Economic activity status classifications: Census 2021

Use these groups of categories to research and analyse Census 2021 economic activity status data.

Last updated:
26 October 2023

Applicability: Person
Type: Derived variable

Overview

The economic activity status variable has 10 classifications that can be used when analysing Census 2021 data.

When data are sorted, we group categories about the same topic together into a variable. A group of categories is called a “classification.” There can be more than one classification about the same topic and each one is different. You should choose the one that is the most suitable for your research and analysis.

Economic activity status classification

Mnemonic: economic_activity

Total number of categories: 20

Code Name
1 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Employee: Part-time
2 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Employee: Full-time
3 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Self-employed with employees: Part-time
4 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Self-employed with employees: Full-time
5 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Self-employed without employees: Part-time
6 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Self-employed without employees: Full-time
7 Economically active (excluding full-time students): Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
8 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment: Employee: Part-time
9 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment: Employee: Full-time
10 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment: Self-employed with employees: Part-time
11 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment: Self-employed with employees: Full-time
12 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment: Self-employed without employees: Part-time
13 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment: Self-employed without employees: Full-time
14 Economically active and a full-time student: Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
15 Economically inactive: Retired
16 Economically inactive: Student
17 Economically inactive: Looking after home or family
18 Economically inactive: Long-term sick or disabled
19 Economically inactive: Other
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_12a

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_12a

Total number of categories: 12

Code Name
1 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Employee
2 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Self-employed with employees
3 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Self-employed without employees
4 Economically active (excluding full-time students): Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
5 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment
6 Economically active and a full-time student: Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
7 Economically inactive: Retired
8 Economically inactive: Student
9 Economically inactive: Looking after home or family
10 Economically inactive: Long-term sick or disabled
11 Economically inactive: Other
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_10a

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_10a

Total number of categories: 10

Code Name
1 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment
2 Economically active (excluding full-time students): Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
3 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment
4 Economically active and a full-time student: Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
5 Economically inactive: Retired
6 Economically inactive: Student
7 Economically inactive: Looking after home or family
8 Economically inactive: Long-term sick or disabled
9 Economically inactive: Other
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_10b

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_10b

Total number of categories: 10

Code Name
1 Employee
2 Self-employed with employees
3 Self-employed without employees
4 Unemployed
5 Economically inactive: Retired
6 Economically inactive: Student
7 Economically inactive: Looking after home or family
8 Economically inactive: Long-term sick or disabled
9 Economically inactive: Other
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_9a

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_9a

Total number of categories: 9

Code Name
1 Employee
2 Self-Employed
3 Unemployed
4 Economically inactive: Retired
5 Economically inactive: Student
6 Economically inactive: Looking after home or family
7 Economically inactive: Long-term sick or disabled
8 Economically inactive: Other
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_9b

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_9b

Total number of categories: 9

Code Name
1 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment: Part-time
2 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment: Full-time
3 Economically active and a full-time student: Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
4 Economically inactive: Full-time student
5 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Part-time
6 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment: Full-time
7 Economically active (excluding full-time students): Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
8 Economically inactive (excluding full-time students)
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_7a

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_7a

Total number of categories: 7

Code Name
1 Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment
2 Economically active (excluding full-time students): Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
3 Economically active and a full-time student: In employment
4 Economically active and a full-time student: Unemployed: Seeking work or waiting to start a job already obtained: Available to start working within 2 weeks
5 Economically inactive (excluding full-time students)
6 Economically inactive and a full-time student
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_7b

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_7b

Total number of categories: 7

Code Name
1 Economically active: In employment: Employee: Part-time (including full-time students)
2 Economically active: In employment: Employee: Full-time (including full-time students)
3 Economically active: In employment: Self-employed: Part-time (including full-time students)
4 Economically active: In employment: Self-employed: Full-time (including full-time students)
5 Economically active: Unemployed (including full-time students)
6 Economically inactive (including full-time students)
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_4a

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_4a

Total number of categories: 4

Code Name
1 Economically active: In employment (including full-time students)
2 Economically active: Unemployed (including full-time students)
3 Economically inactive
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.

Economic activity status classification status_3a

Mnemonic: economic_activity_status_3a

Total number of categories: 3

Code Name
1 Economically active
2 Economically inactive
-8 Does not apply*

*Students and schoolchildren living away during term-time, and children aged 15 years and under.