The Household PCS (PCS being a French nomenclature of socio-professional categories) enables the social position of a household to be analysed by the cross-referenced situation of the main adults in the household rather than on the basis of the profession of a single individual (reference person, dominant position, etc.). This new nomenclature reflects the multiplicity of resources (economic, educational, etc.) in the form of a hierarchical and modular grid, specifically distinguishing households according to social homogamy and mono- or bi-activity. Compared to approaches that categorise households on the basis of a single individual, it enables social phenomena to be described at household level and is accompanied by an explanatory gain in statistical models. It is made available in official statistics sources from 2022 onwards and is likely to be implemented retrospectively. After describing the Household PCS and its groups, the article illustrates its empirical contribution from three themes (place of residence and housing conditions, standard of living and wealth, educational trajectories of children). Finally, it presents the profound changes in family and professional categories that transformed the household structure between 1982 and 2019.

Amossé, T. & Cayouette‑Remblière, J. (2022). A New Nomenclature for French Statistics: The Household PCS. Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, 532‑33, 135–153.
doi: 10.24187/ecostat.2022.532.2074