Contents >>
Concepts and data items: O - S
Concepts and data items: O - S
O
Occupation
Occupation of last job
One parent family
Original series
Other family
Other families
Own-account worker
P
Participation rate
Part time employed
Part time workers
Persons (‘000)
Persons not in the labour force
Population benchmarks
R
Reason for leaving last job
Reason for unemployment
Reason not in the labour force
Reference week
Regions
Relationship in household
Relationship of husband or head
Residual categories and supplementary codes
S
SACC
Same-sex couple
Seasonally adjusted series
Sex
Sex of single head or same sex couple
Short-term unemployed/unemployment
Short-term unemployed since last full time job
Single head
Social marital status
Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC)
State
State capital cities
Status in employment
Students
OCCUPATION
This variable is coded using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) (cat. no. 1220.0). The Occupation code assigned is based on the main job held during the reference week. In February 2009 ANZSCO replaced the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) in Labour Force Survey outputs.
Applicable to: Employed persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Occupation Major Group (1-digit) | 6291.0.55.003
Table 07, Table 12, E09_aug96, E13_aug96, RQ2_nov07. |
Occupation Minor Group (2-digit) | 6291.0.55.003
E07_aug96 |
Occupation Unit Group (4-digit) | 6291.0.55.003
E08_aug96 |
OCCUPATION OF LAST JOB
This variable is coded using the
Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) (cat. no. 1220.0). The Occupation code assigned is based on the last job held.
See OCCUPATION
Applicable to: Unemployed persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Occupation Unit Group (1-digit)
Worked more than 2 years ago
Never worked for 2 weeks or more | 6291.0.55.003
UQ3_may01 |
ONE PARENT FAMILY
A one parent family consists of a lone parent with at least one child (regardless of age) who is also usually resident in the family household. The family may also include any number of other related individuals.
Format | Products |
No standard format | 6224.0.55.001
FA1, FA1_jun94, FA2, FA2_jun94, FA3, FA3_jun94, FA4, FA4_jun94, FA5, FA5_jun94. |
ORIGINAL SERIES
This variable refers to best level estimate of the survey data. Residual noise, seasonal patterns and the underlying direction of the series make it difficult to compare at different points in time.
See SEASONALLY ADJUSTED and TREND
Format | Products |
No standard format | 6202.0
Table 03 to Table 12, Table 15 to Table 18.
6291.0.55.001
Table 01,Table 02,Table 03a (15-24 years only), Table 03b (15-19 years only), Table 03c (20-24 years only), Table 08,Table 09,Table 10,Table 14A, Table 14B, Table 15A, Table 15B, Table 16.
6291.0.55.003
Table 04, Table 05, Table 06,Table 07,Table 11,Table 12,Table 13. |
OTHER FAMILY
See OTHER FAMILIES
OTHER FAMILIES
Families which are not couple families or one parent families, as defined. They include families in which there is no parent, for example, a family head living with a brother or sister.
Format | Products |
No Standard Format | 6224.0.55.001
FA1, FA1_jun94, FA2, FA2_jun94, FA3, FA3_jun94. |
OWN ACCOUNT WORKER
An own account worker is a person who operates his or her own
unincorporated economic enterprise or engages independently in a profession or trade and hires no employees (this category was formerly entitled self employed).
Format | Products |
Own account worker | 6291.0.55.001
Table 08
6291.0.55.003
Table 13, E04, E05_aug94, E06_aug94, E07_aug96, E08_aug96. |
PARTICIPATION RATE
For any group, the labour force expressed as a percentage of the Australian civilian population aged
15 years and over in the same group.
Calculation: Participation Rate = Labour Force/Civilian Population aged 15 and over.
Applicable to: Persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Participation rate | 6202.0
Table 01 to Table 18.
6291.0.55.001
Table 01, Table 02, Table 03a (15-24 years only), Table 03b (15-19 years only), Table 03c (20-24 years only), Table 16, LM1, LM2, LM3, LM4_APR01, LM5_APR01, LM6, LM7, LM8, RM1_nov07, FM1, FM2. |
PART TIME EMPLOYED
See EMPLOYED PART TIME
PART TIME WORKERS
Part time workers are employed persons who usually worked less than 35 hours a week (in all jobs) and either did so during the reference week, or were not at work in the reference week.
Format | Products |
Employed - part time | 6202.0
Table 01 to Table 03, Table 12, Table 15 to Table 18, GM1.
