Occupation is collected in the Census for all employed people
aged 15 years and over. Two questions are used in the Census:
Collecting both occupation title and task information ensures
more accurate coding of occupations. - 'In the main job held
last week, what was the person's occupation - Give full title',
and - 'What are the main tasks that the person usually performs
in the occupation...' Occupation data are essential for labour
market analysis and policy formation. Changes in the
occupational composition of the labour force are important for
planning at the industry and geographic area levels. The data
are used in analyses of education and training needs, and as
indicators for industry assistance programs. Small area data on
occupation are important in regional planning; in examining the
occupational mobility of ethnic and other minority groups; and
in measuring socioeconomic status variability between regions.
The Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO)
First Edition was published in 1