The European Socio-economic Classification:

A Programme of Statistical Co-operation and Harmonisation

Workshop on Application of ESeCBled, June 29 2006

David Rose & Eric HarrisonISER

University of Essex

Eurostat Statistical Harmonisation Eurostat Statistical Harmonisation ProgrammeProgramme

Aims to create a common set ofAims to create a common set of

core unitscore unitscore variables andcore variables andcore classificationscore classifications

for use in European and national social for use in European and national social statisticsstatistics

The ESeC projectThe ESeC project Expert Group on possibility of EU-SEC Expert Group on possibility of EU-SEC

appointed by Eurostat in January appointed by Eurostat in January 20002000

Proposals for an ESeC made in 2001 Proposals for an ESeC made in 2001 Feasibility Report Feasibility Report

This report forms the basis for the This report forms the basis for the projectproject

The Need for ESeCThe Need for ESeC Ongoing enlargement of European Ongoing enlargement of European

UnionUnion Much ‘comparative’ research just uses Much ‘comparative’ research just uses

national statistics from different national statistics from different countriescountries

Need common units and variablesNeed common units and variables

What is an SEC?What is an SEC?

A generic term for any measure designed A generic term for any measure designed to show how societies are stratifiedto show how societies are stratified

Occupational division of labour forms basis Occupational division of labour forms basis of all SECsof all SECs

SECs may be continuous or categorical SECs may be continuous or categorical measures: measures: ESeCESeC is categorical is categorical

Objectives of SECs

Two purposes:Two purposes:

DiscriminationDiscrimination

StructuringStructuring

DiscriminationDiscrimination

Grouping individuals with similar Grouping individuals with similar socio-economic characteristics into socio-economic characteristics into categoriescategories

Purpose: to analyse a variety of Purpose: to analyse a variety of social domains, e.g. health social domains, e.g. health inequalities, educational inequalities, inequalities, educational inequalities, social mobility, income differentialssocial mobility, income differentials

StructuringStructuring

Structuring of social statistics, in Structuring of social statistics, in order to:order to:

provide a common language for provide a common language for research across the social and policy research across the social and policy sciencessciences

inform the public and policy makers.inform the public and policy makers.

Prototype ESeCPrototype ESeC Described in User GuideDescribed in User Guide Based on 3-digit ISCOBased on 3-digit ISCO Common matrix for all EU statesCommon matrix for all EU states Validation studies give promising Validation studies give promising

results (i.e. ESeC results (i.e. ESeC doesdoes discriminate discriminate and structure in useful ways)and structure in useful ways)

Statistical Co-operationStatistical Co-operation So, we have a harmonised ESeC So, we have a harmonised ESeC

prototypeprototype

This workshop is the beginning of This workshop is the beginning of what we hope will become an what we hope will become an ongoing process of co-operation with ongoing process of co-operation with NSIs and Eurostat as we continue to NSIs and Eurostat as we continue to develop ESeCdevelop ESeC

Next Steps (1)Next Steps (1) Further research would allow us to Further research would allow us to

improve on prototypeimprove on prototype This research should involve NSIs This research should involve NSIs

and academics in each member stateand academics in each member state BUT we also need employment BUT we also need employment

relations data for each state as basis relations data for each state as basis for new researchfor new research

Employment relations dataEmployment relations dataEither Either

(a) collect ER data with special EU (a) collect ER data with special EU surveysurvey

OrOr

(b) collect more limited data via LFS(b) collect more limited data via LFS

Objectives of New ResearchObjectives of New Research Data could then be analysed for each Data could then be analysed for each

state and ESeC could be re-based on state and ESeC could be re-based on national occupational classificationsnational occupational classifications

This would improve harmonisation This would improve harmonisation and allow national variations of ERs and allow national variations of ERs to be reflectedto be reflected

UK LFS employment relations UK LFS employment relations questions (1)questions (1)

(1)(1) Which of the following best describes how you are paid in your Which of the following best describes how you are paid in your present job?present job?

Monthly salary plus performance/ Monthly salary only/ Monthly salary plus performance/ Monthly salary only/ Weekly wage/Hourly paid/Piecework/Other Weekly wage/Hourly paid/Piecework/Other

(2)(2) Are you on a recognised pay scale with increments, either Are you on a recognised pay scale with increments, either automatic or performance related?automatic or performance related?

Yes/No/Don’t knowYes/No/Don’t know

(3)(3) If you decided to leave your job, how much notice are you If you decided to leave your job, how much notice are you officially required to give?officially required to give?

Three months or more/Less than one week/One week Three months or more/Less than one week/One week but but less than one month/One month but less than three less than one month/One month but less than three

months/Don’t know months/Don’t know

UK LFS employment relations UK LFS employment relations questions (2)questions (2)

(4)(4) In your sort of work, are there opportunities for promotion, either In your sort of work, are there opportunities for promotion, either in your current organisation or by changing employers?in your current organisation or by changing employers?

Yes/No/ Don’t knowYes/No/ Don’t know

(5)(5) Who decides what time you start and leave work?Who decides what time you start and leave work?

Flexitime system/ Employer decides/I decide within certain limits/ Flexitime system/ Employer decides/I decide within certain limits/ Negotiated with employerNegotiated with employer

(6)(6) Does your job require you to design and plan important aspects of Does your job require you to design and plan important aspects of your own work, or is your work largely specified for you? your own work, or is your work largely specified for you?

I am required to design and plan my work/Work is largely specified I am required to design and plan my work/Work is largely specified by others/Otherby others/Other

(7)(7) How much influence do you personally have in deciding what How much influence do you personally have in deciding what tasks you are to do?tasks you are to do?

A great deal/ A fair amount/Not much/ None at allA great deal/ A fair amount/Not much/ None at all

Next Steps (2)Next Steps (2) Process of co-operation starts at this Process of co-operation starts at this

workshopworkshop After workshop, consortium meets to After workshop, consortium meets to

decide how to move forward in light decide how to move forward in light of workshop discussionsof workshop discussions

We will then make proposals for NSIs We will then make proposals for NSIs and Eurostat to considerand Eurostat to consider

ConclusionsConclusions We have achieved the main objectives of We have achieved the main objectives of

the current project: a prototype ESeC that the current project: a prototype ESeC that discriminates and structuresdiscriminates and structures

More could and should be done via new More could and should be done via new research on employment relations and on research on employment relations and on the measurement of management and the measurement of management and supervisionsupervision

Best way forward – ESeC via national Best way forward – ESeC via national occupational classifications?occupational classifications?