2901.0 - Census Dictionary, 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/04/2001   
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Contents

Education
Educational qualification
Elderly people
Electoral district
Electoral division
Employed
Employed labour force
Employee
Employer
Employment
Employment sector
Employment status
English, proficiency in
Enumeration
Enumeration district
Error
Estimated Resident Population (ERP)
Ethnic enumeration
Ethnicity
External territories

Education

See Age (AGEP), Educational qualification, Highest Level of Schooling Completed (HSCP), Type of Educational Institution Attending (TYPP).

Educational qualification

Every census since 1911 has included a question in which respondents reported their highest level of educational achievement. In the 1966 Census, respondents were asked to provide details of the qualification title and the institution at which it was obtained. In all censuses since 1966, people aged 15 or over have been asked whether they had obtained a qualification and, if so, the qualification name, field of study and name of awarding institution. The 1971 Census also asked whether the person was currently studying for a qualification and, if so, its name. Prior to 2001, this information was restricted to post-school educational qualifications.

Qualifications data are used to assess the skill level of the labour force, and potential labour force, and are valuable for the planning and implementation of labour force training programs. See also Non-School Qualification: Field of Study (QALFP), Non-School Qualification: Level of Education (QALLP), Non-School Qualification: Year Completed (QALYP).

Elderly people

Variables can be derived upon request, to provide characteristics of people based on age.

See also Accommodation for the retired or aged (self-care), Age (AGEP), Dwelling, Relationship in Household (RLHP).

Electoral district

See Electoral division.

Electoral division

An electoral division is an area legally prescribed for the purpose of returning one member (or more in the case of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly) to the Federal, State or Territory Lower Houses of Parliament. Queensland has only one House of Parliament at the State level, with each member representing an electoral district. Electoral divisions are approximated by aggregating the data for Collection Districts (CDs) that lie wholly or partly within the area.

Commonwealth Electoral Divisions (CEDs) have different boundaries to State Electoral Divisions (SEDs), except in Tasmania and the ACT where they are the same. CEDs cover all of Australia.

For a list of CEDs and SEDs, see Statistical Geography Volume 2: Census Geographic Areas, Australia (Cat. no. 2905.0).

Employed

See Labour Force Status/Status in Employment (LFSP).

Employed labour force

See Labour Force Status/Status in Employment (LFSP).

Employee

An employee is a person who works for a public or private employer and receives remuneration in wages or salary; or is paid a retainer fee by his/her employer and works on a commission basis; or works for an employer for tips, piece-rates or payment in kind; or, is a person who operated his/her own incorporated enterprise with or without hiring employees.

See also Labour Force Status/Status in Employment (LFSP).

Employer

An employer is a person who operates his/her own unincorporated economic enterprise or engages independently in trade, and hires one or more employees. See Labour Force Status/Status in Employment (LFSP).

Employment

See Family Income (FINF), Hours Worked (HRSP), Household Income (HIND), Individual Income (INCP), Industry of Employment (INDP), Industry Sector (GNGP), Journey to Work (JTW), Labour Force Status/Status in Employment (LFSP), Method of Travel to Work (MTWP), Occupation (OCCP), Educational qualification.

Employment sector

See Industry Sector (GNGP).

Employment status

See Labour Force Status/Status in Employment (LFSP).

English, proficiency in

See Ethnicity, Language Spoken at Home (LANP), Proficiency in Spoken English (ENGP).

Enumeration

When purchasing census data, clients should consider whether they would prefer the data by Place of enumeration or Place of usual residence. For small areas (e.g. SLAs), data may differ significantly, depending on the basis on which the data are tabulated.

See also Place of enumeration, Place of usual residence, Information Consultancy, Post Enumeration Survey, Self-enumeration.

Enumeration district

See Collection District (CD).

Error

See Data quality.

Estimated Resident Population (ERP)

The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) is the official ABS estimate of the Australian population. The ERP is based on results of the Population Census and is compiled as at 30 June of each census year and updated quarterly between censuses. These intercensal estimates of the resident population are revised each time a population census is taken.

In the compilation of the ERP, three important adjustments are made to the census count based on Place of usual residence.

The first is an adjustment for census underenumeration. The level of underenumeration is derived from the Post Enumeration Survey (PES) which is conducted soon after the Census, and from estimates based on demographic analysis.

The second adjustment is the inclusion of an estimated number of Australian residents who are temporarily overseas on Census Night and are therefore not covered by the Australian Census. The number of such people is estimated from statistics on overseas arrivals and departures.

The third adjustment occurs if the Census does not fall on 30 June. For example, the 2001 Census was held on 7 August and population estimates at 7 August had to be back-dated to 30 June. This was accomplished using data from births and deaths registrations, overseas arrivals and departures data and estimates of interstate migration for the period 1 July to 7 August.

The ERP at census date at the national and State levels is updated quarterly by the use of demographic statistics (births, deaths, overseas and interstate migration). At the Statistical Local Area (SLA) level, reliable statistics on migration are not available and the ERP at this level is updated annually, taking into consideration indicators of population change. Regression models are used to assist in the compilation of the ERP at the SLA level.

Estimates by age and sex are published annually at national, State and SLA level. Estimates by country of birth and marital status are also published annually at a national level, and estimates at the national and State levels, by sex, are published quarterly.

More information on the ERP can be found in the ABS publication Australian Demographic Statistics (Cat. no. 3101.0), produced quarterly, and Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories (Cat. no. 3201.0), produced annually. ERPs for SLAs are published in Regional Population Growth, Australia (Cat. no. 3218.0). More information on demographic publications is available at the ABS web site www.abs.gov.au under Themes.

See also Place of enumeration, Place of usual residence.

Ethnic enumeration

Australia has a diverse ethnic population, with many of its people coming from non-English speaking backgrounds. There is a need to ensure assistance is available, if required, for these people when completing their census form.

The ABS has developed a strategy which ensures that the best possible enumeration of ethnic groups is achieved. Some aspects of this strategy include translation of brochures into community languages; information about the Census in community languages in the media; and the provision of information to migrant education units and community groups.

The Census operates a telephone interpreter service as part of the Census Inquiry Service during collection, and also employs collectors with skills in languages other than English. Arrangements can also be made for an interpreter to assist if required.

Ethnicity

A number of variables used in the 2001 Census may provide information about ethnic origin. These variables may be cross-classified by sex or other related variables.

See also Ancestry (ANCP), Birthplace, Indigenous Status (INGP), Language Spoken at Home (LANP), Proficiency in Spoken English (ENGP), Religious Affiliation (RELP), Year of Arrival in Australia (YARP).

External territories

See Other Territories.




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