Draft European Socio-economic Classification
Interim report
30 June 2008
INSEE
with contributions from DARES and the Centre Maurice Halbwachs (ETT team)
In addition to Cécile Brousse, who is in charge of the execution of the agreement, the following people have contributed to the preparation of this interim report:
Jérémie Torterat / DARES / sections 2.2, 2.3 and 4.2François Gleizes / INSEE, Employment division / sections 2.1.1 and 2.2
Loup Wolff / DARES / sections 2.1.2, 2.2, 4.3
Daniel Verger
Pascale Pietry-Bessy / INSEE, Statistical Methodology Unit / sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
Olivier Monso / INSEE, Employment division / section 3.1.1
Etienne Pénissat Stéphane Beaud / CMH, ETT team / sections 4.2 and 4.3
With some amendments, sections 1.1 and 1.2 are from the PCS classification and SICORE tool documentation:
Nomenclatures des professions et catégories socioprofessionnelles 2003 - INSEE, "Nomenclatures et codes" series – January 2003
“SICORE, un outil et une méthode pour le chiffrement automatique à l'INSEE”, Courrier des statistiques, Pascal Rivière, INSEE (Projects Department).
Sections 3, 2.4, 4.1.2 and 4.4 of this report will be dealt with in the final report. The content of section 2.3 is subject to revision, especially if the ISCO-08 report is made public before May 2009.
Contents
1. From the PCS to ISCO-88 (COM) (item A1) 5
1.1. The French PCS classification system 5
1.1.1. The process of revising the classification 5
1.1.2. The new occupational classification: PCS 2003 7
1.2. Correspondence table for PCS 2003 into ISCO-88 15
2. Coding occupations in ISCO-2008 (item A1) 17
2.1. Identifying supervisors: what solutions are there ? 17
2.1.1. The difficulty of defining supervisors 17
2.1.2. A specific survey of supervisors 21
2.1.3. Some proposals for identifying supervisors better 23
2.2. Some areas lacking clarity in ISCO-08 23
2.2.1. Company manager, tradesman, supervisor: definitions need to be more precise 23
2.2.2. Occupations that may be carried out at different skill levels 23
2.2.3. Non-commercial agricultural jobs 24
2.3. Towards a European interpretation of ISCO-08? 24
2.3.2. Introducing European categories to a level 5 of ISCO 27
2.3.3. Harmonising and enhancing the alphabetic index of occupations 29
2.3.4. Making coding more robust with the use of supplementary variables 30
2.3.5. Removing the sub-major groups of non-commercial agriculture and fishing 30
2.3.6. ESeC and ISCO-08 30
2.4. Coding strategies: impact on data collection methods 32
2.4.1. The census 32
2.4.2. The Labour Force Survey 32
2.4.3. The core module of the harmonised Household Surveys 32
2.4.4. Other sources (including data from registers) 32
3. What explanatory power does the draft ESeC have? (items B1 and B2) 33
4. How transparent is the draft ESeC? (Item C2) 33
4.1. How easy is it to classify oneself in the prototype ESeC? 34
4.1.1. The question module 34
4.1.2. Results 37
4.2. Aims of the study on the perception of the draft ESeC 37
4.2.1. Perceiving and dividing up the social space; understanding the ESeC classification system 37
4.2.2. Planned analyses 40
4.2.3. Objectives of the study 42
4.3. A format for collecting data from 600 respondents 42
4.3.1. Instructions for the game 42
4.3.2. Data capture: 43
4.3.3. Selecting respondents and data collection methods: 44
4.4. Results 47
APPENDIX 1: evaluation of the relevance of the classification of occupations and socio-occupational categories 49
APPENDIX 5: attempt at coding the most common occupation titles in ISCO-08 58
1
1. From the PCS to ISCO-88 (COM) (item A1)
The PCS classification (‘Professions et catégories socioprofessionnelles’ – ‘Occupations and Socio-occupational Categories’) has been used by INSEE since 1982 and was the culmination of a complete overhaul of the various previous classifications. The PCS is a composite classification whose purpose is to provide a detailed description of jobs within an appropriate social stratification. This explains several of its characteristics:
1) a tree-like structure
It is composed of the following structure:
- 455 occupations (PCS, 4 digits) grouped into
- 42 socio-occupation categories (SC, 2 digits) in turn grouped into
- 8 socio-occupational groups (SG, 1 digit)
2) various different purposes
Four kinds if purpose can be highlighted:
- it provides a detailed description of the social and occupational reality
- it provides a social hierarchical grid for use in analysis
- it is used for model calibration and adjusting the results of surveys.
- it is used to code occupations in the International Standard Classification of Occupations
3) different purposes with different quality requirements.
The classification can be used on the basis of different levels in the tree structure (codes with 1, 2 or 4 positions), or according to ad hoc groupings. Furthermore, is can be used to characterise each individual (at elementary level) or to count a population (at aggregate level).
