National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC)

The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC) provides an indication of socio-economic position based on occupation.

To assign a person aged 16 and over to an NS-SeC category their occupation title is combined with information about their employment status, whether they are employed or self-employed and whether or not they supervise other employees. Full-time students are recorded in the ‘full-time students' category regardless of whether they are economically active or not.

Find out more about the National Statistics Socio-economic classification on the ONS website.

Total number of categories 17

This variable is comparable with the equivalent version created by ONS for the 2021 census in England & Wales (ns_sec).

This variable is derived from the occupation variable. During Scotland's Census 2011, occupations were coded using the Standard Occupational Classification 2010 (SIC2010). For the 2022 Census, SOC2020 was used.

Because of this difference, NS-SEC cannot be compared with 2011 because the classifications in the occupation variable have changed.

NS-SeC is based on an individual’s occupation in combination with their employment status. Due to the changes in occupation coding between SOC2010 and SOC2020 made to capture the higher qualifications now needed for certain roles, NS-SeC estimates are not generally comparable between 2011 and 2022. Also, changes to the never worked question mean the NS-SeC categories, long-term unemployed and never worked are also not comparable. The data for full-time students are not based on an individual’s occupation or employment status and can be compared between censuses. 

Between 2011 and 2022, we see an 88.3% increase in the number of individuals classified as ‘Never worked’. The increase is concentrated amongst older people. Individuals are classified as never worked if they ticked ‘No, have never worked’ to the question ‘Have you ever done any paid work?’ The wording of this question has changed since 2011 when it was asked ‘Have you ever worked?’ It is possible that some individuals have interpreted the question differently in each census. For example, in 2011 individuals may have considered volunteering, charity work or working in the home as work even if they were not paid. 

This has also affected the long-term unemployed category. Some people counted as long-term unemployed in 2011 may now be included in the never worked category in 2022 if they answered the never worked question differently between censuses. 

The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC) provides an indication of socio-economic position based on occupation. It is an Office for National Statistics standard classification.

To assign a person aged 16 and over to an NS-SeC category their occupation title is combined with information about their employment status, whether they are employed or self-employed and whether or not they supervise other employees. Full-time students are recorded in the ‘full-time students' category regardless of whether they are economically active or not.

Although all people aged 16 and over are assigned to a NS-SeC category, statistical outputs for this variable are generally based on the 16 to 74 years old population due to statistical disclosure control considerations

The rebased version of NS-SeC used in census results uses occupation coded to SOC2010.

Find out more about the classification.

Since the 2011 Census did not ask a question about the number of employees at a person's workplace, the reduced method of deriving NS-SeC (which does not require this information) is used.

Total number of categories 41

ACTLW (Derived variable)

AGE (Derived variable)

DOB (Primary variable)

EMPLOY (Derived variable)

EVERWORK (Primary variable)

EMPSTAT (Primary variable)

GENINFAM(HCA) (Derived variable)

HCA (Derived variable)

LASTYRWRKPS11 (Primary variable)

LOOKWORK (Primary variable)

OCC (Primary variable)

OTHACT (Primary variable)

STUDENT (Primary variable)

SUPERVISOR (Primary variable)

TERMIND (Primary variable)

WAITWORK (Primary variable)

The version of NS-SeC used in the 2011 Census results uses occupation titles coded to the SOC2010, whereas the 2001 Census used codes as defined by SOC2000. In 2011, because the census did not ask a question about the number of employees at a person’s workplace, a reduced method of deriving NS-SeC (which does not require this information) was used. In addition, in 2011, rules were used to estimate a category of NS-SeC for any person who did not have occupation details, however, in 2001, there was an extra category of ‘Not classified’, within which 19 per cent of the population fell. These factors mean direct comparisons between the 2001 and 2011 census results are not possible without further processing of the data.

The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC) provides an indication of socio-economic position, based on occupation. It is an Office for National Statistics standard classification.

Total number of categories 41

People aged 75 and over are not asked the economic activity questions. They are coded to L17 (code 40).

Not applicable category (XX) comprises: All people aged 15 and under