1. Impact of the discussions at the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) on ISCO/CIUO

2. 19th ICLS topics relevant to ISCO
Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization
Update of the international standards for statistics of the economically active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment
Comprehensive framework for statistics of work
Moves the boundary between employment and other forms of work, with consequences for the content and/or scope a number of international classifications including ISCO, ICSE and ICATUS.
Set of measures of labour underutilization in addition to the unemployment rate
Case for a revision or update of ISCO
Revision of International Classification of Status in Employment

3. 19th ICLS Resolution 1
Key features of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization include:
The introduction of a reference concept work and an associated conceptual framework for forms of work;
Operational definitions and guidelines for each form of work and for measures of labour underutilization;
A set of indicators for monitoring labour market performance including three new headline indicators of labour underutilization, in addition to the unemployment rate.

4. Impact on classificatrions
Elements that have a particular impact on international classifications
reference concept of work,
definitions of each form of work,
refinement of the definition of the statistical unit job, which is the unit classified by ISCO and ICSE.

5. Work/El trabajo
Any activity performed by persons of any sex and age to produce goods or to provide services for use by others or for own use.
Todas las actividades realizadas por personas de cualquier sexo y edad con el fin de producir bienes o prestar servicios para el consumo de terceros o para uso final propio.
The concept of work is aligned with the General production boundary as defined in the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA).
Five mutually exclusive forms of work are identified for separate measurement, distinguished on the basis of:
the intended destination of the production (for own final use; or for use by others, i.e. other economic units)
the nature of the transaction (i.e. monetary or non-monetary transactions, and transfers),

6. Forms of work Own-use production work Employment work
Trabajo de producción para el autoconsumo
la producción de bienes y servicios para uso final propio;
Trabajo en la ocupación
el trabajo realizado para terceros a cambio de remuneración o beneficios;
Trabajo en formación no remunerado
el trabajo realizado para terceros, sin remuneración, para adquirir experiencia o competencias en el lugar de trabajo;
Trabajo voluntario
el trabajo sin remuneración y no obligatorio realizado para terceros;
Otras actividades productivas
Own-use production work
production of goods and services for own final use
Employment work
work performed for others in exchange for pay or profit
Unpaid trainee work
work performed for others without pay to acquire workplace experience or skills;
Volunteer work
non-compulsory work performed for others without pay;
Other work activities

7. 5 Forms of Work to be measured separately
(i.e. ALL activities to produce goods and services)
For own final use
(by households)
Own-use production work
For use by others (i.e. other units)
For remuneration (i.e. for pay or profit)
Employment
(work for pay or profit)
Without remuneration
Unpaid trainee work
Other work activities (e.g. unpaid compulsory work)
Volunteer work S G
Services
Goods S G S G G S
ILO Department of Statistics

8. “Work” and the System of National Accounts (SNA)
Activities
Productive activities
Market units
Incorporated, unincorporated
Goods
Services
Non-market units
Government, Non-profit institutions
Households
producing for own final use
Non-productive
activities
Sleeping
Learning
Own-recreation
Begging
Stealing
Included
Previous activity scope for “employment”
New concept of “Work” == productive activities
SNA production boundary
General production boundary
ILO Department of Statistics

9. 19th ICLS Definition of job
Puesto de trabajo o actividad productiva
el conjunto de tareas y obligaciones desempeñado por una persona, o que se prevé que una persona desempeñe, para una sola unidad económica
la noción de puesto de trabajo se utiliza en relación con el trabajo en la ocupación
esta unidad estadística, cuando se refiere al trabajo de producción para el autoconsumo, al trabajo en formación no remunerado y al trabajo voluntario, se denomina actividad productiva
Job or work activity:
a set of tasks and duties performed, or meant to be performed, by one person for a single economic unit
the term ‘job’ is used in reference to employment.
This statistical unit, when relating to own-use production work, unpaid trainee work, and volunteer work is referred to as work activity

10. ISCO-08 concepts and the 19th ICLS standards
Job
a set of tasks and duties performed, or meant to be performed, by one person for a single economic unit
Occupation
a set of jobs or work activities whose main tasks and duties are characterised by a high degree of similarity
Employment
work performed for others in exchange for pay or profit
Empleo/Puesto de trabajo
un conjunto de funciones y tareas desempeñadas por una persona o que se prevé que ésta desempeñe, para una única unidad económica
Ocupación
un conjunto de empleos/puestos de trabajo o actvidades productivas cuyas principales funciones y tareas se caracterizan por un alto grado de similitud
el trabajo realizado para terceros a cambio de remuneración o beneficios

11. Case for a revision or update of ISCO-08
Governing authority should consider at least every five years, a review outlining the case for a revision, an update or no change to international reference classifications
UN Expert Group on International Statistical Classifications
Comments and suggestions from experts are reflected in ICLS Room Document 1
Short paper circulated during 2013 to selected experts in occupation classification outlining known issues
the revision
and the update
The Expert Group envisages two possible types of change to international classifications:

