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Introduction

Measure of Social Class Standard Occupational Classification & National Statistics Socio Economic Classification Teresa Penkert The Standard Occupational Classification The standard occupational classification SOC90 was first published in 1990 to replace both the classification of occupations 1980( C080) and the Classification of occupations and dictionary Titles (CODOT). SOC 1990 was also revised and updated to a newer version SOC2000 The two main concepts of the classification remain unchanged: . Kind of work performed . The performance of tasks and duties-skill Two main sources of pressure to revise SOC1990 were the need to improve alignment with the International Standard Classification of occupations, and the classifications issued revealed by the research to develop the National Statistics socio economic Classification. The main features of the revision include: . A tighter definition of managerial occupations . A thorough overhaul of computing and related occupations . The introduction of specific occupations associated with the environment and conservation. ...read more.

Middle

whether an employer, self employed, a manager, a supervisor or an employee) So for example a self-employed plumber would be in a different class from a plumber with 25 employees, and both would be in different classes from an employee plumber, who in turn would be in a different class from a supervisor of plumbers. The new NS-SEC has split some of the groups up. So as a result in group 1 over half of the managers were originally in class 1, are now in class 2. This is because when SOC90 was revised to SOC2000, new positions were identified, so some junior and middle managers in large organisations are now classed as 1.2. Along with these are such occupations at post office managers and account managers. Similar changes have been made to the way employees in professional occupations are distributed between class 1.2 and class 2. ...read more.

Conclusion

Here men outnumber women by almost 3-1. There is actually an improvement in terms of women representation in the top two classes compared to ten years ago, women are still an underrepresented ( but growing) part of Class 1-the top earning industry and the professions. The attached table shows an example of the differences. Population of working age female's social class 2000 Class Percentage Professional 3% Intermediate 23% Skilled non-manual 31% Skilled manual 7% Partly skilled 15% Skilled manual 5% Other 16% Population of working males' social class 2000 Class Percentage Professional 8% Intermediate 27% Skilled non-manual 11% Skilled manual 27% Partly skilled 13% Skilled manual 4% Other 10% Advantages The way groups are listed are quite clear to understand The information can be used from year to year to compare against statistics. Disadvantages Job titles can change and therefore information may be misleading It links people by professions but what about Royalty or the lords and Barons etc. Married women were classed by their husbands' occupation previously so misleading. Unemployed or disabled people are not classified as such. ...read more.

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