Occupation experimental (OSCA 2024) (OCC24P)

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Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
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Reference period
2021
Released
15/10/2021
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Definition

This variable describes the primary job or occupation held by an employed person in the week prior to Census night.  

This variable has been coded using the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) 2024 v1.0.  

Occupation data is available to the 6-digit level, allowing for a detailed look at occupation. 

Scope

Employed persons aged 15 years and over 

Categories

Occupation is coded using the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) 2024 v1.0. The categories are listed in groups below.  

1 Managers

2 Professionals

3 Technicians and Trades Workers

4 Community And Personal Service Workers

5 Clerical And Administrative Workers

6 Sales Workers

7 Machinery Operators and Drivers

8 Labourers

Supplementary Codes

Number of categories: 

  • one-digit level: 12
  • two-digit level: 65
  • three-digit level: 160
  • four-digit level: 573
  • six-digits: 1558

Not applicable (@@@@@@) category comprises:

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information. 

Question(s) from the Census form

In the main job held last week, what was the person’s occupation?

What are the main tasks that the person usually performs in that occupation?

For the main job held last week, what was the employer’s business name?

What best describes the industry or business of the employer at the location where the person works?

What are the main goods produced or main services provided by the employer’s business?

How this variable is created

This variable is coded based on the write-in responses to questions asking for the person’s occupation title and main tasks performed, business name, industry and goods and services produced.  

This occupation variable is coded using the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), OSCA 2024 v1.0. 

Not all responses easily fit into an occupation as listed in the classification, so are coded to a higher level which covers any possible options, for that response. These are more general ‘not further defined (nfd)’ codes and end in one or more zeroes. 

Responses with insufficient information to assign an OSCA code are coded to ‘Inadequately described’.  

A variety of methods were used to automatically code responses. These include: the use of machine learning models; index tables; and correspondence tables. Records that could not be coded automatically by these processes were manually coded. 

History and changes

This variable was added to the 2021 Census dataset in September 2026.   

When the 2026 Census data is released, occupation data will be coded to the OSCA classification, replacing the discontinued Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). 

OCC24P has been added to the 2021 Census dataset to support comparisons between the 2021 and 2026 Census occupation data. 

Data use considerations

Occupation coding relies on self-reported responses and both automated and manual coding processes. Some respondents provide vague job descriptions, which may be assigned to broader "not further defined" categories, reducing analytical precision. 

OSCA is a new classification standard. Comparisons to the former standard (ANZSCO) may be limited where correspondences do not align one-to-one. 

Detailed occupations in small geographic areas can have very low numbers. This can lead to: 

  • higher variability
  • confidentiality adjustments
  • potentially misleading conclusions if percentages are calculated from very small bases 

Related variables and glossary terms

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