6291.0.55.001
Table 01, Table 02, Table 03a (15-24 years only), Table 03b (15-19 years only), Table 03c (20-24 years only), Table 08, LM1, LM2, LM3, LM4_APR01, LM5_APR01, LM6, LM7, LM8, EM1, EM3, EM4, RM1_Nov07, FM1, FM2, FM3.
6291.0.55.003
Table 05, Table 06, Table 07, Table 11, Table 12, Table 13, E01_may01, E02, E03_aug94, E04, E05_aug94, E06_aug94, E07_aug96, E08_aug96, E09_aug96, E10, E11, E12_aug94, E13_aug96, RQ1_nov07, RQ2_nov07. |
PERSONS (‘000)
Persons aged 15 years and over, expressed in thousands.
Applicable to: Persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
No standard format | 6202.0
All spreadsheets and datacubes
6224.0.55.001
All datacubes
6291.0.55.001
All spreadsheets and datacubes
6291.0.55.003
All spreadsheets and datacubes |
PERSONS NOT IN THE LABOUR FORCE
See NOT IN THE LABOUR FORCE
POPULATION BENCHMARKS
See CIVILIAN POPULATION
REASON FOR LEAVING LAST JOB
This variable refers to unemployed persons who had worked for two weeks or more in the past two years classified by whether they left that job voluntarily, that is, job leavers; or left that job involuntarily.
See REASON FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
Format | Products |
Job loser
Job leaver
Former worker
Never worked | 6291.0.55.003
UQ1_may01 |
REASON FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
This variable indicates an individual’s reason for being unemployed.
See UNEMPLOYED
Applicable to: Unemployed persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Job loser
Job leaver
Former worker
Never worked | 6291.0.55.003
UQ1_may01 |
REASON NOT IN THE LABOUR FORCE
This variable indicates an individual’s reason for not participating in the labour force.
See NOT IN THE LABOUR FORCE
Applicable to: Persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Actively looking for work, unavailable to start, but available in next four weeks
Actively looking for work but unavailable to start in next four weeks
Looking for work but not actively
Not looking for work
Permanently not intending to work
Permanently unable to work
At boarding school
Institutionalised | 6291.0.55.001
NM1_apr01 |
REGIONS
See DISSEMINATION REGION
REFERENCE WEEK
Information from occupants of selected dwellings in the Labour Force Survey is obtained by specially trained interviewers, using face to face and telephone interview collection methods. Interviews are generally conducted during the two weeks beginning on the Sunday between the 5th and the 11th of each month. The information obtained relates to the week before the interview period, referred to as the 'reference week'. |
The reference week is used to determine a person's employment status at a point in time. More information can be found in
Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001).
RELATIONSHIP IN HOUSEHOLD
This variable describes the relationship of each person residing within the same household.
Applicable to: All households.
Format | Products |
Family member - Total
Husband, wife or partner - Total
Husband, wife or partner with children under 15
Husband, wife or partner with no children under 15, with dependent student
Husband, wife or partner with no dependents but with children aged 15 and over
Husband, wife or partner with no children
Lone parent - Total
Lone parent with children under 15
Lone parent with no children under 15, with dependent students
Lone parent with no dependents but with children aged 15 or over
Dependent student
Non-dependent child
Other family person
Non-family member - Total
Person living alone
Non-family member not living alone
Usual resident of a household where relationship was not determined
Relationship not determined - visitors to private dwellings
Relationship not determined - non-private dwellings | 6291.0.55.001
FM1, FM2, FM3, FM4. |
RELATIONSHIP OF HUSBAND OR HEAD
This variable describes the relationship within a household, of the husband or family head to the other people residing within the same household.
Applicable to: All households.
Formats | Products |
Husband or head with child under 15;
Same-sex partner with child under 15;
Husband or head with no children under 15, with dependent student;
Same-sex partner with no children under 15, with dependent student;
Husband or head with no dependent children, with other child 15 or older;
Same-sex partner with no dependent children, with other child 15 or older;
Husband or head with no children;
Same-sex partner with no children;
Lone parent with children under 15;
Lone parent with no children under 15, with dependent student;
Lone parent with no dependent children, with other child 15 or over;
Other family head. | 6224.0.55.001
FA1, FA2, FA3. |
RESIDUAL CATEGORIES AND SUPPLEMENTARY CODES
Residual categories in a classification are labelled
Not elsewhere classified (n.e.c),
Not elsewhere included (n.e.i.),
Other or
Miscellaneous.
