APPENDIX 3: ABS STANDARD CLASSIFICATIONS
A number of ABS standard classifications have been referred to throughout the Users' Guide. The following contains more information about each of the classifications and their general use in the Australian Health Survey.
Classification of country of birth
Country of birth is classified to the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition, (cat. no. 1269.0). While survey results can technically be classified to the 4 digit level, the survey sample is often not sufficient to support reliable estimates at this level of detail. For general purposes, classification of country of birth to the 2 digit Minor Group level is most suitable. This classification has been used for Country of birth of all persons in household as well as country of birth of selected person’s mother and father.
Classification of cultural and ethnic groups
Ancestry data in the NHS was classified to the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG), 2005-06 (cat no. 1249.0). While survey results can technically be classified to the 4 digit level, the survey sample is often not sufficient to support reliable estimates at this level of detail. For general purposes, classification to the 2 digit Minor Group level is more suitable.
Classification of main language spoken at home
Main language spoken at home is classified to the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), 2005-06 (cat. no. 1267.0). While survey results can technically be classified to the 4 digit level, the survey sample is often not sufficient to support reliable estimates at this level of detail. For general purposes, classification of main language spoken at home to the 2 digit Minor Group level is more suitable.
Classification of occupation
Occupation (of main job held at the time of the interview) is classified to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), First Release, Revision 1, 2009 (cat. no. 1221.0). While survey results can technically be classified to the 6 digit level, the survey sample is often not sufficient to support reliable estimates at this level of detail. For general purposes, classification of occupation to the broader Major and Sub-major levels is most suitable.
Classification of industry
Industry (of main job held at the time of the interview) is classified to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 1.0) (cat. no. 1292.0). While survey results can technically be classified to the 3 digit level, the survey sample is often not sufficient to support reliable estimates at this level of detail. For general purposes, classification of industry to the broader Division level is most suitable.
Industry sector (of main job held at the time of the interview) is classified to the following 1 digit categories: public sector and private sector.
Classification of education
Level of highest non-school educational qualification and field of study of that qualification are classified to the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED), 2001 (cat. no. 1272.0). In NHS, current level and field of study are also classified to the ASCED. While survey results for field of study can be classified to the 6 digit detailed level, the survey sample is often not sufficient to support reliable estimates at this level of detail. For general purposes, classification of field of study to the Broad and Narrow fields is most suitable. Level of highest non-school educational qualification is output at the 1 digit Broad level.
For more information about ABS standard classifications, see Methods and Classifications.
Print Page
Print All