David Hunter Department of Statistics International Labour Office

David Hunter Department of Statistics International Labour Office
Training on ISCO - Fourth Meeting of the Working Group on International Classifications David Hunter Department of Statistics International Labour Office Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Contents of the presentaion
What is ISCO? What is ISCO used for? Conceptual basis and design of the classification The Structure of ISCO-08 Main criteria to distinguish between the Major Groups Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings Areas requiring particular atención in adapting ISCO for use at national and regional settings Collecting and coding data on occupation in household surveys. ILO Department of Statistics

What is ISCO? Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08)
Endorsed by the ILO Governing Body in 2008 it is known as ISCO-08 and replaces ISCO-88 Structure , group definitions and correspondence with ISCO-08 available on ILO Website or on request Index of occupational titles will be available very soon, and published as volume 2 Published in English And in French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic as soon as possible Used in European Union (EU) collections from 2010 Structure is available in all EU languages from Eurostat Hierarchically structured classification comprising: 10 major groups 43 sub-major groups 130 minor groups 436 unit groups International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

The concept of occupation
The type of work done by the person employed irrespective of where (the industry), or under what status in employment, it is being done A “set of jobs whose main tasks and duties are characterized by a high degree of similarity” Not to be confused with: Industry (branch of economic activity) The activity of the establishment in which an employed person works What the establishment does, not what the individual does when working for that establishment Status in employment The status of an economically active person with respect to his/her employer The type of implicit or explicit contract of employment with other persons or organizations as an employer, employee, own account worker, contributing family helper etc. Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Occupation – overview of the concept and uses of occupational information
The type of work done by the person employed irrespective of where (the industry), or under what status in employment, it is being done An occupation is a “set of jobs whose main tasks and duties are characterized by a high degree of similarity” Second most common economic topic asked in Censuses Almost always asked in Labour force surveys Widely used in administrative applications such as employment services Major component of national labour market information Data are needed for policy formulation and evaluation for labour market programmes, educational planning, work related migration …. Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Occupation, industry, status in employment as attributes of the job
In labour statistics these 3 concepts relate to a job in which a person is, has been, or may be employed Job : a set of tasks and duties performed, or meant to be performed, by one person for a single economic unit Some people have more than one job Occupation is a descriptive characteristic of a job not a person Occupation can relate to job vacancies as well as jobs held by persons Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Examples of jobs Examples: Security guard in a department store
Security guard at an airport Accountant at a hotel Bus driver who drives passengers to the aircraft at an airport Bus driver employed by schools authority to drive school bus Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

ISCO-88 - Background Until recently most countries used national occupation classifications related to ISCO-88 This version was adopted by the 14th International Conference of Labour Statisticians in 1988: For this reason it is known as ISCO-88 Published in English in 1990 and in French, Spanish and Russian during the 90s Hierarchically structured classification comprising: 10 major groups 28 sub-major groups 118 minor groups 390 unit groups Occupations are arranged into groups according to skill level and skill specialization Use of skill level led to a major break with ISCO-68 and ISCO-58 International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

Framework for Updating ISCO-88
Mandated by the 17th ICLS in 2003: An update not a major revision ILO meeting of experts to evaluate the results and make appropriate recommendations to the ILO Governing Body Advice and support from expert groups in classification: UN Expert Group on International Economic and Social Classifications ILO Technical Expert Group on Updating ISCO (TEG/ISCO) Reporting of progress to UN Statistical Commission Completion required by end 2007 to allow for implementation in Censuses from 2010 ISCO-08 adopted by Meeting of Experts in Labour Statistics – Dec 2007 Resolution of MoE endorsed by ILO Governing Body - March 2008 International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

Scope of the work undertaken: What kinds of things were allowed to be changed?
‘Conceptual model and Main structure should not be changed’ Existing 10 major groups should remain Concepts of skill level and skill specialization should still be used Categories can be merged, split and moved where necessary to reflect occupational change and address known problems with ISCO-88 New categories for new occupational groups Size of groups was an important but not overriding consideration Preserve the time series wherever possible Definitions of new categories and update definitions of old ones Review of the index International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

What was wrong with ISCO-88?
Seriously out-of-date in some areas: (Eg. ICT, Office clerks, information clerks) Excessive detail in some areas: (Eg. plant and machinery operators) Inadequate detail in some areas: (Eg. service related occupations and occupations that predominate in the informal sector) Wide variation in the size of some sub-major and minor groups Classification structure for managerial occupations was not useful Parallel groups in Major groups 2 and 3 due to differences in national education requirements International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

Parallel groups in ISCO-88 Major groups 2 and 3 due to differences in national education requirements Major group 2, Professionals 2230 Nursing and midwifery professionals 2331 Primary education teaching professionals 2332 Pre-primary education teaching professionals 2340 Special education teaching professionals 2446 Social work professionals Major group 3, Technicians and associate professionals 3231 Nursing associate professionals 3232 Midwifery associate professionals 3310 Primary education teaching associate professionals 3320 Pre-primary education teaching associate professionals 3330 Special education teaching associate professionals 3460 Social work associate professionals A significant problem regarding the application of the concept of “Skill level” in ISCO-88 relates to occupations that have similar tasks and duties (or content) but have a different (higher or lower) “skill level” requirement, as measured in particular countries. This is because, given realistic differences in national education systems, the same occupation (with the same set of tasks and duties), can be undertaken by individuals with different educational levels without affecting the level of skill required for competent performance of the tasks. This is the case for some elementary, craft and technical occupations, which in many countries require higher education levels, than those assigned in ISCO-88. The ISCO-88 guidelines recommend that occupations with higher or lower skill requirements than those assigned in ISCO-88 should be classified to the major group corresponding to the skill level that such jobs require in the country. There has been widespread concern, however, that this approach reduces international comparability as occupations with similar content in terms of the tasks performed have been classified in different ISCO-88 major groups depending on the country. Two of the most obvious cases where this is a problem in ISCO-88, relate to the treatment of nurses and primary and pre-primary school teachers. In some countries, nurses and teachers require a University degree while in others they do not. At the time ISCO-88 was adopted, this situation was resolved by assigning these occupations to parallel minor groups, one in Major group 2 and another in Major group 3. These occupational groups were to be used alternatively, that is, countries were to classify all teachers and all nurses either in Major group 2 or in Major group 3, except in cases where there were real differences in the tasks and duties performed. Given that ISCO-88 descriptions for teachers and nurses are identical in both major groups, however, a number of countries have made the distinction between professional and associate professional workers on the basis of the education level of the job holder, and not on the basis of the tasks and duties actually performed. For the proposed ISCO-08, this problem has been addressed by giving job content (i.e. tasks and duties) priority over national education and training requirements. In other words, occupations that involve the performance of broadly the same sets of tasks and duties are always classified in the same category in ISCO-08, even in cases where national skill level requirements measured in terms of formal education are different. It is hoped that this will lead to an improvement in international comparability. International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

