Appendix 2: Definitions of table variables

This appendix provides definitions of the variables and classifications that are used in this paper, and appear as row variables in the tables. Temporary work variables are defined in Appendix 1.

Business type

The 'business type' variable indicates whether the respondent worked for a private sector firm, a government sector organisation, or not-for-profit organisation in their main job. It was derived by matching each respondent to a specific business identity appearing on Statistics New Zealand's Business Frame, using the information they gave on the name and address of their employer. The Business Frame is a business register containing data on the characteristics of all businesses that meet certain size and economic significance criteria, including their employee numbers and business type.

Nine percent of respondents could not be linked to any business on the BF, either because their employer was too small to be recorded on the Business Frame or because the details they gave were too vague. These respondents are shown in the 'not classified' category.

Employment agreement

An employment agreement is a document agreed by an employee and an employer that covers the employee's terms and conditions of employment. An individual agreement applies only to an individual employee. A collective agreement covers two or more employees who are members of a union.

Ethnic group

Respondents to the HLFS-SOWL were able to specify up to three ethnic groups that they are affiliated with. Their overall ethnic group was determined on the basis of all their responses. For example, the 'European only' group represents people who specified a European ethnic group and no other. The 'European/Maori' group includes people who gave these two ethnic groups and no others. The final 'other categories' group includes everyone who gave responses or combinations of responses that are not covered by preceding categories.

Highest qualification

• The category 'Higher school qualification' includes NZ Bursary, NZ Scholarships, NCEA level 2 or 3, NZ Higher School Certificate, and NZ 6^th Form Certificate.
• The category 'Other school qualification' includes overseas school qualifications and any school qualifications that could not be classified by level.
• The category 'Other post-school qualification' includes people who said they had a post-school qualification but did not provide enough details for it to be classified.

Industry

Industry was classified using the ANZSIC96 classification.

Job tenure

The survey's measure of job tenure was derived from a question on the duration of time the respondent had worked for their employer in their main job. The wording of the question did not specify that the work under consideration must have been continuous and unbroken. Some people may have referred to the date when they first began working for their current employer even if they had not worked continuously.

Occupation

Occupation was classified using the NZSCO99 classification.

Parental status

The parental status variable uses the concept of a dependent child. A dependent child is a child who is either aged under 16, or aged 16-17 and not employed full-time.

Part-time employee

A part-time employee is one who usually works for fewer than 30 hours a week.

Size of establishment and size of enterprise

An establishment is a business unit or workplace with a single geographical location. An enterprise is a legally-defined business entity, which may have one or more establishments.

The 'size of establishment' and 'size of enterprise' variables were derived by matching each respondent to a specific business identity appearing on Statistics New Zealand's Business Frame, using the information they gave on the name and address of their employer. The Business Frame is a business register containing data on the characteristics of all businesses that meet certain size and economic significance criteria.

Nine percent of respondents could not be linked to any business on the BF, either because their employer was too small to appear on the Business Frame or because the details they gave were too vague. These respondents are shown in the 'not classified' category.

Type of geographical area

Main urban areas are towns and cities with at least 30,000 residents. Minor urban areas are towns with at least 1,000 residents but less than 30,000. The rural category includes rural centres that have less than 1,000 residents and geographical areas with lower population densities.