CHAPTER 7 PLACE OF WORK
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Place of Work data provide information about where people work rather than where they reside. The address of each employed person's workplace in the week prior to Census Night is coded to a Destination Zone using an index provided by the State Transport Authorities. In conjunction with Place of Usual Residence Data, this information can be used by State Transport Authorities to assist with planning transport systems in their State or Territory. This is why the data is commonly referred to as "journey to work" data.
Place of Work data has been produced from the Census of Population and Housing since 1971. The geographical areas are redefined each census to take into account changes and growth that occur over time in States and Territories. As a result, the data are not comparable across censuses. For the 2001 Census, the geographic scope was widened to include the whole of geographic Australia. Thus, the applicable population for Place of Work data has increased to allow a more comprehensive view of work-related transport patterns across Australia.
Place of Work Destination Zones do not align with Collection District boundaries but do aggregate to Statistical Local Areas as used in Census output/products. Each Statistical Local Area is assigned to either a Place of Work Detailed Study Area or Place of Work Extended Study Area. This has been determined by State Transport Authorities and relates to specific geographic zones across a state/territory.
To assist ABS clients in understanding Place of Work data, listings of Statistical Local Areas and the Place of Work Study Areas they incorporate, are available from the ABS National Information and Referral Service. However, the Place of Work Study Area boundaries are determined by State Transport Authorities and clients who would like to obtain these boundaries in digital or mapped form should contact the Transport Authority in the relevant State or Territory (see Appendix 7 for a list of contacts).
Place of Work Names and Codes
The Place of Work Destination Zone code comprises 10 digits, combining the State code as the first digit; the second digit is either a 1 for Detailed Study Area or a 2 for Extended Study Area; then followed by the 4 digit Statistical Local Area code; then a four digit Destination Zone. This allows a hierarchy structure to be built for output purposes.
Example:
1 State/Territory
- 11 NSW Place of Work Study area Precinct - Detailed Study Area
- 110150 Statistical Local Area - Ashfield
- 1101500192 Destination Zone
- 1101500193 Destination Zone
- 1101500194 Destination Zone
- 1101500195 Destination Zone
- 1101500196 Destination Zone
- 12 NSW Place of Work Study Area Precinct - Detailed Study Area
- 120050 Statistical Local Area - Albury
- 1200508001 Destination Zone
- 1200508002 Destination Zone
- 1200508000 Destination Zone
A unique Designation Zone code 9990, e.g. 1294999990 NSW No Fixed Address, was allocated for employed persons who had No Fixed Address.
Maintenance
Place of Work Study Area Precincts are defined for each census to accommodate changes that occur in each State or Territory. The next set of areas will be defined at the time of the 2011 census.
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