ISCO - Some of the more significant changes in ISCO-08 (1)
Elimination of parallel groups at different skill levels if tasks performed are the same: Virtually all teaching occupations are classified in Sub-major Group 24, Teaching professionals Nurses are classified in Major groups 2 or 3 depending on tasks performed and not on qualifications alone Reorganization of managerial occupations in Major Group 1 Major updating and expansion of occupations in information and communications technology: 2 new sub-major groups in Major groups 2 and 3 Improved coverage and upgrading of health services occupations Identifiable at sub-major group level in Major groups 2 and 3 and at Minor group level in Major group 5, Sales and Service Workers Although the conceptual model underpinning the draft ISCO-08 remains essentially the same as that used in ISCO-88, there have been some changes in the way this model is used to design the classification. The most notable change is that, since the nature of the work performed has been given more emphasis than the formal education and training required in determining the skill level of an occupation, there is no need for parallel groups in different major groups to cater for cases where the education and training requirements for a particular occupational group differ between countries. The most important of the proposed changes address concerns that ISCO-88 is seriously out of date in some areas, most notably as a result of the impact of developments in technology on professional, technical and clerical work with computers and telecommunications. Some categories in ISCO-88 have therefore been merged, split or moved to reflect occupational and technological change in the labour market. New categories have been created to allow for the identification of new or emerging occupational groups. To assist time series analysis, ISCO-88 unit groups have not been split and joined to parts of other ISCO-88 Unit groups, except where this was essential. International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

ISCO - Some of the more significant changes in ISCO-08 (2)
Reorganization of the section of the classification dealing with office clerks: Impact of information and communications technology Increase from 2 to 4 sub-major groups in Major group 4, Clerical Support Workers Reorganization of the aggregate groupings for sales and service workers: Increase from 2 to 4 sub-major groups in Major group 5 More detailed categories and greater clarity for some occupational groups involved in agriculture: Farmers and farm managers are classified in Major group 6, Skilled agricultural forestry and fisheries workers, with few exceptions International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

ISCO - Some of the more significant changes (3)
More detailed categories for occupations providing information and services to clients, including tourism. Rationalization and restructuring of groups for plant and machine operators: Some reduction of detail considered excessive by many observers New minor group for process control operators in Major group 3 Extended coverage of occupations that are significant in the informal sector: Associated increase in the number of sub-major groups in ISCO Major Group 9, Elementary occupations from 3 to 6. Although the conceptual model underpinning the draft ISCO-08 remains essentially the same as that used in ISCO-88, there have been some changes in the way this model is used to design the classification. The most notable change is that, since the nature of the work performed has been given more emphasis than the formal education and training required in determining the skill level of an occupation, there is no need for parallel groups in different major groups to cater for cases where the education and training requirements for a particular occupational group differ between countries. The most important of the proposed changes address concerns that ISCO-88 is seriously out of date in some areas, most notably as a result of the impact of developments in technology on professional, technical and clerical work with computers and telecommunications. Some categories in ISCO-88 have therefore been merged, split or moved to reflect occupational and technological change in the labour market. New categories have been created to allow for the identification of new or emerging occupational groups. To assist time series analysis, ISCO-88 unit groups have not been split and joined to parts of other ISCO-88 Unit groups, except where this was essential. International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

Number of groups at each level of ISCO-08 (Numbers for ISCO-88 are shown in brackets where different) Major groups Sub-major Groups Minor groups Unit groups 1 Managers 4 (3) 11 (8) 31 (33) 2 Professionals 6 (4) 27 (18) 92 (55) 3 Technicians and associate professionals 5 (4) 20 84 (73) 4 Clerical support workers 4 (2) 8 (7) 29 (23) 5 Service and sales workers 13 (9) 40 (23) 6 Skilled agricultural, fishery, and forestry workers 3 (2) 9 (6) 18 (17) 7 Craft and related trades workers 14 (16) 66 (70) 8 Plant and machine operators, and assemblers 3 14 (20) 40 (70) 9 Elementary occupations 6 (3) 11 (10) 33 (25) 0 Armed forces occupations 3 (1) Total ISCO-08 (ISCO-88) 43 (28) 130 (116) 436 (390) The result of these changes has been a modest increase in detail at each level of the classification except the top level, which has not changed. These changes are not distributed evenly across the classification structure however. Table 3 below shows, for example, that the number of unit groups in Major group 2, Professionals and Major group 5, Service and sales workers has increased significantly, whereas the number of unit groups in Major group 8, Plant and machine operators, and assemblers has significantly decreased. International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

ISCO - Support for implementation
Publication and dissemination in book form and on web: Introduction Classification structure Group Definitions Correspondence tables with ISCO-88 Index of occupational titles (Volume 2) Manual on adapting ISCO for use in national and regional settings Provision of training on a regional or sub-regional basis Provision of technical assistance and advice directly to countries, subject to resource availability Assistance with and review of correspondences between national classifications and ISCO-08 International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

Unit Group 5221 Shopkeepers
Shopkeepers operate small retail shops either independently or with support from a small number of others. Tasks include – (a) determining product mix, stock and price levels for goods to be sold; (b) purchasing and ordering goods for sale from markets, wholesalers and other suppliers; (c) budgeting and maintaining records of stock levels and financial transactions; (d) determining prices and displaying goods for sale; (e) selling goods to customers and advising them on product use; (f) examining returned goods and deciding on appropriate action; (g) taking inventory of goods in stock. Examples of the occupations classified here: ▪ Grocer ▪ Newsagent ▪ Shopkeeper Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Unit Group 5221 Shopkeepers
Some related occupations classified elsewhere: ▪ Shop manager – 1420 ▪ Market stallholder – 5211 Note Only operators of small shops for whom the management and supervision of staff are not a significant component of the work are classified in Unit Group 5221: Shopkeepers. Operators of shops where management tasks and supervision of staff are significant and frequent elements of the work are classified in Unit Group 1420: Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers. Staff who control and direct the activities of shop sales assistants, checkout operators and other workers, but who do not take responsibility for determining product mix, overall setting of prices, budgets, staffing levels, selection and recruitment are classified in Unit Group 5222: Shop Supervisors. Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

. What is isco USED FOR?

What is ISCO used for? International reporting, comparison and exchange of statistical and administrative data on occupation A model for the development of national and regional classifications of occupations Used directly in countries that have not developed their own national classifications International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

Uses of occupation classifications
Occupation Classifications are used for: Statistics from censuses, household surveys, employer surveys and other sources. Detailed observations about jobs are organized into meaningful and useful groups for analysis Administrative and policy-related activities such as: matching job seekers with job vacancies educational planning management of employment related international migration Providing statistics on job seekers and job vacancies numbers of places and enrolments in training programmes Migrant and expatriate labour Employment numbers, wages, hours worked etc. Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Occupation classifications in employment services
Matching of job-seekers to job vacancies Job seekers and vacancies coded to National Occupation Classifications (NOC) Resumes of matching jobseekers can be sent automatically to employers Or job vacancy details sent to clients May require more detail than provided by ISCO Possible need for more detail in NOC Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Integrated occupational information systems
Framework for provision of careers information Identification of skill shortages or oversupply When a harmonised classification system is used for all purposes and in all data sources Provision of integrated information about pay, job prospects, working hours, nature of work performed, for example: US O*NET: Australian Job Outlook: Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Conceptual Basis and Design of the Classification
Elements to consider in classifying to ISCO Conceptual Basis and Design of the Classification Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Underlying concepts –ISCO-08
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 whose main tasks and duties are characterised by a high degree of similarity: A person may be associated with an occupation through the main job currently held, a second job, or a job previously held Occupations are organized into groups according to skill level and skill specialization: Skill level is applied mainly at the top (major group) level of the classification. Within each major group occupations are arranged into unit groups, minor groups and sub-major groups, primarily on the basis of aspects of skill specialization. ISCO-08 – Conceptual Basis and Design of the Classification

