Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Australia

1.Name and address of the organization responsible for the census:

Australian Bureau of Statistics, P.O. Box 10, Belconnen ACT 2616.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1947, 1954, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 census (held on 6 August).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages, except foreign diplomats and their families.

4.Reference period:

The week prior to the census for full- and part-time workers, and the four weeks preceding the census day for jobseekers.

5.Main topics:

(a) Total population, by sex and age: yes

Economically active population by:

(b) Sex and age group: yes

(c) Industry: yes

(d) Occupation: yes

(e) Status in employment: yes

(f) Highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of age at last birthday.

Re (g): Employed persons, at work, were asked to specify their actual hours of work during the reference period in the main job held.

Re (h): The census also collected information on gross income and means of transport used to travel to workplace.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference period, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Excluded are persons who did not have a job and did not look for work in the 4 week period immediately prior to the census day; these persons were considered as inactive. Members of the armed forces are included in the definition.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference period, performed any full or part time work for payment or profit, or any unpaid work in a family business. Home duties are excluded unless payment was received for work in other households. The question used to determine if a person is to be counted as employed was: Last week, did the person have a full-time or part-time job of any kind?.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
  3. working students with a part time job;
  4. seasonal or occasional workers;
  5. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons belonging to categories (i) and (ii) can be identified separately according to status in employment and by cross-classification with data on hours worked.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who were without work and seeking work. To determine if a person is to be counted as unemployed, the question used was Did the person actively look for work at any time in the last four weeks?. Actively looking for work means being registered with the Commonwealth Employment Service; writing, telephoning or applying in person to an employer for work, or advertising for work. Students seeking work are excluded from the definition.

7.Classifications used:

Only employed persons are classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

Based on the questions: For the main job held last week, what was the employers' trading name and workplace address? and What kind of industry, business or service is carried out by the employer at that address?. The answers provided information for industry coding. The industry classification is based on the Australian Standard Industrial Classification (ASIC) and the Industry and Destination Zone Index which is a listing of all establishments in Australia known to carry out economic activity. For coding industry, 615 classes were used. Links to the ISIC-rev.2 have been established to the group (4-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the questions: In the main job held last week, what was the person's occupation? (give full title; for example: accounts clerk, civil engineering draftsman, fast foods cook, floor tiler, extruding machine operator; for public servants, state official designation as well as occupation; for armed services personnel, state rank as well as occupation) and What are the main tasks or duties that the person himself/herself usually performs in that occupation? (describe as fully as possible; for example: recording accounts, preparing drawings for dam construction, cooking hamburgers and chips, fixing cork tiles, operating plastic extruding machine). Occupation was classified in terms of the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) and coded to the unit group level of the classification. For coding occupation 337 group codes were used which comprised 282 unit groups, 52 minor groups, eight major groups and three additional codes to process responses which were inadequately described. Links to the ISCO have not been established.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: In the main job held last week, was the person: a wage or salary earner; conducting own business but not employing others; conducting own business and employing others; a helper not receiving wages or salary?. For coding status in employment, the four following categories were used: wage or salary earner; self employed; employer; unpaid helper.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

Final census data on the economically active population and its components (employment and unemployment) were available on a state by state basis beginning September 1992.

Preliminary results from the 1991 Census were released in a publication series First Counts for Statistical Local Areas (Cat. no. 2701.1-8) on a state by state basis from February to April 1992.

The ABS released final census results on a state by state basis in a publication series Census Counts for Small Areas. Detailed data are available on demand from ABS Information Services.

The 1991 census results are also available in other forms, such as thematic reports, social atlases, matrixes and maps. Media include hard copy, floppy disk, magnetic tape, microfiche, cartridge and CD-ROM. For further information see 1991 Census: A Guide to Products and Services (Cat. no. 2910.0) or contact Census Marketing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, P.O. Box 10 Belconnen ACT 2616, phone 61 6 252 7879, fax 61 6 253 1809.