Occupation

Classification

To search the classification use the Classification Code Finder.

Comprehensive information on this classification (including a search feature) is available at the Australian Bureau of Statistics website using the following link ANZSCO website.

Rationale

Labour market analysis is currently the primary use of data collected on occupation. However, the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), which is supported by this statistical standard, is used by a wide range of people and organisations for a variety of other purposes, which include:

• Employers (government and non–government) use the classification to monitor EEO policy
• The careers service industry, as well as independent job–seekers use occupation titles, job content and skill information to help with education planning and job placement
• Recruitment agencies and consultants use the classification to categorise job vacancies
• Demographers, sociologists, policy analysts and other researchers are increasingly using occupation as a variable in their work to measure or calculate 'skill shortages' or socio–economic status
• Insurance providers use the classification to identify occupations with high risks of accidents and to set insurance premiums
• Market researchers use the classification for targeting products and services

The statistical standard provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. The statistical standard will enable improved comparability of occupation statistics produced by Australia and New Zealand.

In support of the Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (ANZCERTA), the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand have a policy of working towards developing harmonised statistical classifications. The benefits of developing a joint occupation classification were noted as being the ability to produce a more up–to–date, relevant and conceptually sound classification, and the improved capacity for analysis of trans–Tasman labour market data. This statistical standard supports the use of ANZSCO in the New Zealand context.

Scope

The scope of the statistical standard is all occupations and jobs in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets undertaken for pay or profit, including jobs occupied by people working for themselves. The statistical standard is not designed to cover work not undertaken for pay or profit, for example, voluntary work. Occupations that are wholly illegal in New Zealand are excluded.

In line with the principles of the International Standard Classification of Occupations this statistical standard does not take into consideration whether a worker is a working proprietor or not. This and similar attributes of the labour force, such as being an employer or employee etc, reflect status in employment and not the tasks and duties or skills of the worker.

Application of this standard is compulsory within Statistics NZ and should be encouraged across the Official Statistical System.

Classification of occupation

Occupation is a hierarchical classification with five levels. The major group level of the classification has eight categories. The sub–major group level of the classification has 43 categories. The minor group level has 97 categories. The unit group level has 358 categories and the group level has 1014 categories – excluding residual categories. The residual categories are defined in Glossary and references.

Prior to the introduction of ANZSCO, the New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations 1999 (NZSCO99) was the standard classification in New Zealand. As some data is still published on this basis, this classification is detailed for reference in the NZSCO 1999 manual.