This dataset provides 2011 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 to 74 in employment the week before the census in United Kingdom by occupation (minor group). The estimates are as at census day, 27 March 2011.

"Minor group" refers to the level of categories within the hierarchy of occupations. The information is at a level lower than the estimates from the 2001 Census provided in table UV30, which were based on Standard Occupational Classification 2000 (SOC 2000). 2011 Census results are coded to the newer Standard Occupational Classification 2010 (SOC2010) introduced in June 2010. More information about SOC2010 can be found here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/soc2010/index.html

These statistics provide central government with an understanding of the workforce and the type of skills available and is particularly useful for local economic development, monitoring labour market trends and contributing to schemes created to increase the number of skilled jobs for local residents. The data influence both central and local government resource allocation, Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets for regional competitiveness, and can inform equality and diversity strategies.

In Northern Ireland this table is numbered QS405NI.

This is not the full version of QS606EW as published for areas in England and Wales - none of the lower level categories present on the England and Wales version acre included because they are not present in the standard version of this table for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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.