This dataset includes data from the 2011 Census released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)


Notes and Definitions

1. The main population base for outputs from the 2011 Census is the usual resident population as at census day (27 March 2011).

Although the population base for enumeration included non-UK short-term residents, these are not included in the main outputs from the 2011 Census, but are analysed separately. All outputs, unless specified, are produced using only usual residents of the UK.

2. For 2011 Census purposes, a usual resident of the UK is anyone who, on census day, was in the UK and had stayed or intended to stay in the UK for a period of 12 months or more, or had a permanent UK address and was outside the UK and intended to be outside the UK for less than 12 months.

3. Further information about the census estimates, including details about the methodology and other definitions used, how other population sub-groups are counted, Output Area maintenance and other geographic information, are available on the ONS website at http://www.ons.gov.uk/census

Economic activity

Economic activity relates to whether or not a person who was aged 16 to 74 was working or looking for work in the week before census. Rather than a simple indicator of whether or not someone was currently in employment, it provides a measure of whether or not a person was an active participant in the labour market.


A person's economic activity is derived from their 'Activity last week'. This is an indicator of their status or availability for employment - whether employed, actively looking for work, waiting to start a new job, available to start a new job, or their status if not employed or not seeking employment. Additional information included in the economic activity classification is also derived from information about the number of hours a person works and their type of employment - whether employed or self-employed.


The census concept of economic activity is compatible with the standard for economic status defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It is one of a number of definitions used internationally to produce accurate and comparable statistics on employment, unemployment and economic status.


Economically active

A person aged 16 to 74 is described as economically active if, in the week before the census, they were:

• in employment, as an employee of self-employed

• not in employment, but were seeking work and ready to start work within two weeks, or

• not in employment, but waiting to start a job already obtained and available.

Full-time students who fulfil any of these criteria are classified as economically active and are counted separately in the 'Full-time student' category of economically active - they are not included in any of the other categories such as employees or unemployed.


Economically inactive

A person aged 16 to 74 is described as economically inactive if, in the week before the census, they were not in employment but did not meet the criteria to be classified as ‘Unemployed' This includes a person looking for work but not available to start work within two weeks, as well as anyone not looking for work, or unable to work - for example retired, looking after home/family, permanently sick or disabled.


Students who fulfil any of these criteria are also classified as economically inactive. This does not necessarily mean in full-time education and excludes students who were working or in some other way were economically active.


Employed (In employment)

A person aged 16 to 74 is defined as employed (or in employment) if in the week before the census they carried out at least one hour's paid work, either as an employee or self-employed.


This includes casual or temporary work, on a government-sponsored training scheme, doing paid or unpaid work for their own or family business, being away from work ill, on maternity leave, or on holiday or temporarily laid off.


Full-time student

A full-time student is a person of any age who has indicated that they are a schoolchild or student in full-time education.


Schoolchildren and students in full-time education studying away from their family home are treated as usually resident at their term-time address.


Full-time working

Working full-time is defined as working 31 hours or more per week. This applies to the number of hours a person aged 16 to 74 in employment in the week before the census worked in their main job, and includes paid and unpaid overtime.


Full-time working

Working full-time is defined as working 31 hours or more per week. This applies to the number of hours a person aged 16 to 74 in employment in the week before the census worked in their main job, and includes paid and unpaid overtime.


Main job

The 'Main job' of a person aged 16 to 74 is the job in which they usually work the most hours. For people not working at the time of the census the main job relates to the person's last job. Topics based on employment all relate to a person’s main job.


Part-time working

Working part-time is defined as working 30 hours or less per week. This applies to the number of hours a person aged 16 to 74 in employment in the week before the census worked in their main job, and includes paid and unpaid overtime.


Unemployed

A person aged 16 to 74 is classified as unemployed if they are not in employment, are available to start work in the next two weeks, and either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a new job.

Confidentiality

ONS as the executive arm of the UK Statistics Authority has a legal obligation not to reveal information collected in confidence in the census about individual people and households. The confidentiality of all census results, including the counts in this release, is protected by a combination of a variety of disclosure protection measures.


Terms and Conditions

These statistics may be used, excluding logos, under the terms of the Open Government Licence.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Frequency: Census (10 years)

Reference links:

UK Open Government Licence
Last Update
11 years ago  
Contact
Type of information
Older Censuses (pre-2021)