12. Revision versus Update
Revision implies major changes that entail one or more of :
Renumbering all or a substantial portion of the classification structure
Restructuring and regrouping a substantial portion of the classification;
New concepts for defining groups at one or more levels of the classification hierarchy
Update implies more limited changes:
Addition or removal of a category at the most detailed level of the classification within the existing structure
Realignment of the content of categories
an occupation moves from one unit group to another
Multiple categories added or removed from the most detailed level
basic structure remains substantially unchanged

13. Issues that could only be addressed in a full review
Problems with the application of skill level as a classification criterion
Breadth of Skill level 2
Boundary between Skill Levels 2 and 3
Internationally harmonized method for the measurement of skills mismatch is a high priority
indicator of labour underutilization
analysis of problems of supply and demand of skilled labour
skills shortages
Inherently difficult task
Any work to review or update ISCO-08, would need to consider these issues
Usefulness of ISCO for the measurement of skill mismatch

14. Mapping of ISCO-08 major groups to skill levels

15. Breadth of Skill Level 2
Distinction between occupations that require completion of extensive vocational education and training, and those that require a short period of training plus basic literacy and numeracy is not made systematically
Occupations that vary significantly in skill level but are similar in skill specialization, are frequently grouped together
Limits the usefulness of the classification for analysis and measurement of
skill level requirements
skill mismatch
income as a return to education
educational planning
socio-economic status.

16. Boundary between Skill Levels 2 and 3
Problems with the boundary in skill level between
more skilled technical occupations classified at Skill Level 2,
and occupations at Skill Level 3 included in Major Group 3, Technicians and Associate Professionals
Technological changes are leading to higher knowledge and skill requirements some of the more technical occupations in Major Group 7, Craft and Related Trades Workers
vehicle and aircraft maintenance
electrical, electronics and telecommunications installation and maintenance
Distinction between a technician and a repairer or mechanic is no longer clear cut

17. Options to address problems with skill level as a classification criterion
Some clerical occupations, sales assistants, accessory installers and most plant and machine operators and drivers move to Skill Level 1
Major group 8 at Skill Level 1: more skilled occupations to Major group 7
Move boundary between Skill levels 1 and 2 up
Each unit group in Major Groups 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 is associated with a single skill level
These major groups each include occupations at two skill levels
Current major and minor group structure can be retained
5 skill levels at unit group level - splitting Skill level 2
Data on skill level can be compiled from aggregate statistics
More radical change to major group structure
Mainly affects Major Groups 4 and 5
5 skill levels mainly at major group level
More highly skilled occupations within the current Skill Level 2 are classified at the new Skill Level 3.
Some occupations move from Major Groups 7 and 4 to Major Group 3
Could be combined with any of the above approaches
Move boundary between Skill Levels 2 and 3

18. Issues that could be addressed in a minor update: health occupations
Further breakdown for specialist medical practitioners, for example
General paediatricians
Obstetricians and gynaecologists
Psychiatrists
Medical group of specialists
Surgical group of specialists
Other specialists not elsewhere classified
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Medical technologists
Radiographers and Radiological technologists (new!)
Occupational therapists (new !)

19. Issues that could be addressed in a minor update: other occupations
Hospitality and retail managers
Operators of small hospitality establishments
Company secretaries and corporate governance specialists
Information and communications technology specialists
Additional unit groups for supervisory occupations especially in the services sector
Subsistence Farmers, Fishers, Hunters and Gatherers
Removal of a sub-major group!
Home improvements installers
Vehicle accessory fitters
Trades Assistants
Armed Forces

20. Arguments for and against a short term update
Some experts and stakeholders believe a short-term update should be a priority
Keeps ISCO up-to-date and relevant in a rapidly changing world of work
More useful and acceptable in client-oriented applications
Classification is more easily accepted and likely to be used by professional associations that are dissatisfied with current categories
Small incremental changes may soften breaks in time-series introduced by a major revision
Others believe that an update would be premature at this stage
Many countries are in the process of implementing ISCO-08 in national statistics
Need for a more thorough evaluation of the classification before any changes are made
Structural problems not addressed
Implementation costs in national statistical and administrative systems
Impact on international comparability of data for the same reference period, since all countries would not implement the updated version at the same time
Opportunity cost for ILO

21. 19th ICLS Conclusions on revision of ISCO
No strong consensus on the need for a short-term update
Concern about the timing of a deeper revision in relation to the 2020 round of censuses.
Starting the preparatory work for a revision of ISCO-08 only after the 20th ICLS might mean that few countries would be able to implement the new classification until the 2030 round.
It was suggested that a useful approach might be for the ILO to establish a technical group and/or a knowledge-sharing platform to reflect the lessons learned in the implementation of ISCO-08 in order to identify common issues and document the improvements needed.
A more thoroughly considered set of options for revision could then be developed in advance of the 20th ICLS.