This dataset provides 2011 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 to 74 in England and Wales by National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC). The estimates are as at census day, 27 March 2011.

The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC) provides an indication of socio-economic position based on occupation and is coded to Standard Occupational Classification. To assign a person (aged 16 to 74) to an NS-SeC category, their occupation title is combined with information about their employment status, whether they are employed or self-employed and whether or not they supervise other employees. Full-time students are recorded in the 'full-time students' category regardless of whether they are economically active or not.

Similar estimates from the 2001 Census were provided in table UV31 but differences exist in the way the estimates are derived because of changes in the occupation classification used between censuses, and because the 2001 derivation used information about the number of employees at a personal workplace. This question was not asked in the 2011 census.

In order to protect against disclosure of personal information from the 2011 Census, there has been swapping of records in the Census database between different geographic areas, and so some counts will be affected. In the main, the greatest effects will be at the lowest geographies, since the record swapping is targeted towards those households with unusual characteristics in small areas.

More details on the ONS Census disclosure control strategy may be found on the Statistical Disclosure Control page on the ONS web site.