These categories are necessary because although in a classification meaningful categories are created through the application of certain criteria, not all observations can be classified into a homogeneous group, or the size of the observations does not allow them to be separately identified.
Supplementary codes (often called dump codes) are used to process inadequately described responses.
Not Further Defined codes
(sometimes referred to as
Undefined codes)
are used to process incomplete, non-specific or imprecise responses which cannot be coded to the most detailed level of a classification structure. For example, birthplace responses relating to places which cannot be identified as lying within the boundaries of a country separately identified in the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC)
, (cat. no. 1269.0), but which lie wholly within the boundaries of one of the classification’s Minor Groups, are coded to that Minor Group.
It is important to note the distinction between
Not Elsewhere Classified (NEC) categories and
Not Further Defined (NED) codes.
NEC categories are a formal part of a classification’s structure, designed to make a classification complete and exhaustive of all observations in scope. Adequately described, specific responses are coded to
NEC categories in instances where a suitable substantive category is not included in the classification. As explained above,
NFD codes are designed to facilitate processing by allowing inadequately described or non-specific responses to be coded to a broader level of the classification rather than be lost altogether.
NFD codes are not a formal part of the classification.
Other supplementary codes are also provided in classifications, for operational purposes, to facilitate the coding of responses to:
- Inadequately Described - where a response contains insufficient information to be coded to any level of the classification;
- Not Stated - where no response is provided; and
- Not Applicable - where the question does not apply to the person and so no response is required.
Format | Products |
No Standard Format | 6291.0.55.003
Table 04, Table 05, Table 06, Table 11, E03_aug94, E05_aug94, E06_aug94, E07_aug96, E08_aug96, E09_aug96, E10, E11, E12_aug94, RQ1_nov07, UQ2_may01. |
SACC
See STANDARD AUSTRALIAN CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTRIES
SAME-SEX COUPLE
Two persons of the same sex who are in a couple relationship and are usually resident in the same household.
See SOCIAL MARITAL STATUS
Format | Products |
Same sex partner with Child under 15
Same sex partner with no children under 15, with dependant student
Same sex partner with no dependant children, with other child 15 or older
Same-sex partner with no children | 6224.0.55.001
FA1, FA1_jun94, FA2, FA2_jun94, FA3 , FA3_jun94. |
Same sex couple with dependants
Same sex couple without dependants | 6224.0.55.001
FA4, FA4_jun94, FA5, FA5_jun94. |
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED SERIES
Seasonally adjusted estimates refer to original data that has had seasonal patterns removed. They contain residual noise and irregular influences that may be present in the underlying data. For very volatile series this makes it very difficult to compare seasonally adjusted movements at different points in time. Seasonally adjusted estimates are revised as new estimates become available.
See ORIGINAL and TREND
Format | Products |
Seasonally adjusted | 6202.0
Table 02, Table 04 to Table 09, Table 14, Table 17 to Table 21.
6291.0.55.001
Table 14B, Table 15B.
6291.0.55.003
Table 04 |
SEX
This variable identifies a person’s sex.
Applicable to: Persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Males
Females | 6202.0
Table 01 to Table 15, Table 17, Table 18.
6291.0.55.001
Table 01, Table 02, Table 03a (15-24 years only), Table 03b (15-19 years only), Table 03c (20-24 years only), Table 08 to Table 10, Table 14A, Table 14B, Table 15A, Table 15B, Table 16, All datacubes.
6291.0.55.003
Table 06 to Table 13, All datacubes. |
SEX OF SINGLE HEAD OR SAME SEX COUPLE
This variable identifies the sex of a single head (lone parent) or same sex couple household.
Applicable to: Persons aged 15 years and over.
See LONE PARENT
Format | Products |
Not a single head or same sex couple
Male
Female | 6224.0.55.001
FA2, FA3. |
SHORT-TERM UNEMPLOYED/UNEMPLOYMENT
This variable identifies the number of persons unemployed for under 52 weeks.
Applicable to: Unemployed persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
No standard format | 6291.0.55.001
RM3_Nov07, UM2, UM3. |
SHORT-TERM UNEMPLOYED SINCE LAST FULL TIME JOB
This variable identifies the number of persons unemployed for under 52 weeks, since their last full time job.
