As discussed in the introduction to this report, 2001 saw the introduction of the new National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC). It has replaced Social Class based on occupation and Socio-economic Groups (SEG). Like social class and SEG, the new classification is based on occupation and employment status. The version of the new classification, which will be used for most analyses has eight classes (see Appendix E for a more detailed description).

One of the major differences from SEG is that there is no longer a manual/non-manual split. However, the categories of NS-SEC can be aggregated to produce an approximation of Social Class and SEG. When this is done the level of continuity between these approximations and the old classification is 87%. Because of the differences between the two classification systems, this report does not present time series data on socio-economic group.

Table 3.14 shows the new classification. It should be noted that the recommended source for data on NS-SEC and SEG is the Labour Force Survey because of its considerably larger sample. Appendix E includes a comparison of LFS and GHS distributions on NS-SEC.

Overall, 10% of people were in the higher professional and managerial group. Men were much more likely than women to be classified in the higher professional and managerial group, 16% and 5% for men and women respectively in 2001. Just over a fifth (21%) of people were in the lower managerial and professional group, with similar proportions for both men and women. Thirteen percent were classified in the intermediate occupation group (which included clerical workers, secretaries, nursery nurses and nursing auxiliaries, call centre workers). Women were more likely to be classified into this group, 19% compared with only 6% of men.

Eight percent of people were in the small employers and own-account workers group, and 11% in the lower supervisory and technical group (including occupations such as train drivers, plumbers, fitters, inspectors, printers). Men were twice as likely as women to be in the small employers and own-account workers group (11% compared with 5%). They were also more likely than women to be in the lower supervisory and technical group, 15% compared with 6%. Almost a quarter (23%) of women were in the semi-routine occupation group compared with 12% of men. Fifteen percent of people were in the routine occupation group (which included occupations such as machine operators, packers, cleaners, labourers, sales assistants, HGV drivers and bar staff). This proportion was the same for men and women.

The proportion of people in the higher managerial and professional group peaked between the ages of 25 and 44, and thereafter began to decline. Only 3% of those aged 16 to 24 were in this group, rising to 13% of people aged 25 to 34 and 14% of people aged 35 to 44. The pattern was similar for men and women. A similar distribution was found for the lower managerial and professional group. The proportion of people in the semi-routine and routine group was highest among the youngest and oldest groups. A little over two-fifths of people aged 16 to 24 (42%) were in the routine or semi-routine group compared with less than a quarter (24%) of people aged 25 to 34.