Final report. (revised version, 6 th December 2010) Development of national tools for the codification of occupations according to ISCO-08

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Vienna, 29 th October 2010 Final report (revised version, 6 th December 2010) Development of national tools for the codification of occupations according to ISCO-08 Grant agreement No 10202.2009.

1 Vienna, 29 th October 2010 Final report (revised version, 6 th December 2010) Development of national tools for the codification of occupations according to ISCO-08 Grant agreement No Expected output of the grant agreement on ISCO-08 The output of this project are the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 in German language and the recoded and updated alphabetical index of occupations according to ISCO-08 prepared mainly for Labour Force Survey (LFS). The project started at the end of October 2009 and ended at the end of October First Draft of the translation of the English version of the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 Explanatory notes of ISCO-08 are only available in the UN official languages (English, Arabic, Spain, French and Russian). Neither the International Labour Organistaion (ILO), nor EUROSTAT will translate the English version of the explanatory notes into German language. This translation work is very capacious, as the text has about 590 pages. Statistics Austria therefore solicited an offer from a professional translation bureau. This translation bureau had already translated the homepage of Statistics Austria into English language satisfactorily. So, Statistics Austria mandated this translation bureau to translate the English version of the explanatory notes into German language.

2 The database (explanatory notes in English), which was made available by the ILO, included mistakes. Statistics Austria had to correct the spelling mistakes, before the English version of the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 could be submitted to the translation bureau in December Two translators worked on the text, because of the large number of pages. The translation bureau had to consider the following orders: To use the terminology of the already agreed German titles of ISCO-08. To use the same German translation for the same English terms throughout the text. To consult Statistics Austria, if a correct translation is ambivalent. To mark translated texts, where the correct translation is still ambivalent after consulting Statistics Austria. Not to use specific Austrian terms, as the German version should be used in all German speaking member states. Statistics Austria kept in touch with the translators during the whole translation period. Meetings were held with the translators and in some cases (for instance the correct translation of occupations in the armed forces) Statistics Austria obtained additional expertise. At the beginning of February 2010 the work of the translation bureau was finalized and a draft version of the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 in German was available. Now Statistics Austria made numerous quality checks on this draft version. 3. The Workshop on ISCO-08 explanatory notes in German language in Vienna, 19 th to 23 rd April 2010 Statistics Austria organized a workshop in Vienna. During the workshop the draft explanatory notes had to be finalized in cooperation of the German speaking countries - Germany and Switzerland and also with some help from Eurostat - as a common German language version. For this workshop Statistics Austria made the following preparations: The German speaking countries Germany, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Belgium and also Eurostat - were invited to Vienna in order to finalize the German language explanatory notes. Belgium and Luxemburg did not participate in this workshop, because they notified, that their knowledge of the German language is not good enough for this difficult work. Germany, Switzerland, Eurostat and Austria participated. The countries agreed to participate on the workshop on 19 th to 23 rd of April Statistics Austria provided room, laptops, print outs, technical equipment and all other necessary meeting facilities. 2

3 After first quality checks on draft translation of the explanatory notes Statistics Austria prepared the workshop documents. The word document of the draft translation was transformed into excel format and sent on 10th of March 2010 to the participants of workshop. Each country should insert their suggested corrections in a dedicated column. Therefore each country was checking: whether the translation of the occupations and of the descriptions of the tasks is correct and whether the suggested German terms of the occupations is used in their country. Each country sent the completed Excel sheet to Statistics Austria until 9th of April Based on the answers Statistics Austria prepared a document including all corrections from all concerned countries and sent it back to them for further reviewing. The German speaking countries had already made common German versions of activity and product classifications, such as NACE and CPA. So the difficulties of this capacious work were well known: The enormous size of the text. Finding terms, that can be used in all German speaking countries without misunderstandings (e.g. Sanitärinstallateure or Heizungsinstallateure for pipe fitters ) Finding apprpriate terms for occupations, that are understood directly in all German speaking countries, although there are differences in the institutional context in all the three countries (e.g. Staatspräsident for secretary of state ) For the last two points discussions were necessary and if no adequate term could be found, the two (.../..) or three terms (../../..) had to be mentioned together (e.g. Landeshauptmann/Ministerpräsident/Regierungsrat for state governor ). The participants worked very intensively and during the five days of the workshop the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 major groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in German language could be finalized. The major groups 8 and 9 should be finalized by after the workshop. For the finalization of the German explanatory notes the German speaking countries asked also David Hunter from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), who is responsible for the ISCO-08, some questions about the content of some unit groups in order to translate the content correctly. By the end of June 2010 the common German language version of the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 version June 2009 was finalized and published on the homepage of Statistics Austria

