directorate/unit with the support of other managers. They may be part of the senior civil service. They provide guidance in the co-ordination and management of the programme of work and leadership to professional teams in different policy areas. They determine the objectives, strategies, and programmes for the particular administrative unit / department under their supervision.
Middle managers
D3 Managers (part of ISCO-08 12) are just below D2 managers. They plan, direct and co-ordinate the general functioning of a specific directorate/administrative unit within the ministry with the support of other managers usually within the guidelines established by a board of directors or a governing body. They provide leadership and management to teams of professionals within their particular area. These officials develop and manage the work programme and staff of units, divisions or policy areas. They establish and manage budgets, control expenditures and ensure the efficient use of resources. They monitor and evaluate performance of the different professional teams.
D4 Managers (part of ISCO-08 121) are just below D3. They formulate and administer policy advice, and strategic and financial planning. They establish and direct operational and administrative procedures, and provide advice to senior managers. They control selection, training and performance of staff; prepare budgets and oversee financial operations, control expenditures and ensure the efficient use of resources. They provide leadership to specific professional teams within a unit.
Professionals
Senior Economists / Policy Analysts (part of ISCO-08 242 and 2422) do not have managerial responsibilities (beyond managing 3 staff maximum), and are above the ranks of junior analysts and administrative/secretarial staff. They are usually required to have a university degree. They have some leadership responsibilities over a field of work or various projects, develop and analyse policies guiding the design, implementation and modification of government operations and programmes. These professionals review existing policies and legislation in order to identify anomalies and out-of-day provisions. They analyse and formulate policy options, prepare briefing papers and recommendations for policy changes. Moreover, they assess the impact, financial implications and political and administrative feasibility of public policies. Staffs in this group have the possibility of becoming a manager through career progression. Their areas of expertise may vary from law, economics, politics, public administration, international relations, to engineering, environment, pedagogy, health economics etc. Senior policy analysts/economists have at least 5 years of professional experience.
Junior economists/policy analysts (part of ISCO-08 242 and 2422) are above the ranks of administrative/secretarial staff. They are usually required to have a university degree. They have no leadership responsibilities. They develop and analyse policies guiding the design, implementation and modification of government operations and programmes. These professionals review existing policies and legislation in order to identify anomalies and out-of-day provisions. They analyse and formulate policy options, prepare briefing papers and recommendations for policy changes. Moreover, they assess the impact, financial implications and political and administrative feasibility of public policies. Their areas of expertise may vary from law, economics, politics, public administration, international relations, to engineering, environment, pedagogy, health economics etc. Junior policy analysts/economists have less than 5 years of professional experience.
Secretarial positions
General office clerks (part of ISCO-08 411 and 4110) are generally not required to have a university degree although many do. They perform a range of clerical and administrative tasks according to established procedures. Tasks performed usually include: recording, preparing, sorting, classifying and filing information; sorting, opening and sending mail; photocopying and faxing documents; preparing reports and correspondence of a routine nature; recording issue of equipment to staff; responding to telephone or electronic inquiries or forwarding to appropriate persons; checking figures, preparing invoices and recording details of financial transactions made; transcribing information onto computers, and proofreading and correcting copy. The most senior that supervise the work of clerical support workers are excluded from this category.

Table ‎E.2. Classification and definition of educational levels

Graduate level (ISCED 7/8) Designed to lead to an advanced research qualification (PhD); Designed to provide participants with advanced academic and/or professional knowledge (Masters Degree).

Undergraduate level (ISCED 6) Designed to provide participants with intermediate academic and/or professional knowledge, skills and competencies, leading to a first degree or equivalent qualification, example: baccalaureates.

Non-university education (ISCED 1-5) Other non-university education, for example Post-secondary Non-tertiary Education; Secondary Education and Primary Education.