Skill – the ability to carry out the tasks and duties of a job
Skill level : a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties performed in an occupation: Measured operationally by considering one or more of: The nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties defined for each ISCO-08 skill level (new for ISCO-08) The level of formal education defined in terms of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED-97) required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved The amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties ISCO-08 – Conceptual Basis and Design of the Classification

ISCO-08 skill levels Definitions of each of the four ISCO skill levels are provided: They do not change the boundaries between the skill levels used in ISCO-88. Each definition provides examples of: the typical or characteristic tasks performed at each skill level, the types of skill required (in broad terms), and the typical occupations classified at that skill level ISCO-08 – Conceptual Basis and Design of the Classification

Mapping of the four ISCO-08 skill levels to ISCED-97 levels of education
ISCED-97 groups 4 6 - Second stage of tertiary education (leading to an advanced research qualification) 5a - First stage of tertiary education, 1st degree (medium duration) 3 5b - First stage of tertiary education (short or medium duration) 2 4 - Post-secondary, non-tertiary education 3 - Upper secondary level of education 2 - Lower secondary level of education 1 1 - Primary level of education ISCO-08 – Conceptual Basis and Design of the Classification

Table 1: Mapping of ISCO-08 major groups to skill levels
1 - Managers 3 + 4 2 - Professionals 4 3 - Technicians and associate professionals 3 4 - Clerical support workers 5 - Service and sales workers 6 - Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 7 - Craft and related trades workers 8 - Plant and machine operators, and assemblers 2 9 - Elementary occupations 1 0 –Armed forces occupations 1, 2 + 4 ISCO-08 – Conceptual Basis and Design of the Classification

Skill – the ability to carry out the tasks and duties of a job
Skill specialization considered in terms of four concepts: the field of knowledge required the tools and machinery used the materials worked on or with: and the kinds of goods and services produced. ISCO-08 – Conceptual Basis and Design of the Classification

ISCO Structure Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

The structure of ISCO-08 Hierarchically structured classification comprising: 10 major groups 43 sub-major groups 130 minor groups 436 unit groups The concept of skill level is applied mainly at the top (major group) level of the classification, giving more emphasis to the nature of the work performed, than to the formal and informal education and training requirements In the case of ISCO-08 Major Group 1: Managers, and Major Group 0: Armed Forces Occupations, the concept of skill level is applied primarily at the second hierarchical level. Within each major group, occupations are arranged into unit groups, minor groups and sub-major groups, primarily on the basis of aspects of skill specialization. Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Mapping of ISCO-08 major groups to skill levels
1 - Managers 3 + 4 2 - Professionals 4 3 - Technicians and associate professionals 3 4 - Clerical support workers 5 - Service and sales workers 6 - Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 7 - Craft and related trades workers 8 - Plant and machine operators, and assemblers 2 9 - Elementary occupations 1 0 –Armed forces occupations 1, 2 + 4 ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

ISCO-08 Major Group 1 Managers
11 Chief executives, senior officials and legislators 111 Legislators and senior officials 112 Managing directors and chief executives 12 Administrative and commercial managers 121 Business services and administration managers 122 Sales, marketing and development managers 13 Production and specialized services managers 131 Production managers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries 132 Manufacturing, mining, construction, and distribution managers 133 Information and communications technology service managers 134 Professional services managers 14 Hospitality, retail and other services managers 141 Hotel and restaurant managers 142 Retail and wholesale trade managers 143 Other services managers Managerial occupations classified in Major Group 1 have been reorganized so as to overcome problems with the distinction between ‘Corporate’ managers and ‘General’ managers experienced by users of ISCO-88. These changes also address problems caused by the use in ISCO-88 of categories based on classifications of industrial activities. Managerial occupations, except for the top managers in large organizations are now organized along functional rather than industrial lines. This means that managers that specialise in functions such as human resources or manufacturing production will be identifiable, irrespective of the industry they work in or whether they manage a department in a large enterprise or a small to medium sized enterprise whose business is to provide that function. ISCO-88 Minor group 121, Directors and Chief Executives has been renamed as Managing Directors and Chief Executives and has been moved to Sub-major group 11. All jobs that require leadership and management of large and complex organizations, that typically have a hierarchy of managers, are thus classified in a single Sub-major group, with more detailed breakdowns at minor and unit group levels. This approach also helps to address problems experienced in the use of ISCO-88 when only small numbers of jobs were classified to the original Sub-major group 11, Legislators and senior officials. The remainder of ISCO-88 Sub-major group 12 Corporate managers, and Sub-major group 13 General managers is replaced by three new Sub-major groups Sub-major group 12, Administrative and commercial managers, is intended to include the managers of organizational units that typically provide services or support functions across organizations. The recruitment manager of a large corporation and the manager of a small company that provides recruitment services to other organizations would thus both be classified, for example, in ISCO-08 Minor group 1213, Human resource managers, as they have primary skills in common. In ISCO-88 the former would be classified in Sub-major group 12, Corporate managers, and the latter in Sub-major group 13, General managers. The proposed Sub-major group 13, Production and specialized services managers, is for managers responsible for producing the goods or services provided by the organization that they work in. Jobs in both of Sub-major groups 12 and 13 generally require qualifications and experience related to an occupation in Major Group 2, Professionals. Jobs in the draft Sub-major group 14, Hospitality, shop and related services managers generally, although not exclusively, involve management of relatively small organizations that do not have a hierarchy of managers and do not require formal educational qualifications at professional level. ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Sub-major groups in Major group 2, Professionals - ISCO-88 and ISCO-08
Code ISCO-88 Title ISCO-08 ISCO-08 Title 21 Physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals Science and engineering professionals 22 Life science and health professionals Health professionals 23 Teaching professionals 24 Other professionals Business and administration professionals 25 Information and communications technology professionals 26 Legal, social and cultural professionals The changes already discussed, combined with the provision of additional detail in a number of other areas of the classification, necessitated a significant reorganization of the structures of Major group 2, Professionals and Major group 3, Technicians and associate professionals. This reorganization was also guided by a desire to avoid retaining groups at the second and third levels of the classification hierarchy that were excessively small in terms of the total number of jobs counted in each group. ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

22 Health professionals 221 Medical doctors
2211 Generalist medical practitioners 2212 Specialist medical practitioners 222 Nursing and midwifery professionals 2221 Nursing professionals 2222 Midwifery professionals 223 Traditional and complementary medicine professionals 2230 Traditional and complementary medicine professionals 224 Paramedical practitioners 2240 Paramedical practitioners 225 Veterinarians 2250 Veterinarians 226 Other health professionals 2261 Dentists 2262 Pharmacists Environmental and occupational health and hygiene professionals Physiotherapists Dieticians and nutritionists Audiologists and speech therapists Optometrists and ophthalmic opticians Health professionals not elsewhere classified Separate unit groups are provided for generalist and specialist medical practitioners; A new Minor group 223, Paramedical practitioners has been created. Jobs that are classified to ISCO-88 Unit group 3221, Medical assistants, should be classified in this minor group, if they involve the independent provision of primary health care services such as diagnosis and treatment of illness (e.g. ‘Feldschers’ in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and ‘Clinical officers’ in some African countries); Veterinarians and Veterinary technicians and assistants are included in the sub-major groups for health professionals and associate professionals respectively, because of the strong similarity with human health occupations, they are identified at minor group level so that data on occupations that involve the provision of human health services can be compiled from data reported at this level, Changes proposed in the classification of practitioners of traditional and complementary medicine are particularly significant. They exist at professional level (ISCO Skill Level 4) in large numbers in many Asian countries, and are increasing in number in North America and Europe. They generally require extensive formal education in both traditional and modern forms of medicine. In the Asian countries the numbers of jobs are of the same order as those practising modern medicine. Minor groups have therefore been created for Traditional and complementary medicine professionals and for Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals, replacing the single unit group provided in ISCO-88 Major group 3 Separate unit groups are provided for nursing and midwifery occupations at both professional and associate professional level; The distinction between professional and associate professional nurses and midwives is to be made on the basis of the type of work performed and not on the basis of the qualifications held (or typically held) by individuals in the country concerned, ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

