Barbados

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

Barbados Statistical Service, 3rd Floor, National Insurance Building, Fairchild Street, Bridgetown.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000. The present description relates to the 2000 population census (held on 1st May).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Whole country.

(b) Persons covered: All persons of all ages.

4. Reference period:

The week and the 12 months prior to the census.

5. Main topics:

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

Economically active population by:

(b) Sex and age group: yes

(d) Occupation: yes

(e) Status in employment: yes

(f) Highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: no

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

Re (g): Hours of work relate to the total number of hours worked during the week ending 28 April and to the total number of months worked during the 12 months ending 30 April.

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population: It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference periods, were either mainly employed or mainly looking for work, according to the definitions given below. The definition also includes all members of the armed forces.

(b) Employment: The specific questions used to determine whether or not a person was to be counted as employed are “What was your main activity during the 12 months ending 30 April?” [Part B of census questionnaire: Economic Activity] and “What was your main activity during the week ending 28 April?” [Part C of census questionnaire: Labour Force]. The possible answers were: 1) worked; 2) with job not working; 3) looked for work; 4) home duties; 5) student; 6) retired; 7) incapacitated; 8) other; 9) not stated.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

i) persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;

ii) employed persons, temporarily absent from work;

iii) working students with a part-time job;

iv) seasonal or occasional workers;

v) conscripts for military/civilian service;

vi) apprentices and trainees.

Only categories (i), (ii) and (iii) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment: Among persons aged 15 years and over, a category of persons who were mainly looking for work and willing and able to work during the reference periods (i.e. three months) can be identified.

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 question “In which industry or type of business did you work during the past 12 months?. For coding industry, ISIC-rev.3, adapted for Barbados (BARSIC), has been used to the tabulation category (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation: Based on the question “What was your main type of job or occupation during the past 12 months?”. For coding occupation, the BARSOC-89 (Barbados Standard Occupational Classification) has been used to the major group (1-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment: Based on the question “During the 12 months ending 30 April, did you work for an employer or for yourself?”. (‘Worked for employer’ includes: government; private enterprises; private households; unpaid family workers. ‘Worked for self’ includes: for self, with paid help; for self, without paid help). For coding status in employment, the six groups above were used. A seventh group (‘Not stated’) was also used.

(d) Level of education: The specific question used to determine the level of education attained is “What is the highest level educational institution ever attended by you?”. The possible answers were: 1) Nursery/Infant; 2) Primary; 3) Compos./Senior; 4) Secondary; 5) University; 6) Other tertiary; 7) Other; 8) None; 9) Not stated. For coding education, ISCED-97 is used.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

The main difference in the 2000 census is that an additional module was attached to the questionnaire: Part C: Labour Force (persons aged 15 years and over in selected Enumeration Districts).

9. Publication of the census results:

The final census data on the economically active population and its components were issued in 2002 in a publication entitled “2000 Population and Housing Census”.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Barbados Statistical Service, 3rd Floor, National Insurance Building, Fairchild Street, Bridgetown.

Possibilities also exist for obtaining census data on CD’s and tapes.