Sheffield Built-up Area : NS Socio-economic Classification (4-way)

NS Socio-economic Classification (4-way)

Data cube chart.

Year Higher managerial, administrative & professional occupations Intermediate occupations Routine & manual occupations Never worked & long-term unemployed
1971 8,594 Show data context 8,398 Show data context 6,933 Show data context 2,414 Show data context
1981 9,244 Show data context 7,534 Show data context 6,916 Show data context 1,719 Show data context
1991 8,989 Show data context 4,119 Show data context 4,657 Show data context 194 Show data context
2001 75,410 Show data context 45,036 Show data context 93,729 Show data context 57,278 Show data context
2011 162,356 Show data context 65,989 Show data context 114,482 Show data context 89,358 Show data context
2021 118,587 Show data context 74,911 Show data context 115,647 Show data context 100,165 Show data context
Date Source
1971 UK Data Service, Census 1971 data (Table SAS23: "SEG and economic position (10% Sample): Economically Active residents")
1981 UK Data Service, Census 1981 data (SAS50: "Socio-Economic group and economic positions (10% Sample): Economically active residents")
1991 Office for National Statistics, NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (Table S92 "SEG and economic position (10% sample): Economically active residents)
2001 Office for National Statistics, NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (Table UV031, NS-Sec (21 way))
2011 Office for National Statistics, NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (Table QS607UK - NS-SeC)
2021 Office for National Statistics, ONS "Create a Custom Dataset" (National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (17 way))

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nCube definition


Here we simplify the National Statistics Socio-economic Classfication into just four analytic categories, which we try to present over a very long period. Note that up to 1991 the census focused on levels of "skill", and on whether work was "manual", but since 2001 the focus has instead been on whether work was "routine", making comparisons difficult.


How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Sheffield Built-up Area through time | Historical Statistics on Social Structure | NS Socio-economic Classification (4-way), A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/13509682/cube/NS_SEC_4WAY

Date accessed: 03rd June 2026