Sector ownership 2013 Census (information about this variable and its quality)

##Where the data comes from

Question 37 (name of the business/employer), question 38 (main activity of the business/employer) and question 39 (address of the place where worked) on the individual form.

##How this data is classified

1 Central government

2 Local government

3 Private

4 Not stated

##Subject population

The subject population for this variable is the employed census usually resident population aged 15 years and over.

The subject population is the people, families, households, or dwellings to whom the variable applies.

##Non-response and data that could not be classified

Non-response

'Non-response' is when an individual gives no response at all to a census question that was relevant to them. The non-response rate is the percentage of the subject population that was coded to ‘Not stated’.

• Non-response rate for 2013: 4.0 percent.
• Non-response rate for 2006: 5.7 percent.
• Non-response rate for 2001: 4.8 percent.

For more information on non-response, refer to the 2013 Census data user guide.

##How this data is used

Data from this variable is used:

• by the State Services Commission to analyse public service trends, such as qualification levels
• by Statistics NZ to verify other sector of ownership sources
• in conjunction with other paid work variables to reweight the labour cost index.

##Data quality processes

All census data was checked thoroughly during processing and evaluation, to ensure that it met quality standards and is suitable for use. These quality checks included edits.

All data must meet minimum quality standards to make it suitable for use.

Quality level

A quality level is assigned to all census variables: foremost, defining, or supplementary.

Sector of ownership is a supplementary variable. Supplementary variables do not fit in directly with the main purpose of a census, but are still important to certain groups. These variables are given third priority in terms of effort and resources.

Mode of collection impacts – online forms compared with paper forms

The online forms had built-in editing functionality that directed respondents to the appropriate questions and ensured that their responses were valid. As a result of this, data from online forms may be of higher overall quality than data from paper forms. The significance of this will depend on the particular type of analysis being done. There will always be a mode effect but this cannot be measured. Statistics NZ design and test to minimise the effects of mode for all questions.

There were differences between how the forms were completed online and on paper for this variable:

• On the online form, only people who answered that they were in employment in question 32 and were 15 years of age or older, and gave a New Zealand address in question 5 were able to respond to the sector of ownership question. When forms were completed on paper, it was possible for people who were not working, younger than 15 years, or overseas visitors to answer this question.

##Quality assessment of data and data quality issues for this variable

Overall quality assessment

High: fit for use – with minor data quality issues only. 2013 Census variable quality rating scale gives more detail.

Issues to note

• Non-response rate for 2013: 4.0 percent.
• The non-response rate in 2013 has continued to decrease.

For more information on non-response, refer to the 2013 Census data user guide.

##Comparing this data with previous census data

This data is fully comparable with data from the 2006 and 2001 Censuses. Changes in the data over this time period can be interpreted as real changes because there have been no changes in the way the data has been collected, defined, and classified.

##Comparing this data with data from other sources

Census is the only information source that provides comprehensive information for small areas and small populations. However alternative sources of information about this subject are available:

• Household Economic Survey (HES)
• Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS)
• Quarterly Employment Survey (QES)
• Linked Employer-Employee Database (LEED)
• Labour Cost Index (LCI)
• NZ Business Demography Statistics.

Data from these alternative sources may show differences from census data for several reasons. These could be due to differences in scope, coverage, non-response rates, data being collected at different periods of time, alternative sources being sample surveys and as such subject to sampling errors, or differences in question wordings and method of delivery (self-administered versus interviewer-administered). Data users are advised to familiarise themselves with the strengths and limitations of individual data sources before comparing with census data.

##Further information about this data

All percentages in census publications have been calculated using 'Total stated' as the denominator.

When using this data, be aware that:

• Employers' names and addresses are matched against information about businesses that Statistics NZ has in order to code sector of ownership.

Contact our Information Centre for further information about using this variable