Applicable to: Unemployed persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
No standard format | 6291.0.55.001
RM2_Nov07, UM1. |
SINGLE HEAD
See LONE PARENT
SOCIAL MARITAL STATUS
Social marital status is the relationship status of an individual with reference to another person who is usually resident in the household. A marriage exists when two people live together as husband and wife, or partners, regardless of whether the marriage is formalised through registration. Individuals are, therefore, regarded as married if they are in a de facto relationship, or if they are living with the person to whom they are registered as married.
See SAME SEX COUPLE
Applicable to: Persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Married
Not married | 6291.0.55.001
Table 01, LM1, LM8. |
STANDARD AUSTRALIAN CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTRIES (SACC)
The
Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) (cat. no. 1269.0) is used to classify country of birth. The SACC replaced the Australian Standard Classification of Countries for Social Statistics (ASCCSS), but uses the same underlying principles that were the basis for ASCCSS.
The SACC is based on the concept of geographic proximity. It groups neighbouring countries into progressively broader geographic areas based on similar social, cultural, economic and political characteristics.
Format | Products |
Australia
Oceania and Antarctica
North-West Europe
Southern and Eastern Europe
North Africa and the Middle East
South-East Asia
North-East Asia
Southern and Central Asia
Americas
Sub-Saharan Africa
At sea
Institutionalised
Not further defined | 6291.0.55.001
LM5_APR01, LM4_APR01. |
Australia
Institutionalised
Main English-speaking countries
Other than main English-speaking countries | 6291.0.55.001
LM7 |
Australia
New Zealand
Rest of Oceania and Antarctica
UK and Ireland
Germany
Netherlands
Rest of North-West Europe
Italy
Greece
Former Yugoslav Republic
Rest of Southern and Eastern Europe
Lebanon
Rest of North Africa and the Middle East
Viet Nam
Malaysia
Philippines
Rest of South-East Asia
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan Province)
Rest of North-East Asia
India
Rest of Southern and Central Asia
Americas
Sub-Saharan Africa
Other
Institutionalised | 6291.0.55.001
LM6 |
STATE
This variable identifies the state or territory of usual residence in the reference week.
See AUSTRALIAN STANDARD GEOGRAPHICAL CLASSIFICATION (ASGC) and DISSEMINATION REGION
Applicable to: All persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory | 6202.0
Table 12, Table 16, GM1.
6224.0.55.001
FA1, FA3.
6291.0.55.001
Table 02, LM3, LM4_apr01, LM5_apr01, LM6, LM7, LM8, EM1, EM2, EM3, EM4, UM1, UM2, UM3, FM1, NM1_apr01.
6291.0.55.003
Table 05, E01_may01, E02, E04,E06_aug94, E08_aug96, E09_aug96, E12_AUG94, E13_AUG96, UQ1_may01, UQ2_may01, UQ3_may01. |
New South Wales | 6202.0
Table 04 |
Victoria | 6202.0
Table 05 |
Queensland | 6202.0
Table 06 |
South Australia | 6202.0
Table 07 |
Western Australia | 6202.0
Table 08 |
Tasmania | 6202.0
Table 09 |
Northern Territory | 6202.0
Table 10 |
Australian Capital Territory | 6202.0
Table 11 |
STATE CAPITAL CITIES
The areas determining the six state capital cities are the Statistical Divisions for those capital cities defined in the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC).
See AUSTRALIAN STANDARD GEOGRAPHICAL CLASSIFICATION (ASGC) and DISSEMINATION REGION
Applicable to: All persons aged 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
Perth
Hobart
NORTHERN TERRITORY
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY | 6291.0.55.001
Table 02, LM1, LM2.
6291.0.55.003
E03_aug94, E10, E11. |
STATUS IN EMPLOYMENT
Status in employment classifies employed persons into employees, employers, own account workers, contributing family workers or unpaid voluntary workers.
This variable identifies, for the reference week, an individual’s labour force status.
Applicable to: Employed persons 15 years and over.
Format | Products |
Employee
Employer
Own account worker
Contributing family worker | 6291.0.55.001
Table 08
6291.0.55.003
Table 13, E04. |
Employee
Employer
Own account worker
Contributing family worker
Unpaid voluntary worker | 6291.0.55.003
E05_aug94, E06_aug94, E07_aug96, E08_aug96. |
STUDENTS
This variable includes persons engaged in full time or part time study who satisfy the criteria for classification as employed. Their labour force status is determined according to economic (work-related) activity undertaken in the survey reference period.
Format | Products |
No standard format | 6291.0.55.001
Table 03a (15-24 years only), Table 03b (15-19 years only), Table 03c (20-24 years only), LM3. |