ONS Revising UK's Business and Occupation Codes

Britain's statistical authority the ONS has this week begun a consultation on updating its Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). The organisation is already in the process of refreshing the Standard Industrial Classification, or SIC, for publication next month.

SOC is a coding framework used to classify people's occupations within the UK, assigning a four-digit code for each job, based on the skills and qualifications needed for it - this is used by the ONS in the UK census and in the production of labour market statistics, and is also used by other government agencies. The updates are intended to allow for technological developments, innovation and new products, the use of new materials and improved methods of production or delivery of services.

SOC was introduced in 1990, and is revised every ten years; users and interested parties are invited to contribute to the process in the next three months, with the two-and-a-half year revision cycle beginning in the autumn. Input is required on occupations that have grown significantly and may need their own classification; those that have declined and could be combined with others; and 'new roles emerging from technological change, the green economy, or other developments.'

In a blog on the ONS web site, Chief Data Officer and Director of Data Growth and Operations Fiona James (pictured) said the previous, 2020 update saw groups including cyber-security professionals, coffee shop workers and data entry administrators added.

SIC codes are used to produce statistical summaries of things like output, employment and productivity, and the current version was framed in 2007. The current update of this is 'at a more advanced stage', according to James, with categories for 'organisation of e-sports events' and 'other e-sports activities' likely to be added, and discussion of the benefits of splitting a number of growing categories to give more detail. Examples of the latter are splitting battery manufacture between those for hybrid and zero emission vehicles and other types of battery; and creating splits to understand better the manufacture of gluten-free products, and meat substitutes. New financial categories may be added to reflect specialisations in the UK economy, including coverage of crypto asset categories. A UK Steering Group will approve and ratify the final version, following any further feedback, later this month, and the delivery of the final SIC2026 publication is scheduled for the end of March.

The classification has been criticised for a failure to keep up with changes in the fast-evolving economy at the speed required to allow meaningful and practical analysis. Leeds-based firm The Data City provides 'real time' analysis and classification of companies in many different countries for clients in both public and private sectors, with a system called RTICs. The firm says SIC codes continue to group large numbers of very different firms in 'other' categories: for example SIC code 82990, Other business support services includes the likes of Amazon UK, Sony Interactive Entertainment Network Europe, Santander, Google and Facebook.

Web sites: www.ons.gov.uk and www.thedatacity.com .