Download

To download ESCO in a specific language in CSV or ODS format, please select the following filters:

• Version: Select your preferred version 
• Content: Choose classification 
• Language: Select your preferred language
• File type: Choose the file type you prefer, or select multiple options.

For example, to download ESCO v1.1.1 in English language and CSV format, choose:

• Version: ESCO dataset - v1.1.1
• Content: classification
• Language: en
• File type: csv

Please refer to this page for a complete list of ESCO languages and their codes.

*Note: the language independent option is explained in the next section.

You can access the RDF data for ESCO in ttl format by following the steps bellow. This will enable you to download the complete ESCO dataset in all available languages for a specific version. 

For example, to download ESCO v1.1.2 in ttl format, choose:

• Version: v1.1.2
• Content: classification
• Language: language-independent
• File type: ttl

To download delta file choose:

• Version: Select your preferred version 
• Content: Choose classification 
• Language: language-independent
• File type: csv

ESCO updates come in two types: Major and Minor.

• Major updates involve significant changes such as the creation of new content, semantic revisions  and adjustments to the data model. For instance, the upcoming major version, ESCO v.1.2.0, scheduled for release in May 2024, will introduce substantial updates.
• Minor updates, on the other hand, focus only on quality improvements  without introducing new content. These changes typically include adjustments to concept relations, label modifications, typo corrections, and translations. For example, the minor version ESCO v1.1.1 and v1.1.2 mainly consists of quality enhancements.

To facilitate understanding of changes between versions, ESCO provides Delta files. These files offer detailed insights for ESCO implementers by documenting every change between versions. For example, downloading the delta file for version v.1.1.2 provides insights into the differences between v1.1.2 and the earlier version v1.1.1. Delta files are downloadable exclusively in CSV format. 
 

Once files is downloaded, users can use column C to filter the change field of interest. Where the change in the data required a new translation, the old translation and the new one are compared in column D and E, while the language can be selected in column G.

Since ESCO 1.1 marked the second major release of ESCO, published in January 2022, you can also find a more detailed delta file for that major version in the Publication section.

To download Local API choose:

• Version: Select your preferred version 
• Content: Choose Local API
• Language: language-independent
• File type: zip

The Commission is providing access to the ESCO classification through an Application Programming Interface (API). An API is a software component for developers to access data and services in order to build all sorts of applications in a fast and robust way. The ESCO API is a set of services and functionalities that allows other applications to access the ESCO classification. This allows organisations who are building applications for the labour market or for education/training to use the multilingual ESCO classification in these applications. The content of the messages exchanged via the APIs is based on the ESCO data model specified in Ontology Web Language (OWL). ESCO offers two different types of APIs: the ESCO Web Services API and the ESCO Local API that can be downloaded on this page following the steps explained above. 

ESCO also provides a Local API - Quick Start Guide file in the Publication section.

To access detailed information on the structure of ESCO download packages, including the files you will receive and their relationships, please refer to the Structure of ESCO Downloadable Datasets page.

In case of questions use ESCO contact form provide above.