1291.0 - A Guide to Major ABS Classifications, 1998  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/09/1998   
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Contents >> INDUSTRY: Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)

Introduction

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) is the standard classification used in Australia and New Zealand for the collection, compilation and publication of statistics by industry.


Purpose of the classification

ANZSIC is a key component of an integrated statistical framework, providing a standard framework for classifying establishments (e.g. individual mines, shops, factories, etc) and other statistical units by industry in official statistics. It is the means by which each establishment is classified to the same industry in all statistical collections in which it is included.

Notion of industry

The objective when developing an industrial classification is to identify groupings of businesses undertaking similar economic activities. Subject to certain criteria being met (economic significance and compliance with international standards), each such grouping defines an industry. The similar economic activities characterising the businesses concerned are referred to as primary activities. Each individual business is assigned an appropriate industry category on the basis of its predominant activities.

In the ANZSIC an industry can be represented in any one of the four levels of the hierarchical structure within the classification (described below). These levels are divisions, subdivisions, groups, and classes. The ANZSIC class is defined in terms of a specified range of activities primary to that class. Similarly, each ANZSIC group is defined in terms of the activities primary to the classes within that group, and so on. Statistical units mainly engaged in activities which have been designated as primary to an ANZSIC class are classified to that class even if they are also engaged in other 'secondary' activities.

It is also worth noting the distinction between industrial classifications such as the ANZSIC and other classifications relating to commodities or occupations. In ANSZIC, activities are grouped together under a particular ANSZIC class on the basis of a known predominance of such activities at particular types of establishments, as opposed to simply grouping them on the basis of similarity of the activities themselves. On the other hand, commodity classifications group goods and services which are the outputs of economic activity, regardless of the industrial processes involved, while occupational classifications group the occupations of those actually performing the activities.

Data classified according to the ANSZIC can generally be converted to conform with the International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities (ISIC) Revision 3.


Structure of the classification

The ANSZIC structure comprises four levels: Divisions (the broadest level), Subdivisions, Groups and Classes (the finest level). At the Divisional level the main purpose is to provide a limited number of categories presenting a broad overall picture of the economy and suitable for publication in summary tables in official statistics. The Subdivision, Group and Class levels provide increasingly detailed dissections of the broad categories.

There are 17 ANZSIC divisions each identified by an alphabetical character, as presented:


A

      Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
B
      Mining
C
      Manufacturing
D
      Electricity, Gas and Water Supply
E
      Construction
F
      Wholesale Trade
G
      Retail Trade
H
      Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants
I
      Transport and Storage
J
      Communication Services
K
      Finance and Insurance
L
      Property and Business Services
M
      Government Administration and Defence
N
      Education
O
      Health and Community Services
P
      Cultural and Recreational Services
Q
      Personal and Other Services

STRUCTURE OF THE ANZSIC - example
Further information

Further information may be obtained through the following products:

  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)(Cat. no. 1292.0)
  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) on Floppy Disk (DOS) (Cat. no. 1292.0.15.001)
  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)Titles and Codes on Floppy Disk (DOS) (Cat. no. 1292.0.15.002)
  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Index of Primary Activities on Floppy Disk (DOS) (Cat. no. 1292.0.15.003)
  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) ASIC-ANZSIC concordance on Floppy Disk (DOS) (Cat. no. 1292.0.15.004)
  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) ISIC-ANZSIC concordance on Floppy Disk (DOS) (Cat. no. 1292.0.15.005)
  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) NZSIC-ANZSIC concordance on Floppy Disk (DOS) (Cat. no. 1292.0.15.006)
  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Coder - Computer Assisted Coder (Windows) (Cat. no. 1290.0)

ANZSIC Release Date:
The ANZSIC replaced the Australian Standard Industrial Classification (ASIC) in 1993.
      Enquires

      Assistant Director
      Classification Operations

      Phone: (02) 6252 7469
      Fax: (02) 6252 7788








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