Occupation vs. Profession — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 13, 2023
Occupation refers to any job or activity done regularly for earning; Profession usually denotes specialized training or formal qualifications.
Difference Between Occupation and Profession
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Occupation is a broader term encompassing any regular activity or job one engages in, usually to earn money. It doesn't necessarily imply specialized training or expertise. For example, a person may have the occupation of being a cleaner, driver, or clerk without requiring formal training. Profession, on the other hand, often refers to vocations that require specialized education, training, and skills. Typically, professions adhere to specific standards, codes of conduct, and sometimes, formal licensing. Think of doctors, lawyers, or engineers.
In discussing occupation, we focus on the wide variety of jobs or roles one might have in society. An occupation can be temporary or long-term and doesn't necessarily define one's identity. Profession, conversely, often becomes an integral part of an individual's identity. When someone says, "I'm a teacher," it conveys a sense of pride and specialization in that chosen field.
Another differentiation is the level of formal education or training involved. Occupations might not always demand formal education, whereas professions almost always do. The training for a profession is usually rigorous and standardized. Moreover, occupations may not have stringent regulatory bodies overseeing them. Professions often have governing bodies or associations that set standards and regulate practice.
Finally, the terms occupation and profession carry different societal connotations. An occupation is seen as a means to an end – a way to earn a livelihood. A profession, due to its specialized nature, often carries a higher status and respect in society. This is not to diminish the value of any occupation but rather to highlight the distinction in terms of specialized training and societal perceptions.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Broad term for any job
Vocation requiring specialized training
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Training
May not need formal edu.
Usually demands formal education
Regulation
Less regulated
Often has governing bodies
Identity
May not define identity
Often becomes part of one's identity
Perception
Means to earn livelihood
Carries higher status & respect
Compare with Definitions
Occupation
The period during which a place or position is occupied.
The occupation lasted for six months.
Profession
A vocation requiring specialized training.
Medicine is a noble profession.
Occupation
A regular activity or job one engages in.
His occupation as a farmer keeps him busy.
Profession
A profession is an occupation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested objective counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain. Medieval and early modern tradition recognized only three professions: divinity, medicine, and law, which were called the learned professions.
Occupation
A person's principal work or business.
Her occupation is in the tech industry.
Profession
An occupation or career
"One of the highest compliments a child can pay a parent is to choose his or her profession" (Joan Nathan).
Occupation
The act of occupying or taking possession.
The occupation of the building took two days.
Profession
An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.
Occupation
A job or profession
People in professional occupations
Profession
The body of qualified persons in an occupation or field
Members of the teaching profession.
Occupation
The action, state, or period of occupying or being occupied by military force
The Roman occupation of Britain
Profession
An act or instance of professing; a declaration.
Occupation
The action of living in or using a building or other place
A property suitable for occupation by older people
Profession
An avowal of faith or belief.
Occupation
For the sole use of the occupiers of the land concerned
An occupation bridge
Profession
A faith or belief
Believers of various professions.
Occupation
An activity that serves as one's regular source of livelihood; a vocation.
Profession
Declaration of faith.
Occupation
An activity engaged in especially as a means of passing time; an avocation.
Profession
(religion) A promise or vow made on entering a religious order.
She died only a few years after her profession.
Occupation
The act or process of holding or possessing a place.
Profession
The declaration of belief in the principles of a religion; hence, one's faith or religion.
Occupation
The state of being held or possessed.
Profession
Any declaration of belief, faith or one's opinion, whether genuine or (as now often implied) pretended.
Despite his continued professions of innocence, the court eventually sentenced him to five years.
Occupation
Invasion, conquest, and control of a nation or territory by foreign armed forces.
Profession
Professional occupation.
Occupation
The military government exercising control over an occupied nation or territory.
Profession
An occupation, trade, craft, or activity in which one has a professed expertise in a particular area; a job, especially one requiring a high level of skill or training.
My father was a barrister by profession.
Occupation
An activity or task with which one occupies oneself; usually specifically the productive activity, service, trade, or craft for which one is regularly paid; a job.
Profession
(collective) The practitioners of such an occupation collectively.
His conduct is against the established practices of the legal profession.
Occupation
The act, process or state of possessing a place.
Profession
The act of professing or claiming; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as, professions of friendship; a profession of faith.
A solemn vow, promise, and profession.
Occupation
The control of a country or region by a hostile military and/or paramilitary force.
Profession
That which one professed; a declaration; an avowal; a claim; as, his professions are insincere.
The Indians quickly perceive the coincidence or the contradiction between professions and conduct.
Occupation
The act or process of occupying or taking possession; actual possession and control; the state of being occupied; a holding or keeping; tenure; use; as, the occupation of lands by a tenant.
Profession
That of which one professed knowledge; the occupation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one's self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as, the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry.
Hi tried five or six professions in turn.
Occupation
That which occupies or engages the time and attention.
Profession
The collective body of persons engaged in a calling; as, the profession distrust him.
Occupation
The principal business of one's life; the principal work by which one earns one's livelihood; vocation; employment; profession; calling; trade; avocation; as, these days many people continue to practice their occupation well into their seventies.
Absence of occupation is not rest.
Profession
The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order.
Occupation
The principal activity in your life that you do to earn money;
He's not in my line of business
Profession
The body of people in a learned occupation;
The news spread rapidly through the medical community
Occupation
The control of a country by military forces of a foreign power
Profession
An occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences)
Occupation
Any activity that occupies a person's attention;
He missed the bell in his occupation with the computer game
Profession
An open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion;
A profession of disagreement
Occupation
The act of occupying or taking possession of a building;
Occupation of a building without a certificate of occupancy is illegal
Profession
Affirmation of acceptance of some religion or faith;
A profession of Christianity
Occupation
The period of time during which a place or position or nation is occupied;
During the German occupation of Paris
Profession
An open declaration or avowal.
He made a profession of love.
Occupation
A hobby or pastime.
Reading is her favorite occupation.
Profession
A body of people pursuing the same trade.
The legal profession has its own challenges.
Profession
The act of professing or claiming.
Her profession of innocence was convincing.
Profession
An occupation that one professes to be skilled in.
Teaching is his chosen profession.
Common Curiosities
Can one have multiple occupations?
Yes, one can have multiple occupations, like being a writer and a chef simultaneously.
Do occupations have regulatory bodies?
Some might, but professions are more likely to have governing bodies or associations.
Do all professions need formal education?
Most professions require formal education or training, but there might be exceptions.
What is a profession?
Profession denotes jobs that usually require specialized training, education, or skills.
Can an occupation be a profession?
Yes, if the occupation requires specialized training or skills, it can be considered a profession.
What is an occupation?
Occupation refers to any job or activity one regularly does, typically to earn money.
How important is identity in a profession?
Profession often becomes an integral part of one's identity due to its specialized nature.
Are all professionals experts in their field?
While professionals have specialized training, expertise can vary among individuals.
Can an occupation be temporary?
Yes, occupations can be short-term, seasonal, or long-term.
Are professions always high-paying?
Not necessarily. While many professions are well-compensated, some might not be.
How is occupation different from hobby?
An occupation typically provides a means of earning, while a hobby is pursued for pleasure.
Is profession synonymous with career?
Not always. While a profession can shape one's career, they don't always mean the same thing.
Can someone have both an occupation and a profession?
Yes, someone can have an occupation and also belong to a profession; they aren't mutually exclusive.
Can someone switch professions easily?
Switching professions might require retraining or acquiring new qualifications.
Is the perception of occupation and profession the same in society?
Typically, professions are seen as specialized vocations and might carry higher societal respect than general occupations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
