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Public/Private Employer Indicator

Public/Private Employer Indicator (GNGP)

This variable classifies employed people aged 15 years and over according to whether they are employed in the government (public) or non-government (private) sector. The public sector is further broken down into National, State and Territory or Local Government.

The non-response rate for Public/Private Employer Indicator (GNGP) was 1.1% (1.3% in 2006). Unlike some other Census variables, the non-response rate is not affected by persons imputed into dwellings that did not return a Census Form, as GNGP is only applicable for persons with a labour force status of employed. More information is available from the 2011 Census non-response quality statement.

GNGP data is derived from responses to a number of questions on the form. GNGP is closely linked with those questions used to determine Industry of Employment (INDP). These questions include:
  • Question 40 The business name of the person's employer.
  • Question 41 The workplace address of the person's employer.
  • Question 42 The type of industry the person identifies with.
  • Question 43 The main goods or services produced by the person's employer.

Data for GNGP is captured automatically from written numeric responses to these questions. This process is subject to low levels of recognition error. The data are subject to sample checks to ensure an acceptable level of quality.

In 2011, GNGP was autocoded along with INDP using versions of the ABS's Business Register. This was not the case in 2006, where it was coded based on a separate GNGP index after autocoding. This change in methodology should lead to more accurate GNGP output data, however this is reliant on respondents reporting Business Name correctly. In cases where GNGP could not be determined through autocoding, responses were examined by ABS clerical staff and independently assessed for a GNGP code. Responses were coded to 'private' in the absence of any information suggesting that a 'government' classification was more appropriate. The 2011 approach is expected to have contributed to an improvement in the general quality of the data.

More information on GNGP is available in the 2011 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0).

Questions 40, 41, 42 and 43 as they appeared on the 2011 Census Household Form

Data for this variable is derived from questions 40 to 43 on the Census Household Form.



Text only version of these questions are also available
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