25 Information and communications technology professionals
251 Software and applications developers and analysts 2511 Systems analysts 2512 Software developers 2513 Web and multimedia developers 2514 Applications programmers 2519 Software and multimedia developers and analysts not elsewhere classified 252 Database and network professionals 2521 Database designers and administrators 2522 Systems administrators 2523 Computer network professionals Database and network professionals not elsewhere classified ISCO-88 is particularly out-of-date due to technological change in occupations involved in the provision of goods and services related to information and communications technology (ICT). There has been a significant update and expansion of categories for these occupations. This allows the identification of professional and associate professional occupations in ICT as sub-major groups at the second level of the classification. ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Sub-major groups in Major group 3, Technicians and associate professionals - ISCO-88 and ISCO-08
Code ISCO-88 Title ISCO-08 ISCO-08 Title 31 Physical and engineering science associate professionals Science and engineering associate professionals 32 Life science and health associate professionals Health associate professionals 33 Teaching associate professionals Business and administration associate professionals 34 Other associate professionals Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals 35 Information and communications technicians ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

32 Health associate professionals
321 Medical and pharmaceutical technicians 3211 Medical imaging and therapeutic equipment technicians 3212 Medical and pathology laboratory technicians 3213 Pharmaceutical technicians and assistants 3214 Medical and dental prosthetic technicians 322 Nursing and midwifery associate professionals 3221 Nursing associate professionals 3222 Midwifery associate professionals 323 Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals 3230 Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals 324 Veterinary technicians and assistants 3240 Veterinary technicians and assistants 325 Other health associate professionals 3251 Dental assistants and therapists 3252 Medical records and health information technicians 3253 Community health workers 3254 Dispensing opticians 3255 Physiotherapy technicians and assistants 3256 Medical assistants 3257 Environmental and occupational health inspectors and associates 3258 Ambulance workers 3259 Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified Ambulance officers have been moved from Major group 5, Sales and service workers to Sub-major Major group 32; Emergency paramedics are classified in the same unit group as ambulance officers as it is difficult to distinguish them from ambulance officers in statistical collections in some countries; and Medical and dental prosthetic and related technicians have been moved from Major group 7, Craft and related trades workers, to Sub-major group 32. ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Major group 4, Clerical support workers: Sub-major and minor groups
41 General and keyboard clerks 411 General office clerks 412 Secretaries (general) 413 Keyboard operators 42 Customer services clerks 421 Tellers, money collectors and related clerks 422 Client information workers 43 Numerical and material recording clerks 431 Numerical clerks 432 Material-recording and transport clerks 44 Other clerical support workers 441 Other clerical support workers ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Sales and Service Workers
51 Personal service workers 511 Travel attendants, conductors and guides 512 Cooks 513 Waiters and bartenders 514 Hairdressers, beauticians and related workers 515 Building and housekeeping supervisors 516 Other personal services workers 52 Sales workers 521 Street and market salespersons 522 Shop salespersons 523 Cashiers and ticket clerks 524 Other sales workers 53 Personal care workers 531 Child care workers and teachers' aides 532 Carers in health services 54 Protective services workers 541 Protective services workers In addition to the creation of a separate sub-major group for personal care workers discussed ealier, ISCO-88 Sub-major group 51, Personal and protective services workers, has been subdivided to allow the creation of separate sub-major groups for Personal service workers and for Protective services workers. Additional detail is also provided at minor and unit group levels. These sub-major groups and minor groups are thus provided in Major group 5, Service and Sales workers. ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Major group 6, Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers
ISCO-08 has three sub-major groups instead of the two included in ISCO-88 Market-oriented agricultural workers are identified in a separate sub-major group from forestry and fishery workers; Virtually all farmers are classified in Major Group 6, whereas ISCO-88 classified some farmers in Major Group 1; More detailed categories are provided for subsistence workers; More detailed categories are provided for agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers. ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

61 Market-oriented skilled agricultural workers
611 Market gardeners and crop growers 6111 Field crop and vegetable growers 6112 Tree and shrub crop growers 6113 Gardeners, horticultural and nursery growers 6114 Mixed crop growers 612 Animal producers 6121 Livestock and dairy producers 6122 Poultry producers 6123 Apiarists and sericulturists 6129 Animal producers not elsewhere classified 613 Mixed crop and animal producers 6130 Mixed crop and animal producers ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

62 Market-oriented skilled, forestry and fishery and hunting workers
621 Forestry and related workers 6210 Forestry and related workers 622 Fishery workers, hunters and trappers 6211 Aquaculture workers 6212 Inland and coastal waters fishery workers 6213 Deep-sea fishery workers 6214 Hunters and trappers ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

63 Subsistence farmers, fishers, hunters and gatherers
631 Subsistence crop farmers 6310 Subsistence crop farmers 632 Subsistence livestock farmers 6320 Subsistence livestock farmers 633 Subsistence mixed crop and livestock farmers 6330 Subsistence mixed crop and livestock farmers 634 Subsistence fishers, hunters, trappers and gatherers 6340 Subsistence fishers, hunters, trappers and gatherers ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Major group 7, Craft and related trades workers: overview of changes
New Sub-major group 74, Electrotechnology trades workers New minor group for all handicraft workers Printing trades workers brought up-to-date Less detail in some areas ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

7 Craft and related trades workers
71 Building and related trades workers 711 Building frame and related trades workers 712 Building finishers and related trades workers 713 Painters, building structure cleaners and related trades workers 72 Metal, machinery and related trades workers 721 Sheet and structural metal workers, moulders and welders, and related workers 722 Blacksmiths, toolmakers and related trades workers 723 Machinery mechanics and repairers 73 Handicraft and printing workers 731 Handicraft workers 732 Printing trades workers 74 Electrotechnology trades workers 741 Electrical equipment installers and repairers 742 Electronics and telecommunications installers and repairers 75 Food processing, wood working, textile and other craft and related trades workers 751 Food processing and related trades workers 752 Wood treaters, cabinet-makers and related trades workers 753 Textile, garment and related trades workers 754 Other craft and related workers ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

8 Plant and machine operators, and assemblers
81 Stationary plant and machine operators 811 Mining and mineral processing plant operators 812 Metal processing and finishing plant operators 813 Chemical and photographic products plant and machine operators 814 Rubber, plastic and paper products machine operators 815 Textile, fur and leather products machine operators 816 Food and related products machine operators 818 Other stationary plant and machine operators 82 Assemblers 821 Assemblers 83 Drivers and mobile plant operators 831 Locomotive engine drivers and related workers 832 Car, van and motorcycle drivers 833 Heavy truck and bus drivers 834 Mobile plant operators 835 Ships' deck crews and related workers ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Major group 9, Elementary occupations: overview of changes
Increase from 3 to 6 in the number of sub-major groups Improved visibility and coverage of low skilled, low paid occupations Including in the informal sector More detail for agricultural labourers Movement of building caretakers, and most doorkeepers and watchpersons to Major group 5 ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