4 4. The finalization of the common German language version of the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 Since June 2009 the ILO made several corrections and adoptions of the explanatory notes. Version 1.1 of the explanatory notes named update for comments correction of errors and clarification of different areas identified following the circulation of final draft June 2009 was circulated after 22 nd February More corrections and adaptations followed on 12 th April 2010 in version 1.2 of the explanatory notes. David Hunter included the answers to the questions of the German speaking countries from the ISCO-08 workshop in Vienna in the explanatory notes and published on 19 th May 2010 version 1.3 of the explanatory notes. The ILO promised to finalize the explanatory notes at the beginning of The finalization of the German language version of the explanatory notes could not be finished until the end of the project, because a real final English version is not yet available. 5. The alphabetical index of occupations for Labor Force Survey The alphabetical index of the occupations is elementary for the correct application of the classification. In the Labor Force Survey (LFS) only the alphabetical index is used in the coding process. The current alphabetical index of ISCO-88 contained around 8500 occupations classified at the lowest level of ISCO-88. This alphabetical index had to be reclassified till the beginning of October So a detailed recoding plan was developed in February 2010: 1.) The alphabetical index of the occupations had to be recoded according to the correspondence table ISCO-88 ISCO-08. Each alphabetical index term was examined, whether it can be used in this form in the new classification or not. This examination of the alphabetical index terms covered several steps: The alphabetical index term can be coded to ISCO-08 without any addition or specification. An addition or specification is necessary for the use in ISCO-08. An addition or specification does not solve the recoding problem and the term cannot be used for coding in this form. So the term had be deleted and substituted by a more adequate new one, if possible. 2.) Some of these index terms were classified only at ISCO-88 (COM) three digit level (e.g. laboratory assistant), because more information was missing to specify the four-digit level. Thus all index terms classified at the three digit level had to be enriched with some additional information, in order to be able to use them for the coding at the four digit level. Some of these terms are too general (e.g. Beamter / public servant )) for a correct classification, so these terms had to be deleted or replaced by a more specific new one if possible. It was also necessary to check whether the occupations mentioned in the alphabetical index are still existing. 4

5 3.) At the end, around 2000 terms of occupations of the old alphabetical index of the LFS had to be deleted because: The occupation was not existing any more (e.g. Lampisten for persons, who light up lamps). The terms of the occupations were too general (e.g. Computer Fachmann / Computer expert ). An addition or specification of the occupation could not solve the reclassifying problem (e.g. IT-supporter ). 4.) Additional index terms for newly evolved occupations were included. The new index terms have been taken basically from the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 and from a list of occupations used by the national labor market administration (AMS). 5.) The new alphabetical index of occupations includes around 7600 index terms, all attributed at the lowest level of ISCO-08. It was submitted to our division for LFS on 15 th October This alphabetical index was adapted due to the wishes required by LFS: Only male terms of occupations, because otherwise the number of terms would have to be duplicated and the index would not be practical for the interviewers of the LFS anymore. Including the ISCO-88 COM code for all index terms (also the new ones) for comparisons with the survey of January 2010 No alphabetical index terms for unit groups of ISCO-08, where occupations do not exist in Austria (e.g. traditional village chiefs or subsistence farmers) in order to avoid coding mistakes. In order to classify occupations due to ISCO-08 in a correct way, it was necessary to include some additions and specifications to some of the index terms. The following additions were included: GF: Manger of a department or a general manger of an enterprise or an organization with has a hierarchy of mangers. MM: Manger of a department or a general manger of an enterprise or an organization without a hierarchy of mangers. PL: Mining, manufacturing and construction supervisors. HG: Operators of small shops, guest houses, cafes, restaurants and bars for whom the management and supervision of staff is not a significant component of the work. HW: Craft and related trade workers. Akademisch (academic): Analyzing and researching tasks are inherent for these occupations, which are executed by professionals. Nicht akademisch (non-academic): These occupations are executed by non professionals. 5

