Employment status/type
Definition
A person’s employment status is whether they are:
• an employee
• self-employed with employees
• self-employed without employees
For census purposes this relates to a person’s main job or, if not working at the time of the census, their last main job.
Classification
Total number of categories 4
| Code | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Employee |
| 2 | Self-employed or freelance without employees |
| 3 | Self-employed with employees |
| -5 | Not applicable (aged less than 16) |
Source question or variables
Individual question 27: In the last seven days, were you doing any
of the following? Include casual or temporary work, even if only
for one hour. Tick all that apply
- Working as an employee
- Self-employed or freelance
- Temporarily away from work ill, on holiday or
temporarily laid off - On maternity or paternity leave
- Doing any other kind of paid work
- None of the above
Reason for asking
Information on employment status has been collected of the general population in Scotland’s Census since 1891.
Data from these questions are used, along with the economic activity questions, to develop employment policies. In particular, data from this question is used to produce estimates of self-employment.
Definition
Indicates whether a person is an employee, self-employed without employees or self-employed with employees.
Classification
Total number of categories 4
| Code | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Employee |
| 2 | Self-employed or freelance without employees |
| 3 | Self-employed with employees |
| X | No code required - comprises all schoolchildren and students living away from home during term-time, all those aged under 16 and all those aged 16 and over who are not in employment. |
Source question or variables
31: In your main job, are (were) you:
- an employee?
- self-employed or freelance without employees?
- self-employed with employees?
England & Wales (2011) and Scotland (2001) comparisons
England & Wales 2011
England & Wales have exactly the same question in their 2011 questionnaire as Scotland and will therefore be directly comparable.
Scotland 2001
Aside from a change in wording and the order of the tick boxes, the question remains similar and should be comparable to the 2011 question.
26: Do (did) you work as an employee or are (were) you self employed?
- Employee
- Self-Employed
- Self-Employed/freelance without employees
Definition
This variable records whether a person is (was) an employee, or self-employed with or without employees.
Classification
Total number of categories 4
Not applicable category (X) comprises: All people aged 15 and under or aged 75 and over, all people aged 16 to 74 who have never worked.
| Code | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Employee |
| 2 | Self-employed with employees |
| 3 | Self-employed without employees |
| X | Not applicable |