ABC1C2DE is a socio-economic classification system commonly used in the United Kingdom to segment the population based on occupation and income. It helps marketers, researchers, and policymakers understand consumer behaviour and target different groups more effectively.
The categories are:
- A – Higher managerial, administrative, or professional (e.g. directors, surgeons)
- B – Intermediate managerial, administrative, or professional (e.g. teachers, bank managers)
- C1 – Supervisory, clerical, and junior managerial (e.g. office workers, sales supervisors)
- C2 – Skilled manual workers (e.g. electricians, carpenters)
- D – Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers (e.g. cleaners, labourers)
- E – Casual workers, pensioners, and those on state benefits (e.g. unemployed, state pensioners)
This classification originates from the National Readership Survey and has been widely adopted in media planning, advertising, and social research. While it provides a broad snapshot of socio-economic status, it does have limitations, particularly as work patterns, education, and income sources evolve. Despite this, ABC1C2DE remains a useful shorthand for targeting messaging, positioning products, or analysing market trends across socio-economic lines.