6 6.) For the elaboration of the alphabetical index of occupations Statistics Austria also contacted several experts from various institutions (e.g. Ministry of agriculture, Ministry of defence, Ministry of education, Ministry of health, Federal Economic Chamber, Medical Association, Underwriting Association, Austrian National Bank). 7.) In producing the alphabetical index Statistics Austria has used the most recent English version, so that there should not be problems in applying the ISCO-08 in LFS or any other surveys in the near future due the fact that the German version is not yet based on the final English version ( which itself will only become available somewhere beginning of next year). The alphabetical index is also available including female terms of occupations (LFS does not need the female terms of occupations). This index is also available on our homepage. The alphabetical index will be used in the LFS for the first time in January 2011.Therefore 165 interviewers of the Labour Force Survey have to be trained on the correct use of this new alphabetical index in December There will also be an annual update of this alphabetical index of occupations, which will be submitted to LFS periodically. 7.) The development of ÖISCO-08 Usually, Austria prepares national versions of the main international classifications. The national versions cover more elaborated explanatory notes and an alphabetical index. Explanatory notes for ÖISCO-08: Some examples of the occupations listed in the German explanatory notes must be changed into typical Austrian terminology. For instance the chimney sweeper can be translated as a Schornsteinfeger and as a Rauchfangkehrer. In the common German version of the explanatory notes the term Schornsteinfeger was used, because it s understandable in all concerned countries, but in Austria the word Rauchfangkehrer is mostly used. Furthermore Statistics Austria decided to develop a gender neutral version of the classification. So, the female terms of the occupations mentioned in the explanatory notes have to be added. Alphabetical index of the occupations: The alphabetical index of the occupations for coding in the Labor Force Survey will be enriched. Statistics Austria will add additional index terms of occupations: Index terms for newly evolved occupations from the fields not covered by the labour market administration (AMS) (e.g. occupations of mangers) will be included. Female terms of the occupations will be added. Some terms of occupations only exist in a female version (e.g. midwife). So logically there will be no male version 6

7 of this occupation in the alphabetical index. On the other side some occupations exist only in the male term, for instance a parson of the Roman Catholic Church. The complete alphabetical index of occupations, which also includes occupations, which are not existing in Austria (e.g. traditional village chiefs or subsistence farmers) and female and male terms as well, will be published in The data will be available on our homepage as well as in print form. 8. Output of the grant agreement on ISCO-08 Explanatory notes: Statistics Austria has translated the English version of explanatory notes of ISCO-08 (version June 2009) into German language and published it on its homepage. The data file is enclosed. This is not the final version of the German language version of the explanatory notes of ISCO-08, because the final English version of the explanatory notes of ISCO-08 is not yet available. Alphabetical index: The alphabetical index of occupations used in LFS was recoded, updated and already submitted to the LFS unit in Statistics Austria for use from 2011 onwards. The data file is enclosed. Margaretha Zeller Enclosed: German language version of explanatory notes (ILO version of June 2009) ISCO-08 alphabetical index in German language for Labor Force Survey 7

Directorate E: Social and regional statistics and geographical information system

EUROPEAN COMMISSION EUROSTAT Directorate E: Social and regional statistics and geographical information system 8QLWÃ(Ã(GXFDWLRQÃKHDOWKÃDQGÃRWKHUÃVRFLDOÃILHOGV ESTAT/E3/ETS/2001/09 Original: EN Working