Orkney Islands Council : NS Socio-economic Classification (15-way)

NS Socio-economic Classification (15-way)

Data cube chart.

NS Socio-economic Classfication (15 way) 2001 2011 2021
Employers in large establishments 34 Show data context 224 Show data context 10 Show data context
Higher managerial & administrative occupations 138 Show data context 752 Show data context 427 Show data context
Higher professional occupations 403 Show data context 3,214 Show data context 1,296 Show data context
Lower professional & higher technical occupations 1,431 Show data context 2,231 Show data context 2,843 Show data context
Lower managerial & administrative occupations 493 Show data context 572 Show data context 517 Show data context
Higher supervisory occupations 290 Show data context 411 Show data context 537 Show data context
Intermediate occupations 895 Show data context 1,512 Show data context 1,755 Show data context
Employers in small organisations 842 Show data context 769 Show data context 764 Show data context
Own account workers 1,334 Show data context 1,889 Show data context 2,096 Show data context
Lower supervisory occupations 834 Show data context 973 Show data context 802 Show data context
Lower technical occupations 395 Show data context 566 Show data context 691 Show data context
Semi-routine occupations 2,028 Show data context 2,922 Show data context 2,663 Show data context
Routine occupations 1,510 Show data context 2,076 Show data context 2,655 Show data context
Never worked & long-term unemployed 382 Show data context 361 Show data context 747 Show data context
Full-time students 571 Show data context 684 Show data context 629 Show data context
Date Source
2001 National Records of Scotland, Scotland's Census (Table UV31, NS-SeC (51 way))
2011 Office for National Statistics, NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (Table QS607UK - NS-SeC)
2021 National Records of Scotland, Scotland's Census (Table UV607, NS-SeC, for "all people aged 16 and over")

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nCube definition


The early censuses 1801-31 used this very simple classification of occupations. The cemsuses of Great Britain from 1811 onwards applied it to families rather than persons, and all families were included under one of these headings.


How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Orkney Islands Council through time | Historical Statistics on Social Structure | NS Socio-economic Classification (15-way), A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10197247/cube/NS_SEC_15WAY

Date accessed: 03rd June 2026