Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

American Samoa

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

Economic Development and Planning Office, American Samoa Government, Pago Pago, A.S. 96799, in conjunction with the US Bureau of the Census.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1945, 1950, 1956, 1960, 1970, 1974, 1980 and 1990. The present description relates to the 1990 census (held on 1st April).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole area.

(b) Persons covered

The 1990 census counted every person at his or her usual residence; this means the place where the person lives and sleeps most of the time. The census excluded: persons who usually live somewhere else; college students who live somewhere else while attending college; persons in the armed forces who live somewhere else, and persons who stay somewhere else most of the week while working.

4.Reference period:

The week prior to the census and the year preceding the census year.

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 both in terms of year of birth and of age at last birthday.

Re (g): For both short and long reference periods, employed persons were asked to specify, respectively, the number of hours worked last week and the total period worked in 1989 (expressed in number of weeks).

Re (h): The census also collected information on total income and on means of transport to travel to workplace.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 16 years and over (except those engaged in subsistence farming) who, during the reference periods, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The definition includes members of the armed forces.

(b) Employment

The questions used to determine if a person is to be counted as employed are Did X work at any time last week, either full time or part time? (work includes part-time work such as delivering papers, or helping without pay in a family business or farm; it also includes active duty in the Armed Forces; it does not include own homework, school work, or volunteer work), and How many hours did X work last week at all jobs, excluding subsistence activity?.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. employed persons temporarily absent from work;
  3. working students with a part time job;
  4. seasonal or occasional workers;
  5. conscripts for military/civilian service;
  6. apprentices and trainees.
None of the above categories can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference week, were without work and seeking work. To determine if a person is to be counted as unemployed, the questions used are: Were you temporarily absent or on lay-off from job or business last week?, Has X been looking for work to earn money during the last 4 weeks? and Could X have taken a job last week if one had been offered?.

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: For whom did X last work?, What kind of business or industry was this? and Is this mainly manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, or something else (agriculture, construction, service, government, etc.)?. For coding industry, 231 categories classified into 13 major industry groups of the Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC) were used. Links to the ISIC-rev.2 have been established to the level of United States 1972 and 1977 Supplement.

(b) Occupation

Based on the questions: What kind of work was X doing (for example registered nurse, industrial machinery mechanic, cake icer)? and What were X's most important activities or duties (for example patient care, repair machines in factory, icing cakes)?. For coding occupation, 13 major occupation groups of the Standard Occupational Classification Manual (SOC) were used. Links to the ISCO have not been established.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: Was X: employee of a private for profit company or business or of an individual, for wages, salary or commissions; employee of a private not-for-profit, tax-exempt, or charitable organization; local or territorial government employee (territorial/commonwealth, etc.); federal government employee; self-employed in own not incorporated business, professional practice, or farm; self-employed in own-incorporated business, professional practice, or farm; working without pay in family business or farm?. For coding status in employment, the seven groups above were used.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

The title of the publication containing the final census results is 1990 CPH-6-AS, issued in 1992.

The organizations responsible for this publication are either the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233, or the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

The census results are also available in the form of STF files 1 and 3, diskettes and tapes.