National Labor Market Information System to Standardize and Codify Occupations Nationwide

Tehran – January 5, 2026

Supporters of Occupational Health and Safety News Agency – In line with establishing an integrated national data infrastructure for macro‑level economic and social planning—particularly in the field of occupational health, safety, and environmental protection (HSE)—the details of the National Labor Market Information System and the National Occupational Standards Framework have been identified and reviewed during a specialized meeting attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, the Statistical Center of Iran, and representatives of labor organizations.

The system, whose design phase has been completed and is scheduled for official launch in the near future, aims to unify occupational titles at the national level. By doing so, it will enable more accurate, evidence‑based monitoring of workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and HSE training needs across various industries.

Three Core Pillars: Standardization and Data Integration

During the meeting of the Committee for the Updating of National Occupational Standards, Ahmad Meydari highlighted the importance of this national project, stating that updating occupational standards and developing precise job descriptions constitute one of the three main pillars of the National Labor Market Information System.

He emphasized that:

“Standardizing occupational titles is a critical necessity for efficient workforce management, particularly in the HSE domain. Under this system, all occupations will be codified according to a unified national standard and registered across key databases—including the Social Security Organization, the Statistical Center of Iran, the Technical and Vocational Training Organization, and other relevant entities—using a single, harmonized occupational code. This integration will significantly enhance risk assessment and comparative analysis of occupational hazards.”

From Data Cleansing to National Approval

Officials from the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare outlined the technical and executive stages of the project, which include:

1. Identifying and consolidating national data sources on occupations
2. Collecting occupational titles from relevant databases
3. Intelligent matching and codification of occupations based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO)
4. Developing guidelines for standardized occupational titles
5. Final approval and official notification of national occupational standards

Leveraging Smart Technologies for Improved HSE Oversight

In the same session, Alireza Mahjoub, Secretary‑General of the Workers’ House, stressed the necessity of adopting smart technologies and artificial intelligence in designing processes and standardizing occupations. He noted that traditional methods are time‑consuming and highlighted the benefits of intelligent systems—when combined with expert input—in accelerating implementation and improving data quality, particularly for early identification of emerging occupational risks and proactive HSE interventions.

Statistical Center: IRISCO as a Prerequisite for Register‑Based Census

Gholamreza Goodarzi, Head of the Statistical Center of Iran, stated that with the country’s transition toward a register‑based census system, occupational classification based on IRISCO standards will be essential for recording economic activities and labor data.

He underscored the Statistical Center’s full cooperation with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare in implementing this national initiative, noting that standardized occupational data will serve as a critical foundation for policy‑making, occupational health surveillance, and nationwide HSE planning.

HSE Impact and Outlook

Overall, the implementation of the National Labor Market Information System is regarded as a major step toward aligning Iran’s labor data infrastructure with international standards (ISCO). This alignment will provide a reliable evidence base for occupational health and safety policies, targeted inspections, specialized HSE training programs, and ultimately, a measurable reduction in workplace accidents while enhancing worker health and safety nationwide.