EMPLOYMENT TYPE
JUSTIFICATION
Information about employment type is important for a wide range of social and economic policy and planning purposes. It is needed to understand the characteristics of the workforce, and the extent of self employment. The Census is the only source of data on type of employment at the small area level and for small population groups.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
A series of questions to determine employment type was added to the Census for the first time in 2006. Prior to this, information collected was based on the related data item status of employment (employee, employer, own account worker and contributing family worker) as part of the combined labour force status/status in employment variable.
The new employment type questions identify whether a person is an employee not working in their own business, an owner manager of an incorporated or unincorporated enterprise, or a contributing family worker. These changes improve consistency between the Census and labour related household surveys.
USER REQUIREMENTS
The questions on employment type are used to determine:
- the characteristics of the workforce and the extent of self employment (whether working for an incorporated or unincorporated enterprise) in small areas
- the number of employees excluding owner managers of incorporated enterprises
- small business owners regardless of whether they are employed in that business or otherwise.
This is different to status in employment, which only allows the identification of owner managers in unincorporated enterprises (employer/own account worker). See next topic for further information on
status of employment.
AVAILABILITY OF NON-CENSUS DATA
Information on employment type is collected in household surveys, including:
- the six-yearly Survey of Employment Arrangements, Retirement and Superannuation (results released in Employment Arrangements and Superannuation, Australia, cat. no. 6361.0)
- labour force supplementary surveys (such as Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership and Forms of Employment).
However, these surveys do not provide reliable data at the small area level or for small population groups.
2006 CENSUS QUESTIONS
Print Page
Print All