Person—occupation (main), code (ASCO 2nd edn) N[NNN]{-NN}
Data Element Attributes
Identifying and definitional attributes | |
Metadata item type:![]() | Data Element |
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Short name:![]() | Main occupation of person |
METEOR identifier:![]() | 270059 |
Registration status:![]() | Community Services (retired), Superseded 27/03/2007 Health, Superseded 04/07/2007 Housing assistance, Superseded 10/08/2007 |
Definition:![]() | The job in which the person is principally engaged, as represented by a code. |
Data Element Concept:![]() | Person—occupation (main) |
Value Domain:![]() | Occupation code (ASCO 2nd edn) N[NNN]{-NN} |
Value domain attributes | ||
Representational attributes | ||
Classification scheme: | Australian Standard Classification of Occupations 2nd edition | |
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Representation class:![]() | Code | |
Data type:![]() | Number | |
Format:![]() | N[NNN]{-NN} | |
Maximum character length:![]() | 6 |
Data element attributes | |
Collection and usage attributes | |
Guide for use:![]() | This metadata item can be used to code the main occupation of persons involved in an event. Caution is advised in its use with regard to service providers as their activity as a service provider may not be their main occupation. |
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Collection methods:![]() | This metadata item should only be collected from people whose Labour force status is employed. Occupation is too complex and diverse an issue to fit neatly into any useable small group of categories. Therefore ABS recommend that this metadata item be collected by using the following two open-ended questions: Q1. In the main job held last week (or other recent reference period), what was your/the person's occupation? Q2. What are the main tasks that you/the person usually perform(s) in that occupation? The information gained from these two questions can then be used to select an appropriate code from the ASCO at any of the available levels (see Guide for use section). If only one question is asked, question one should be used. The use of question one only, however, sometimes elicits responses which do not provide a clear occupation title and specification of tasks performed. As a result accurate coding at unit group or occupation level may not be possible. While agencies are encouraged to use the recommended question described above, it is acknowledged that this is not always possible in practice. For example, where the data collection is a by-product of the provision of a health or community service, the information may be ascertained using different means. However, due to the complexities of the metadata item 'Main occupation of person', this will result in inaccurate information. The recommended question should be used wherever possible. |
Comments:![]() | This metadata item may be useful in gaining an understanding of a clients situation and needs. For example, the occupation of a person with a disability may be directly relevant to the type of aids that they require. National Health Data Dictionary (NHDD) specific: Injury surveillance - There is considerable user demand for data on occupation-related injury and illness, including from Worksafe Australia and from industry, where unnecessary production costs are known in some areas and suspected to be related to others in work-related illness, injury and disability. |
Source and reference attributes | |
Origin:![]() | Australian Bureau of Statistics 1997. Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) (Cat. no. 1220.0) (Second edition), Viewed 13 October 2005. |
Relational attributes | |
Related metadata references:![]() | Supersedes Person—occupation (main) (housing assistance), code (ASCO 2nd edn) NN Housing assistance, Superseded 10/02/2006 Has been superseded by Person—occupation (main), code (ANZSCO 1st edition) N[NNN]{NN} Community Services (retired), Superseded 01/10/2013 Health, Standard 04/07/2007 Housing assistance, Standard 10/08/2007 Is re-engineered from ![]() No registration status See also Person—labour force status, code N Community Services (retired), Standard 01/03/2005 Disability, Superseded 29/02/2016 Health, Superseded 17/10/2018 Homelessness, Superseded 10/08/2018 Housing assistance, Standard 01/03/2005 |