Meeting of the United Nations Expert Group on International Economic and Social Classifications (UNEG)

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Meeting of the United Nations Expert Group on
International Economic and Social Classifications
(UNEG) (New York, 20 24 June 2005) Some
points drawn from the Summary of discussion on
ISCO-88 revision (20 - 21 June) Prepared by
Peter Elias
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Background The 17th Conference of Labour
Statisticians (ICLS) in December 2003 mandated
that ISCO-88 should be updated. Due to the lack
of ILO resources, the significant time constraint
imposed, and the need for continuity, the review
of ISCO was to be an update only and the
structure and fundamental principles underpinning
it were not to be changed.
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Methodology to data (September 2005) Consultants
report (Debbie Budlender (2003), Whither
ISCO-88?, Policy Integration Department Working
Paper No. 9, International Labour Office,
Geneva). Questionnaires to obtain general
guidelines as well as concrete recommendations
for the creation of new occupational groups and
to improve the descriptions of already existing
groups. Web forum set up to further facilitate
countries participation in the review
http//www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco
/index.htm Technical Subgroup (TSG/ISCO) now
formed to assist with the ISCO updating
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Technical Subgroup (TSG/ISCO) Decision-making
body for ISCO Six countries national
statistical organisations have been selected for
the ISCO technical subgroup (Canada, UK, Republic
of Korea, Australia, Botswana and Uruguay)
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• Technical Subgroup (TSG/ISCO)
• The TSG/ISCO will work in collaboration with ILO
  to
• develop proposals for the boundaries of the
  updating process,
• organize collection and review of proposals for
  updates of ISCO,
• decide on draft proposals for updates of ISCO,
• elaborate rulings on interpretation of the
  current ISCO,
• prepare the draft structure and discussion
  documents to be submitted to the UNEG on
  Economic and Social Classifications, the ILO
  Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Labour
  Statistics

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Process The TSG/ISCO will report to the UN
Expert Group on Economic and Social
Classifications (UNEG) for evaluation of their
tasks and approval of their findings or
decisions. At its next meeting, the UN Expert
Group on Economic and Social Classifications will
determine whether and how the TSG/ISCO will
continue to function. The UNEG will provide
advice to the ILO to assist the development of
papers for the ILO Tripartite Meeting of Experts
on Labour Statistics.
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Timetable for work of the TSG/ISCO Prepare
proposals for boundaries of revision for
ratification by UNEG September 2005 Prepare
draft structure for consideration by UNEG
January 2007 Prepare discussion documents for
the ILO Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Labour
Statistics July 2007
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What did the UN Expert Group say about the Review
of ISCO? Concerns expressed that ISCO88 very out
of date gave examples of occupational areas
where new occupations had emerged (finance,
media, etc). ILO replied that no strong support
for this notion from consultants report or from
country questionnaires. ILO argued that main
direct users of ISCO are developing
countries. Concerns expressed about the extent
of the Review, the work involved and the lack of
any long term strategic plan for development and
maintenance of ISCO. Expert Group concluded that
further and more broader discussions were
required by a larger number of experts via the
web forum and in particular by the TSG/ISCO.
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Specific issues of relevance to ESeC discussed by
the Expert Group Whether Major Groups 2
Professionals and 3 Technicians and associate
professionals should be merged (China and
India). Merging Minor Group 122 Production and
operations department managers and Sub Major
Group 13 General managers (no consensus on this
issue). Supervisors It was agreed that the tasks
and duties of managers and supervisors need to be
further investigated, and that, if required,
separate unit groups created for some supervisory
occupations
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Specific issues relevant to ESeC
(contd.) Workers with management
responsibilities and working proprietors It was
agreed that the underlying principles of ISCO
should not be changed in this area but that they
need to be further clarified Administration
professionals European countries supported the
proposal for the creation of a separate Unit
Group for administration professionals quite
strongly, but there was little general support
for this group
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(No Transcript)
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ISCO and ESeC Where do we need to focus our
efforts? Margaret Birch Institute for
Employment Research University of Warwick
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• Issues for discussion
• the distinction between ISCO sub-major groups
  12 and 13 (corporate managers and general
  managers/managers of small enterprises).
• the classification of supervisors
• the distinction between professional and
  associate professional and technical
  occupations perhaps not just an issue for China
  and India?
• the classification of shopkeepers
• the classification of public service
  administrative professionals