1.1. The French PCS classification system
1.1.1. The process of revising the classification
The revision of the classification was carried out in collaboration with partners from INSEE within the framework of working groups within the Conseil National de l’Information Statistique – CNIS (National Council for Statistical Information). One of the objectives was to bring the PCS closer to ROME (ROME is the ‘Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers’ - Operational Jobs Directory - used by ANPE, the Agence Nationale pour l’Emploi – National Employment Agency).
In August/September 1999, INSEE’s Management Committee decided that in view of the anticipated discussions on the development of a European Socio-economic Classification under the aegis of Eurostat, no substantial modification to the socio-occupational categories “should be implemented”. Consequently, the analyses and proposals contained in the report evaluating the relevance of the socio-occupational categories published in March 1999 (see box) had to be provisionally put on hold. Similarly, the revised classification known as 'PCS 2003' would be transitional in nature and would not introduce substantial modifications to the 1982 classification (see box and Appendix 1).
Box: report evaluating the relevance of the socio-occupational categories (CSP)Report no. 49/B005 of 23 March 1999, INSEE
The classification of socio-occupational categories in the French public statistics system is a key tool in the study of French society. It is used by several economic and social players in studying a variety of subjects including political opinions, cultural and educational practices, differences in salaries and wealth, demography, health, working conditions, social mobility, and access to employment, to name but a few. Aware that the classification was becoming out of date (it was created at the start of the 1950s and revised in 1982), detailed work was undertaken in liaison with CNIS to update the precise jobs at the 3rd and 4th levels of the classification. In addition to this work, the INSEE Management Committee wanted there to be an evaluation of the current relevance of the main social categories to the various uses made of them. In addition, the evaluation was to take account of the possible needs of social categorisations other than the CSP and the studies being made by Eurostat on the problem. This evaluation was entrusted to Hedda Faucheux and Guy Neyret, members of the General Inspectorate. […] Around 60 interviews were conducted (and more than 100 people consulted), in sectors where a conceptualisation of social groups is important, in order to understand how they are used, and collect opinions, suggestions, and reflections on changes happening or expected to happen in the future. [...]
THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. DO NOT DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE AGGREGATE LEVEL AT 1 DIGIT
2. DRAW UP AND ACTIVELY PROMOTE A NEW INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
3. RENEWED INVESTMENT SHOULD BE COMMITTED
4. GET CLOSER TO THE USERS
5. SOME CHANGES COULD BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME
6. INSTITUTE SOME ADDITIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS
The revised classification is very similar to the existing one, but with a few differences.
.
1.1.1.1. Similarities with the existing classification
The main categorisation rules from the 1982 classification continue to apply to the 2003 classification. In particular:
- the salaried / self-employed distinction
- the self-employed being categorised principally according to business activity and size of the business;
- taking into account employee skills (with reference to provisions in collective agreements);
- taking into account whether the employee works in the public or private sector.
The numbering system is the same, consisting of a four-figure codification. However, in terms of implementation, the much more systematic grouping of items at the 3-digit level meant that items had to be renumbered, even when their content remained unchanged.
The titles given to many items have remained the same in order to clearly indicate the continuity of content between old and new, or where differences in content are relatively insignificant. The generally preferred option was therefore to preserve titles, unless there was a reason to change them, for example, to correct an imprecision or a name that is no longer appropriate. The same rule applied to items where the number had changed.
1.1.1.2. Changes in content introduced in the context of the 2003 classification
Apart from the formal similarities and differences described above, the 2003 classification is different from the old one in some more fundamental ways. These differences stem from the fact that the revision, whilst conserving the architecture and the general provisions of the current classification, needed to satisfy several objectives:
- to take into account the age of the existing classification and the most significant changes in terms of: jobs that have disappeared, new businesses that have emerged etc. ;
- better alignment with the ROME classification (list of jobs used by the National Employment Agency)
- better alignment with ISCO (International Standard Classification of Occupations);
- to maintain a classification able to be applied equally well to the exploitation of information collected directly from individuals (or household respondents), in the context of censuses or household surveys, as to the processing of data from employer declarations, in the case of salaried work.
An additional factor arose during the completion phase of the work, with the clearer statement of the transitional nature of the 2003 classification. As a result it was considered that this classification would benefit from being designed not in isolation, but in such a way that it would, as far as possible, prefigure and prepare for the changes to be taken into consideration in the establishment of a future classification. It was therefore also necessary:
- on the one hand, to make sure that there is a sufficient correspondence with the 1982 classification and the possibility of aligning its groups;
- on the other hand, making sure to leave sufficient leeway, to create transition categories, so that it is possible to collect and identify the membership of each category right now, in such a way that it can later be redistributed according to different perspectives.