92 Agriculture, forestry and fishery labourers
More detail in Minor group 921, Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers. Labourers on crop farms, livestock farms, and mixed crop and livestock farms are identified separately A separate unit group for Garden and horticultural labourers. 92 Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers 921 Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers 9211 Crop farm labourers 9212 Livestock farm labourers 9213 Mixed crop and livestock farm labourers 9214 Garden and horticultural labourers 9215 Forestry labourers 9216 Fishery and aquaculture labourers ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

9 Elementary occupations
91 Cleaners and helpers 911 Domestic, hotel and office cleaners and helpers 912 Vehicle, window, laundry and other hand cleaning workers 92 Agricultural, fishery and forestry labourers 921 Agricultural, fishery and forestry labourers 93 Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport 931 Mining and construction labourers 932 Manufacturing labourers 933 Transport and storage labourers 94 Food preparation assistants 941 Food preparation assistants 95 Street and related sales and service workers 951 Street and related service workers 952 Street vendors 96 Refuse workers and other elementary service workers 961 Refuse workers 962 Other elementary service workers The coverage of occupations that are significant in the informal sector has been extended. Although jobs in the informal sector can be found in all ISCO Major groups, the structure of Major group 9, Elementary occupations has been significantly affected by these changes. In particular there has been an increase from 3 to 6 in the number of sub-major groups in Major group 9, to allow these occupational groups to be more easily visible in internationally reported data. It should be noted that ISCO-88 Minor Group 913, Building caretakers, window and related cleaners, has been split. It is proposed that building caretakers be identified as a unit group in Minor group 513, renamed as Housekeepers, caretakers and cleaning supervisors. Separate unit groups are provided in Minor group 912 in the draft for Vehicle cleaners, Window cleaners, and Other cleaning workers. With respect to ISCO-88 Minor group 915, Messengers, porters, doorkeepers and related workers, the bulk of occupations classified in Unit group 9152, Doorkeepers, watchpersons and related workers, are included in the draft in the new Unit group 5414, Security guards. The remaining unit groups in this minor group are now included in Minor group 962, Other elementary service workers. ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Major group 0, Armed forces occupations
New sub-major groups for Commissioned and Non-commissioned armed forces officers, and for Armed forces occupations, other ranks Each sub-major group is at a different skill level 0 Armed Forces occupations 01 Commissioned armed forces officers 011 Commissioned armed forces officers 02 Non-commissioned armed forces officers 021 Non-commissioned armed forces officers 03 Armed forces occupations, other ranks 031 Armed forces occupations, other ranks ISCO-08 – Classification Structure - Overview

Main criteria to distinguish between the Major Groups

Boundaries between the skill levels
Definitions of each of the four ISCO-08 skill levels are provided These definitions do not change the boundaries between the skill levels used in ISCO-88. They clarify these boundaries Deal with cases where formal educational requirements may not be the most suitable method of measuring the skill level of a particular occupation. Each definition provides examples of: the typical or characteristic tasks performed at each skill level; the types of skill required (in broad terms); and the typical occupations classified at that skill level. Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Skill Level 1 Simple and routine physical or manual tasks.
May require the use of hand-held tools, such as shovels, or of simple electrical equipment, such as vacuum cleaners Cleaning; digging; lifting and carrying materials by hand; sorting, storing or assembling goods by hand ; operating non-motorized vehicles; picking fruit and vegetables. Many occupations may require physical strength and/or endurance For some jobs basic skills in literacy and numeracy may be required If required these skills would not be a major part of the work. For competent performance in some occupations completion of primary education or the first stage of basic education (ISCED-97 Level 1) may be required. A short period of on-the-job training may be required for some jobs. Occupations classified at Skill Level 1 include office cleaners, freight handlers, garden labourers and kitchen assistants. Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Skill Level 2 Tasks such as operating machinery and electronic equipment; driving vehicles; maintenance and repair of electrical and mechanical equipment; and manipulation, ordering and storage of information. For almost all occupations the ability to read information, make written records of work completed, and accurately perform simple arithmetical calculations is essential. Many occupations require relatively advanced literacy and numeracy skills and good interpersonal communication skills. Many occupations at this skill level require a high level of manual dexterity. The knowledge and skills required for competent performance in occupations at Skill Level 2 are generally obtained through completion of the first stage of secondary education (ISCED-97 Level 2). Some occupations require the completion of the second stage of secondary education (ISCED-97 Level 3), Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Skill Level 2 May include a significant component of specialized vocational education and on-the-job training. Some occupations require completion of vocation-specific education undertaken after completion of secondary education (ISCED-97 Level 4). In some cases experience and on-the-job training may substitute for the formal education. Occupations classified at Skill Level 2 include butchers, bus drivers, secretaries, accounts clerks, sewing machinists, dressmakers, shop sales assistants, police officers, hairdressers, building electricians and motor vehicle mechanics. Introduction to occupation classification – What are occupations and why do we need to classify them?

Skill Level 3 Complex technical and practical tasks that require an extensive body of factual, technical and procedural knowledge in a specialized field. ensuring compliance with health, safety and related regulations; preparing detailed estimates of quantities and costs of materials and labour required for specific projects; coordinating, supervising, controlling and scheduling the activities of other workers; and performing technical functions in support of professionals. Occupations at this skill level generally require a high level of literacy and numeracy and well-developed interpersonal communication skills. may include the ability to understand complex written material, prepare factual reports and communicate verbally in difficult circumstances. ILO Department of Statistics

Skill Level 3 The knowledge and skills required are usually obtained as the result of study at a higher educational institution for a period of 1–3 years following completion of secondary education (ISCED-97 Level 5b). In some cases extensive relevant work experience and prolonged on-the-job training may substitute for the formal education. Occupations include shop managers, medical laboratory technicians, legal secretaries, commercial sales representatives, diagnostic medical radiographers, computer support technicians, and broadcasting and recording technicians ILO Department of Statistics

Skill Level 4 Tasks require complex problem-solving, decision-making and creativity based on an extensive body of theoretical and factual knowledge in a specialized field. analysis and research to extend the body of human knowledge in a particular field; diagnosis and treatment of disease; imparting knowledge to others; and design of structures or machinery and of processes for construction and production. Occupations generally require extended levels of literacy and numeracy, sometimes at a very high level, and excellent interpersonal communication skills. ability to understand complex written material and communicate complex ideas in media such as books, images, performances, reports and oral presentations. ILO Department of Statistics

Skill Level 4 The knowledge and skills are usually obtained as the result of study at a higher educational institution for a period of 3–6 years leading to the award of a first degree or higher qualification (ISCED-97 Level 5a or higher). In some cases extensive experience and on-the-job training may substitute for the formal education, or may be required in addition to formal education. In many cases appropriate formal qualifications are an essential requirement for entry to the occupation. Occupations include: sales and marketing managers, civil engineers, secondary school teachers, medical practitioners, musicians, operating theatre nurses and computer systems analysts ILO Department of Statistics

Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

3 possible scenarios Depending on national circumstances there are three main ways in which ISCO-08 may be adapted for national use: minimal adaptation of ISCO-08 for national purposes; development or review of a national classification based on ISCO-08; an existing national classification, different from ISCO-08 is mapped to ISCO-08 to facilitate the production of internationally comparable data. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Models for developing or adapting national classifications based on ISCO
Adopt ISCO directly for national use Much less than ideal Some small countries with limited resources have no other choice Collaborating with similar neighbouring countries may be an option Adapt ISCO to suit national circumstances A popular choice May start from scratch One or more classifications may already be used in the country National occupation classification NOC is not based on ISCO A common situation for countries with own tradition or history of occupation classification May make adjustments to national classification to improve comparability with ISCO or take advantages of new features in ISCO Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Adopting ISCO-08 with minimal change
Where countries do not have the resources, capacity or time to develop a national occupation classification designed to suit the country’s own needs and requirements, there may be little choice other than to adopt ISCO-08 with minimal change. This approach is far from ideal: occupational structure of the labour market will vary greatly between countries national policy concerns will also differ Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Adopting ISCO directly for national use
Some work at national level still required Translate to national language(s) if necessary Identify where national occupational groups/titles fit Eg for nursing occupations Develop national index of occupational titles Needed to code responses in statistical and other data collections ISCO index can be adapted but national index should be based on terms used in your country Methods for implementation in national collections Questions, coding procedures, presentation of output Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Adapt ISCO to suit national circumstances: (1) Starting from scratch
In addition to everything on the last slide: Understand user needs Understand the occupational structure of your labour market May require field work and to identify occupations available Dependent on resources, expertise and time available Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

In addition to almost everything on the previous two slides:
Adapt ISCO to suit national circumstances: Existing national classification In addition to almost everything on the previous two slides: Map old classification to ISCO-08 and identify features of each you want to retain or not use, to create a new national classification structure For national classifications based on ISCO-88 the ISCO correspondence table will be a useful tool National features from old classification you want to retain are reflected within an overall framework based on ISCO-08 Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Adapt ISCO to suit national circumstances: starting from scratch or from an existing national classification Decide at what level of ISCO-08 you will provide internationally comparable data (Eg 3 or 4 digits) Collapse ISCO categories that are too detailed for national requirements Eg by making a minor group into a unit group. Create more detailed categories where needed to suit national labour market, user requirements: For example by adapting the 4th level or creating a 5th level Adjust the classification code structure as needed while maintaining correspondence table with ISCO-08 and old classification Develop update national index of occupation titles containing new and old national and ISCO codes (2, 3 or 4 code sets may be needed) Develop definitions of new or changed categories Review and amend ISCO-08 definitions to ensure national relevance Eg lists of included occupations Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

National occupation classification NOC is not based on ISCO
Understand what your users need Identify features of ISCO-08 that you want to incorporate in NOC Adjust NOC structure to facilitate reporting to ISCO and incorporate new features Develop correspondence table and possibly dual-or tri-coded index. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

What is a coding index? The key instrument for matching information about jobs with classification codes It can be in the form of a durable printed publication, a loose-leaf binder, computer printout, or a machine readable file within a computer system The same index can be used in all of these forms Formal names for classification categories (Eg education manager) are not usually the same as terms normally used to describe jobs and industrial activities The index entries usually include a code for one or more classification systems, and some words based on responses given in censuses and surveys The index is searched alphabetically but can also be sorted in code order for updating and query resolution Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Developing and updating a coding index
Index must be in place before the coding operations start Basis should be responses to similar questions in the last census, labour force survey, household survey and census tests The same index should be used in all household based collections Collection and coding of elements to be included in the index should be done by experts in the classification concerned It should be anticipated that the index will be updated during the Census process This is an extension of the query resolution process The form of the index should reflect its need to be updated frequently Earlier versions should be destroyed, except for those held by the index maintenance and quality control staff Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Sources of information for constructing and updating an occupation coding index
Organization of work and names used for jobs is in constant state of evolution Reviews of responses from recent survey operations and census tests Job vacancy reviews (newspapers, internet, employment services) Full-scale job monitoring exercises ISCO index may be a good starting point in the absence of any national index or a useful source to assess completeness of a national index Do neighbouring countries with similar languages have indexes you could share or adapt? Index needs to reflect language as used in your country in response to questions in statistical collections Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Areas needing special attention in adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Supervisors – Type 1 Supervisors who:
carry out the same tasks and duties as in the jobs they supervise control the professional or technical quality of the work done by others Are classified with the workers they supervise/lead. often called “foremen/-women” or “lead / team leaders” In ISCO-88 supervisors are generally classified in the same unit group as the workers they supervise. Many countries, however, consider it important to distinguish supervisors from other workers, including managers, in specific sectors where supervisors do not mainly perform the same tasks as the workers supervised. To reflect this concern, unit groups for supervisory occupations have been included in the draft classification in selected areas. Due to the additional skill level requirements for some supervisory jobs, a new minor group has been created in Sub major group 31, Science and engineering associate professionals, for supervisors in manufacturing, construction and mining. For the same reason a unit group for office supervisors has been included in Minor group 334, Administrative and specialized secretaries. ISCO-08 – areas needing special attention

Supervisors Type 2 Supervisors who:
mainly plan, organize, co-ordinate, control and direct the work done by others most of the time do not perform the tasks performed by those they supervise. Separate categories have been created in those areas where this type of work is known to be common: 3121 Mining supervisors 3122 Manufacturing supervisors 3123 Production supervisors 3341 Office supervisors 5151 Cleaning and housekeeping supervisors in offices, hotels and other establishments 5222 Shop supervisors there are clear occupational titles for these occurring occupations supervisors not included above should be classified in the same unit group as the main occupation supervised. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Major group 1 Managers Managers may also plan, organize, co-ordinate, control and direct the work done by others either directly or through the mediation of supervisors. In addition managers control and make decisions about: budgets the overall strategic and operational direction of a business (or organizational unit) hiring and firing. Supervisors do not perform these tasks but may provide advice and assistance to managers, especially in relation to hiring and firing. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

