Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Antigua and Barbuda

1.Name and address of the organization responsible for the census:

Census Office, Statistics Division, Upper Redcliffe Street, St. John's, Antigua.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1945, 1960, 1970 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held on 28 May).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole area.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The week and the year preceding the census.

5.Main topics:

(a) Total population, by sex and age: yes

Economically active population by:

(b) Sex and age group: yes

(c) Industry: yes

(d) Occupation: yes

(e) Status in employment: yes

(f) Highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of age at last birthday.

Re (g): Hours of work relate to the actual hours of work during the reference week and to the number of months worked during the reference year.

Re (h): The census also collected information on: (i) means of transports to travel to work; (ii) engagement on informal trade; (iii) last pay/income period; and (iv) gross pay/income during the last pay period.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 15 to 64 years who, during the reference periods, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Members of the armed forces are excluded from the definition.

(b) Employment

The questions asked to determine if a person is to be counted as employed are What did you do most during the past 12 months? and What did you do most during the past week?. For both questions, the possible answers were: (1) worked; (2) had a job but did not work; (3) looked for work; (4) wanted work and available; (5) home duties; (6) attended school; (7) retired; (8) disabled, unable to work; (9) other; (10) not stated. Those who classified themselves under 1 or 2 were counted as employed.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. persons engaged in the production of primary products for own consumption;
  3. employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
  4. working students with a part time job;
  5. seasonal or occasional workers;
Only persons belonging to categories (i), (iii) and (iv) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

The questions used to determine if a person is to be counted as unemployed, in addition to that one indicated under 6 (b) above, are: Did you do any work at all in the past 12 months? include work at home and Have you ever worked or had a job?.

7.Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed are classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

Based on the questions: What kind of industry or business is/was carried on at your workplace? and What is the name and address of your present workplace?. For coding industry, 157 groups of the National Classification were used. Links to the ISIC-rev.3 have been established to the group (3-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What sort of work did you/do you do in your main occupation?. For coding occupation, 136 groups of the National classification were used. Links have been established to the ISCO-88.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: Did you carry on your own business, work for a wage or salary or as an unpaid worker in a family business?. For coding this variable, six groups were used, namely: (1) paid employee - government; (2) paid employee - private; (3) unpaid worker; (4) own business with paid help (employer); (5) own business without paid help (own account); and (6) don't know/not stated.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

The title of the publication containing the census results is: 1991 Population and Housing Census, Summary Report, Volume II, (Pard. 1), issued in December 1994.

The organization responsible for this publication is the Statistics Division, Ministry of Finance & Social Security.

The census results are also available in the form of unpublished tables and diskettes.