Employer Classification

Like all workers' compensation jurisdictions in Canada, we classify employers based on the industry they do business in rather than by occupation.

Classifications are based on the industry as a whole because:

Classification by occupation would lead to multiple classifications for each employer. Determining each occupation for each individual would be difficult and time consuming, and would not materially change an individual business's premium. As well, it would increase the WCB's need to audit employers and subsequently the administrative costs needed to run the compensation program.

Rating by occupation alone would greatly increase the number of classifications we use. Each of these classification units would be far smaller than the current industry classes, leading to a less stable statistical base and the possibility of wide fluctuations in assessment rates.