ISCO-08 Major Group 1 Managers - General principles
11 Chief executives, senior officials and legislators 111 Legislators and senior officials 112 Managing directors and chief executives 12 Administrative and commercial managers 121 Business services and administration managers 122 Sales, marketing and development managers 13 Production and specialized services managers 131 Production managers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries 132 Manufacturing, mining, construction, and distribution managers 133 Information and communications technology service managers 134 Professional services managers 14 Hospitality, retail and other services managers 141 Hotel and restaurant managers 142 Retail and wholesale trade managers 143 Other services managers Managerial occupations classified in Major Group 1 have been reorganized so as to overcome problems with the distinction between ‘Corporate’ managers and ‘General’ managers experienced by users of ISCO-88. These changes also address problems caused by the use in ISCO-88 of categories based on classifications of industrial activities. Managerial occupations, except for the top managers in large organizations are now organized along functional rather than industrial lines. This means that managers that specialize in functions such as human resources or manufacturing production are identifiable, irrespective of the industry they work in or whether they manage a department in a large enterprise or a small to medium sized enterprise whose business is to provide that function. ISCO-88 Minor group 121, Directors and Chief Executives has been renamed as Managing Directors and Chief Executives and has been moved to Sub-major group 11. All jobs that require leadership and management of large and complex organizations, that typically have a hierarchy of managers, are thus classified in a single Sub-major group, with more detailed breakdowns at minor and unit group levels. This approach also helps to address problems experienced in the use of ISCO-88 when only small numbers of jobs were classified to the original Sub-major group 11, Legislators and senior officials. The remainder of ISCO-88 Sub-major group 12 Corporate managers, and Sub-major group 13 General managers is replaced by three new Sub-major groups Sub-major group 12, Administrative and commercial managers, is intended to include the managers of organizational units that typically provide services or support functions across organizations. The recruitment manager of a large corporation and the manager of a small company that provides recruitment services to other organizations would thus both be classified, for example, in ISCO-08 Minor group 1213, Human resource managers, as they have primary skills in common. In ISCO-88 the former would be classified in Sub-major group 12, Corporate managers, and the latter in Sub-major group 13, General managers. Sub-major group 13, Production and specialized services managers, is for managers responsible for producing the goods or services provided by the organization that they work in. Jobs in both of Sub-major groups 12 and 13 generally require qualifications and experience related to an occupation in Major Group 2, Professionals. Jobs in Sub-major group 14, Hospitality, retail and other services managers generally, although not exclusively, involve management of relatively small organizations that do not have a hierarchy of managers and do not require formal educational qualifications at professional level. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Major group 1, Managers Farmers and farm managers are all to be classified in major group 6, with exceptions only for those who manage agricultural production in large scale enterprises that typically have hierarchies of managers Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Owner operators of small enterprises
Mechanic who owns garage, works as a mechanic and employs 3 other mechanics? Not relevant whether or not the person owns the business. If the main work performed involves the tasks of a motor vehicle mechanic, or directly supervising the work of mechanics Unit group 7231, Motor vehicle mechanics and repairers If, however, the main work performed relates to management Unit group, 1439 Service managers not elsewhere classified only the case for the managers of workshops in the largest of vehicle dealerships or transportation companies Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Owner operators of small enterprises - special cases
Hoteliers – Unit group 1411, Hotel managers But note: Operators of small establishments some bed and breakfast establishments and small guest houses, providing accommodation and limited meal services to clients effectively as paying guests in private households For whom management and supervision of staff is not a significant component of the work, are classified in unit group 5152, Domestic housekeepers. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Owner operators of small enterprises - special cases 2
Shopkeepers Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

5221 Shopkeepers Shopkeepers operate small retail shops either independently or with support from a small number of others. Tasks include (a) determining product mix, stock and price levels for goods to be sold; (b) purchasing and ordering goods for sale from markets, wholesalers and other suppliers (c) budgeting and maintaining records of stock levels and financial transactions; (d) determining prices and displaying goods for sale; (e) selling goods to customers and advising them on product use; (f) examining returned goods and deciding on appropriate action; (g) taking inventory of goods in stock. Examples of the occupations classified here: - Shopkeeper - Grocer - Newsagent Notes Only operators of small shops for whom the management and supervision of staff is not a significant component of the work are classified in Unit group 5221, Shopkeepers. Operators of shops where management tasks and supervision of staff are significant and frequent elements of the work are classified in Unit group 1420, Retail and wholesale trade managers. Staff who control and direct the activities of shop sales assistants, checkout operators and other workers, but who do not take responsibility for determining product mix, overall setting of prices, budgets and staffing levels, selection and recruitment are classified in Unit group 5222, Shop supervisors. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

52 Sales workers 521 Street and market salespersons
5211 Stall and market salespersons 5212 Street food salespersons 522 Shop salespersons 5221 Shop keepers 5222 Shop supervisors 5223 Shop sales assistants 523 Cashiers and ticket clerks 5230 Cashiers and ticket clerks 524 Other sales workers 5241 Fashion and other models 5242 Sales demonstrators 5243 Door to door salespersons 5244 Contact centre salespersons 5245 Service station attendants 5246 Food service counter attendants 5249 Sales workers not elsewhere classified The number of unit groups in Sub-major group 52, Sales workers, has increased from 3 to 12 and the minor group structure of the group has been modified. This increase is in part a result of the movement to Sub-major group 52 of Street food vendors, and Door-to-door and telephone sales persons from Major group 9, Elementary occupations and the movement of Cashiers and ticket salespersons from Major group 4, Clerks. Additional detail is also provided through the separate identification of the following unit groups (shown in green on the slide) 5221 Shop supervisors 5222 Shop sales assistants 5242 Sales demonstrators 5243 Door to door salespersons 5244 Contact centre salespersons 5245 Service station attendants 5246 Food service counter attendants 5249 Sales workers not elsewhere classified Internet salespersons are included in 5244, Contact Centre Sales persons. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

63 Subsistence farmers, fishers, hunters and gatherers
ISCO-88 Sub-major group 62, Subsistence agricultural workers has been retained Name and code change Extra detail to reflect the minor group structure of 61 The definitions for this group and for Sub-major groups 61, 62 and 92 have been improved to make it clear that: Workers engaged in agricultural, forestry and fisheries activities should be classified in Sub-major group 63 if the main aim of the production is to provide goods (mainly food) for consumption by the workers’ own household Those who only perform simple tasks requiring little judgement or experience should nevertheless be classified in Sub major group 92, Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers Subsistence hunters, trappers and collectors should also be classified in Sub-major group 63 With respect to subsistence workers, Sub-major group 62, called ‘Subsistence agricultural workers’ in ISCO-88, has been retained without structural change. The definitional material for this group and for Sub-major groups 61 and 92 will be improved to make it clear that: All workers engaged in agricultural, forestry and fisheries activities should be classified in Sub-major group 62 if the main aim of the production is to provide goods (mainly food) for consumption by the workers’ own household except that; Those who only perform simple tasks requiring little judgement or experience should nevertheless be classified in Sub major group 92; Subsistence hunters, trappers and collectors should be classified in Sub-major group 62. In view of this last point, the name of Sub-major group 62 has been changed to ‘Subsistence farmers, fishers, hunters and gatherers.’ For countries and regions in which subsistence activities are virtually non-existent, Sub-major group 62 can be excluded from national and regional adaptations of ISCO-08 without loss of international comparability. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Nursing and related occupations
222 Nursing and midwifery professionals 2221 Nursing professionals 2222 Midwifery professionals 322 Nursing and midwifery associate professionals 3221 Nursing associate professionals 3222 Midwifery associate professional 532 Personal care workers in health services 5321 Health care assistants 5322 Home-based personal care workers Personal care workers in health services not elsewhere classified Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

But be careful Skill level : a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties performed in an occupation: Measured operationally by considering one or more of: The nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties defined for each ISCO-08 skill level; The level of formal education defined in terms of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED-97)required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved; and The amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties. Adapting ISCO-08 for use in national and regional settings

Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation – information needed for coding
For accurate coding to any level of ISCO (and related national classifications) information is needed on: Name or title of occupation Main tasks or duties usually performed in the job The following may information may also be useful The type of economic activity of the establishment (industry) Whether or not the main aim of the activity is own consumption (subsistence) Information about the level of skill or qualifications of an individual is not necessary and not useful Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation – types of question
Three types of question on occupation have typically been used. One or two pre-coded questions One write-in question to obtain occupation-relevant information about an individual’s job Two or more (write-in) questions, a basic question on the title of the position held with follow-up on main tasks of the individual in the job Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation – closed versus open ended questions
Closed ended pre-coded questions Have limited accuracy as names for groups in occupation classifications do not equate with real world terms to describe jobs Are limited to a small number of categories and do not meet the needs of most data users Take up a large amount of space on questionnaires BUT The responses can be processed quickly and at a low cost If this approach is unavoidable due to cost limitations: Separate response categories can be provided for high priority groups Accuracy can be improved through testing and refinement of questions The names of categories from broad classification groups should not usually appear on the questionnaire Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation – open-ended questions
If designed well they can provide sufficient information to assign a 4-digit ISCO code Adequate space must be provided for a written response of several words Should collect information about both job title and main tasks or duties performed Examples of suitably detailed responses should be provided Good interviewer training is essential Responses have to be assigned classification codes using an index of occupation titles (a coding index) Relatively quick and cost effective coding methods are possible, but require development effort Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation – single open-ended questions
A single question such as: What is the main occupation of (the person) in this workplace? What kind of work did (the person) do? may provide adequate information from some but not all respondents But may yield responses such as ‘Manager’, ‘Consultant’, ‘Farm work’ that can not be coded accurately to any level of ISCO Interviewers need to be trained to probe when information provided is insufficient Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation – multiple open-ended questions
Use of separate questions on job title and tasks performed generally assures that sufficient detail is provided Asking for two different types of information helps the respondent to respond fully, for example: Title: Sales manager Tasks: Selling used cars Title: Customer service consultant Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation question – agricultural activities
Occupation title is often sufficient for some occupations Task question helps to ensure sufficient detail is required Distinction between skilled farm workers (Major group 6) and Farm labourers (Major group 9) can be difficult Special attention should be given to subsistence farming: Are separate job titles used for subsistence farmers? If subsistence farming is significant consider an additional question: E.g. ‘Does your farm produce goods mainly for sale or mainly for your own or family use’ Any information on own-use production work is collected in the survey this should be used in occupation coding Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Hypothetical questions recommended for testing and use (part 1)
(In the main job held last week) what was (your) work or occupation? Please give full job title and be specific, for example: Fruit picker Legal secretary Restaurant manager Secondary school teacher Cattle farmer Registered nurse Occupation: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Hypothetical questions recommended for testing and use (part 2)
What are your main tasks or duties in that job? Please give details. For example: Picking and carrying oranges and peaches Preparing legal documents Managing the operations of a restaurant Teaching mathematics Managing a cattle farm Caring for the sick and administering medications Main tasks or duties: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Coding occupation Responses to open ended questions have to be assigned to the appropriate category in an occupation classification Not a simple process Responses to questions on occupation (title and tasks), industry and name and address of workplace are relevant for coding both occupation and industry Coding should be done using indexes occupational titles A coding index Mapping directly to the classification is error prone and inefficient Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation coding The main aim of the coding process
To determine and record correctly to which category in the classification the job should be classified at the most detailed level of the classification possible on the basis of the information provided in the responses at the level of detail required to satisfy important user needs in the national context, as well as for international reporting Generally this should be at ISCO 4-digit level Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Strategic coding and processing options - Field or office coding?
The following choices are available: The respondent codes himself/herself to a predefined category Implies pre-coded questions Inadequate quality but less expensive than other options The enumerator codes in the field, either during the interview or before the questionnaire is forwarded for further processing A variation on pre-coded questions OR Enumerator writes down the response (or keywords) and codes the response after the interview using an index. Specially trained coders code in connection with consistency checks of the questionnaire and data entry Office coding – the preferred option in most cases Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Coding in the field by the enumerator
Enumerator writes down the response (or keywords) and codes the response after the interview using an index. Allows coding to detailed categories Over time and as part of training enumerators become aware of the type of information required to code correctly BUT Coding becomes one of many tasks for a large number of enumerators Enumerators cannot be given the same amount of training, supervision and support as specialized coders Quality and consistency of coding are likely to be poor Can work in a continuous Labour Force Survey with a permanent field staff and good training and communication For large-scale infrequent operations such as the Census, coding of occupation and industry as part of the central processing operation is preferred Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Office coding Can be done manually with a paper index, or with computer assistance Can be combined with automatic coding Coders may specialize in the coding of one (or a few) variables or deal with the whole form Coders need to be thoroughly trained and tested before they start coding Quality of coding operations can and should be rigorously controlled Specialists in classification should be involved in training and quality assurance Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

At what level of the classification should responses be coded?
It is sometimes decided that responses should be coded to an aggregate level of the classification structure (Eg 3-digit level of ISCO) Arguments for this include: Perceived cost of coding to a larger number of categories in terms of errors and staff hours required It was thought that the responses would not support coding to more detailed categories In sample surveys the detailed results may not be publishable Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

At what level of the classification should responses be coded?
But the experience of statistical agencies has shown Marginal costs of coding to a larger number of categories are small Error rate does not significantly increase and may improve for aggregate groups Many responses support detailed coding, while some do not Coding to an arbitrary specific level of the classification involves unnecessary loss of information Some groups at detailed levels of classification may be larger than others at higher levels Statistics on the top 10 or twenty detailed occupation groups can and should be published Coding at a higher level limits options for tabulation, international reporting, production of flexible non-standard aggregations Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Coding of vague and difficult responses
Some responses may be too vague and imprecise to allow the coder to determine to which category the job belongs should be coded to the level in the classification structure supported by the information available should not be forced into any particular detailed category Residual groups (not elsewhere classified) should not be used for vague responses A common method to with this type of response is to provide entries in the coding index for commonly occurring vague responses Such responses are assigned the code for the relevant higher category, followed by trailing zeros. responses can be allocated proportionally to the more detailed categories in a transparent manner or they can be released in publications labelled as : ‘Group name not further defined’ Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Occupation title: Sales Tasks performed: Selling
Sales workers 5200 Sales workers not further defined 521 Street and market salespersons 5211 Stall and market salespersons 5212 Street food salespersons 522 Shop salespersons 5221 Shopkeepers 5222 Shop supervisors 5223 Shop sales assistants 523 Cashiers and ticket clerks 5230 Cashiers and ticket clerks 524 Other sales workers 5241 Fashion and other models 5242 Sales demonstrators 5243 Door to door salespersons 5244 Contact centre salespersons 5245 Service station attendants 5246 Food service counter attendants 5249 Sales workers not elsewhere classified Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Other difficult responses
Indicate that the job the job involves tasks and duties that cut across the distinctions made in the classification Represent a type of work not covered by the classification or not listed in the coding index Should be referred as queries to expert coders and ultimately to those responsible for maintaining the classification and index Strategies to deal quickly with commonly occurring difficult responses and update the coding index or procedures are essential Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Coding tools Coding instructions Coding index
A single document specifying the procedures the coder is to follow Coding index Translates verbatim terms used in responses into classification codes Query resolution procedures How to deal with responses that can not be coded using the index and standard coding procedures Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

Automatic and computer assisted coding
Both use computing to speed up process of searching an index, identifying matching responses, following coding rules and recording the correct code In Computer assisted coding (CAC) the coder enters a small number of characters from key and qualifying words Matching index entries are displayed and coder selects matching entry Correct code is recorded by coder or the computer or a query is raised In automatic coding (AC) responses are key entered or captured photographically, then matched automatically by the computer Match rates of up to 70% have been achieved Remaining entries are coded using CAC Requires a high degree of sophistication and a very well designed index Software solutions are available at low cost but cost of integration into larger processing systems may be high Collecting and coding data on occupation in household based collections

David Hunter Department of Statistics International Labour Office

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David Hunter Department of Statistics International Labour Office

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Presentation on theme: "David Hunter Department of Statistics International Labour Office"— Presentation transcript:

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