1.1.2. The new occupational classification: PCS 2003
At the detailed level, the Occupations and Socio-occupational Categories (PCS) classification contains 486 occupational headings. It also gives the 42 socio-occupational categories and the 8 socio-occupational groups, the aggregate levels of the classification. The table below summarises the correspondence between these different levels.
The PCS classification includes three nested levels of aggregation. At the narrowest level, one item in the PCS classification corresponds to one occupation, described by a 4-position code consisting of three digits and one letter. At the most aggregate level are the socio-occupational groups (8 items, corresponding to the first digit of the PCS). The intermediate level of aggregation is the socio-occupational categories (42 items, corresponding to the first two digits of the PCS, with an aggregate version with 24 items). PCS-2003 leaves these two levels of aggregation unchanged: the socio-occupational groups and categories are the same as in the old 1982 classification. The revision project has only had a bearing on the most detailed level of occupations (486 items, with a more detailed version for the use of businesses with 516 items).
To be more precise, the revision of the PCS classification consisted of: grouping together occupations within the same socio-occupational category where the distinction had become obsolete; and, conversely, splitting occupations in order to take into account the appearance of new jobs (related to the environment and new information and communication technologies, for example) and roles that cut across different business sectors (methods, quality control, logistics etc.).
INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR THE CODING OF OCCUPATIONSAn occupation code (PCS code) is defined on the basis of some or all of the following information:
- the occupation, trade or job carried out;
- employment status (e.g. self-employed, working for a family business, employee, or apprentice);
- the company’s line of business (APE code [trade sector code])
- - the number of employees in the business,
- the type of employer (public or private sector);
- the job classification (skill levels, as set out in collective agreements for company employees, or categories A, B or C for Civil Service employees;
- the role carried out (e.g. production, handling, management or research);
- sex, for family workers in trades, self-employed professions and various tertiary-sector occupations when the designation is unclear);
- for farmers, the utilised agricultural area or the size of the farm;
- for farmers, the main agricultural product and the geographic location of the farm.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS AND CATEGORIES
(8 items including 6 for those in work) / Current publication level
(24 items including 19 for those in work) / Detailed level
(42 items including 32 for those in work)
1 Farmers / 10 Farmers / 11 Farmers of small farms
12 Farmers of medium-sized farms
13 Farmers of large farms
2 Tradesmen, shopkeepers and heads of businesses / 21 Tradesmen / 21 Tradesmen
22 Shopkeepers and similar / 22 Shopkeepers and similar
23 Heads of businesses with 10 or more employees / 23 Heads of businesses with 10 or more employees
31 Self-employed professionals and similar / 31 Self-employed professionals
32 Civil service managers, intellectual and artistic professions / 33 Civil service managers
34 Teachers and scientific professions
3 Managers and higher intellectual professions / 35 Professions related to information, the arts and show business
37 Administrative and commercial managers in businesses
36 Managers in businesses
38 Engineers and technical managers in businesses
42 Primary school teachers and similar
43 Health and social work associate professionals
41 Teaching, health, the civil service associate professionals and similar
4 Associate professionals / 44 Clergy, religious occupations
45 Administrative associate professionals in the civil service
46 Administrative and commercial associate professionals in companies / 46 Administrative and commercial associate professionals in companies
47 Technicians / 47 Technicians
48 Foremen, supervisors / 48 Foremen, supervisors
52 Civilian employees and services staff in the civil service
51 Civil service employees
53 Police and military
5 Services, sales and administrative employees / 54 Administrative business employees / 54 Administrative business employees
55 Shop employees / 55 Shop employees
56 Personal services staff / 56 Personal services staff
62 Skilled industrial workers
63 Skilled workers in a trade
61 Skilled workers / 64 Drivers
65 Skilled workers in handling, warehousing and transport
6 Workers
66 Non-skilled workers / 67 Non-skilled industrial workers
68 Non- skilled workers in a trade
69 Farm workers / 69 Farm workers
71 Retired farmers / 71 Retired farmers
72 Retired tradesmen, shopkeepers and heads of businesses / 72 Retired tradesmen, shopkeepers and heads of businesses
7 Retired / 73 Retired managers and associate professionals / 74 Retired managers
75 Retired associate professionals
76 Retired services, sales and administrative employees, and workers / 77 Retired services, sales and administrative employees
78 Retired workers
81 Unemployed and never had a job / 81 Unemployed and never had a job
83 Military conscripts
84 Pupils, students
8 Others not in work / 85 Others not in work under 60 years old (except the retired)
82 Others not in work (but not retired)
86 Others not in work aged 60 years or more (except the retired)
1.1.2.1. The distinction between salaried and self-employed
The classification of occupational categories (first 2 digits of the PCS) operates a primary distinction between categories principally made up of the self-employed (categories 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23, and 31), and others, principally made up of employees. However, this distinction does not exactly match the two categories of salaried and self-employed: