STATUS IN EMPLOYMENT
JUSTIFICATION
Information about status in employment is essential for a wide range of social and economic policy and planning purposes. The Census is the only source of data on status in employment at the small area level and for small population groups.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Data on status in employment have been obtained in every Census since 1911.
Changes were made to the status in employment question for the 2001 Census to enable more accurate collection of data. Changes included the addition of an explanatory dot point for persons working in their own limited liability company and changes to response categories.
For 2006, the status of employment questions were changed to make them more consistent with the Labour Force Survey, and to provide more detail on people working in their own businesses. Status in employment was not listed as a standard output, but it has been derived for clients using the employment type and number of employees variables.
USER REQUIREMENTS
The questions used to determine a person’s status in employment enable:
- employed people to be classified as either an employee, an employer, an own account worker, or a contributing family worker
- assessment of the characteristics of the workforce and the extent of self employment in small areas
- determination of the number of owner managers of unincorporated enterprises who employ people (employers) and those that do not (own account worker).
AVAILABILITY OF NON-CENSUS DATA
While regular ABS household surveys provide data on the status in employment of people, the need for such data at small area level and for small groups of the population can only be met by inclusion of the topic in the Census.
The ABS Monthly Labour Force Survey (results released in Labour Force, Australia, cat. no. 6202.0 and associated electronic products 6291.0.55.001 and 6291.0.55.003) provides data on status in employment of people for states and territories.
2006 CENSUS QUESTIONS
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