Employment trends
Industry and Occupation definitions

Industry definitions

Occupation definitions

Industry definitions

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has been using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industry Classification (ANZSIC) for standard industry definitions since 1993 for Service Industry Surveys (SIS) and 1996 for the Census of Population and Housing. A revised edition of the ANZSIC (cat. no. 1292.0) with expanded industry categories was introduced in 2006. Prior to 1993, the Australian Standard Industry Classification (ASIC) was used. With the new classification system, while some terminology was amended and expanded in accordance with changes in the audiovisual industries, definitions generally remained very similar to the previous system. The various definitions are provided below under the term used by Screen Australia: Research: Statistics.

A searchable database of all industry categories is available on the ABS website.

Film and video production and post-production services

ANZSIC: 2006 Census and 2006/07 Television, Film and Video Production and Post-production Services SIS

Motion picture and video production (5511): Consists of units mainly engaged in producing motion pictures, videos and television programs or commercials. These productions are recorded and stored on a variety of analogue or digital visual media such as film, video tape or DVD.

Post-production services and other motion picture and video activities (5514): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing post-production services and other motion picture and video activities, including specialised motion picture or video post-production services such as editing, film/tape transfers, titling, subtitling, credits, closed captioning and computer-produced graphics, animation and special effects, as well as developing and processing motion picture film.

ANZSIC: 1996–2001 Censuses; 1993/94, 1996/97 and 1999/00 Film and Video Production and Distribution SIS; and 2002/03 Television, Film and Video Production SIS.

Film and video production (9111): Consists of businesses mainly engaged in the production of motion pictures on film or video for cinema or television projection. Also includes businesses mainly providing production services such as casting and film editing.

ASIC: 1971–1991 Censuses

Motion picture production (9131): Consists of establishments mainly engaged in the production of motion picture film or tape for cinema or television projection.

Film and video distribution

ANZSIC: 2006 Census

Motion picture and video distribution (5512): Consists of units mainly engaged in acquiring distribution rights and distributing motion pictures and videos (through leasing and wholesale channels) to a range of exhibitors such as motion picture theatres and television stations using a variety of visual media.

ANZSIC: 1996–2001 Censuses and 1993/94, 1996/97 and 1999/00 Film and Video Production and Distribution SIS

Film and video distribution (9112): Consists of businesses mainly engaged in leasing or wholesaling motion pictures on film or video tape to organisations for exhibition or sale. Subscription television channel providers are included.

ASIC: 1971–1991 Censuses

Motion picture film hiring (9132): Consists of establishments mainly engaged in hiring motion picture films to businesses, government organisations, charitable or other non-profit organisations or private individuals.

Film exhibition

ANZSIC: 2006 Census

Motion picture exhibition (5513): Consists of units mainly engaged in screening motion pictures using a variety of visual media. Includes units screening productions at festivals and other similar events.

ANZSIC: 1996–2001 Censuses and 1993/94, 1996/97 and 1999/00 Motion Picture Exhibition SIS

Motion picture exhibition (9113): Consists of businesses mainly engaged in screening motion pictures on film or video tape. Does not include businesses or social clubs owning theatrettes who receive a minor portion of their income from screening movies, or cinema/drive-in operators who receive most of their income from sources other than box office receipts, such as sale of takeaway food.

ASIC: 1971–1991 Censuses and 1979/80 and 1986/87 Motion Picture Exhibition SIS

Motion picture theatres (9133): Consists of establishments mainly engaged in screening motion picture films.

Television broadcasting

ANZSIC: 2006 Census and 2006/07 Television, Film and Video Production and Post-Production Services SIS

Free-to-air television broadcasting (5621): Consists of units mainly engaged in free-to-air television broadcasting of visual content, in the form of electronic images together with sound, through broadcasting studios and facilities. These units may also produce or transmit visual programming to affiliated broadcast television stations, which in turn broadcast the programs on a pre-determined schedule. Transmissions are made available without cost to the viewer.

Cable and other subscription broadcasting (5622): Consists of units mainly engaged in broadcasting television programs on a subscription or fee basis (such as subscription cable or satellite television broadcasting) to viewers.

ANZSIC: 1996–2001 Censuses; 1993/94, 1996/97 and 1999/00 Radio and Television Services SIS; and 2002/03 Television, Film and Video Production SIS.

Television services (9122): Consists of businesses mainly engaged in television broadcasting. Includes subscription television operators and free-to-air television, both public and commercial.

ASIC: 1971–1991 Censuses

Television stations (9135): Consists of establishments mainly engaged in television broadcasting to the general public.

Video hire1

ANZSIC: 2006 Census

Video and other electronic media rental and hiring (6632): Consists of units mainly engaged in renting or hiring pre-recorded video tapes, discs and other electronic media.

ANZSIC: 1996–2001 Censuses and 1999/00 Video Hire Industry SIS

Video hire (9112): Consists of businesses mainly engaged in hiring pre-recorded video cassettes for personal use. Does not include businesses that receive only a minor part of their income from hiring videos, such as service stations, chemists and newsagents.

Undefined²

ANZSIC: 2006 Census

Motion picture and video activities, nfd (5510)

Television broadcasting, nfd (5620)

Occupation definitions

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZCO) (cat. no. 1220.0) has been used to classify occupations from 2006 for the Census of Population and Housing. This replaced the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO), which had been used since 1996. These classification changes have complicated the comparison of occupations over survey periods.

The coding algorithms used for ASCO and ANZSCO are quite different. If an employee has dual titles that cannot be coded to a single occupation, this is resolved by ANZSCO by assigning them to a ‘not further defined’ occupation, whereas ASCO codes them to the higher occupation in the hierarchy. For example, a shop assistant may work as a cashier and also stack shelves. A cashier is higher in the occupation hierarchy than someone stacking shelves. In ASCO, this would be resolved by assigning the person to the occupation highest in the hierarchy, i.e. a cashier. However in ANZSCO, the person may be assigned to a more general shop assistant code, e.g. shop assistant nfd, because they do more than one job.

A searchable database of occupation definitions is available on the ABS website.

Notes.
1. Category did not appear before 1996.
2. Not further defined (nfd) categories were included in previous survey periods but are not listed here.