Sector classifications
1.1. Standard classifications and definitions of statistical units and items are essential elements underlying the compilation and presentation of statistics produced by national statistical offices such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Use of such standards ensures that statistics are comparable across a wide range of subject matter.
1.2. This publication describes a number of standard classifications used by the ABS in the compilation of statistics that involve dividing the national economy into broad economic sectors. Dividing the economy into sectors provides information about groups of economic units, such as financial corporations or households, that have similar economic functions and institutional characteristics. The main purpose of the various classifications is to facilitate analysis of economic activity along sectoral or institutional lines.
1.3. Many of the macro-economic statistics produced by the ABS are classified by sector, including the national accounts, balance of payments (BOP) statistics, international investment position (IIP) statistics, government finance statistics (GFS), and other financial statistics.
1.4. This publication describes the Standard Institutional Sector Classification of Australia (SISCA) 1998 edition and all related economic sector classifications used by the ABS.
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