CYPRUS

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

Statistical Service, Michalakis Karaolis Street, CY-1444, Nicosia.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1960, 1973, 1976, 1982, 1992 and 2001. The present description relates to the 2001 census (held on 1 October). The last three censuses that collected information on the economically active population were those of 1976, 1992 and 2001.

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope:  The census only covered the Government controlled area of the country.

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

4. Reference period (for labour topics):

One full week (Monday-Sunday) prior to the interview day.

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 date of birth, i.e. day, month and year of birth, and is calculated as age at last birthday on 1st October 2001 (Census reference date).

 

Re (h): The census also collected information on: (i) Duration of unemployment in periods (under one month, 1-3 months, 3-6 months, 6 months-1 year, one year and more) and (ii) Place of work: the community/municipality of the place of work or the country (if abroad) was coded, or if worked from home.

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population:  It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference week, were either employed or unemployed according to the definitions given below.  Members of the armed forces are included, but conscripts for military service are excluded and can be shown separately.

(b) Employment:  Considered as employed are all persons who gave an affirmative reply to the question: “Did you work last week, even for one hour?” as well as those who gave a negative answer but responded “With a job but happened not to work” to the question which followed (“What did you do?”).

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)         apprentices and trainees.

 

Seasonal or occasional workers and students are included in the definition if they worked during the reference week.  Only categories (i), (ii) and (v) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment:  Considered as unemployed are all persons who gave a negative reply to the question: “Did you work last week, even for one hour?” and indicated that they were unemployed or looking for work when asked what they did during the reference week. Students seeking work are excluded from the definition.

7. Classifications used:

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 what kind of business or industry are/were you working?”.  NACE (Rev.1) was used for coding industry. The information collected was coded at the lowest possible level supported by the responses.  It ranged from the 2-digit code in a few cases to the detailed 5-digit code.

(b) Occupation:  Based on the question:  “What is/was your main occupation?”.  ISCO-88 (COM) was used for coding occupation.  The collected information was coded at the lowest possible level supported by the responses.  It ranged from the 2-digit code in a few cases to the detailed 4-digit code.

(c) Status in employment:  Based on the question: “In your job, are you: self-employed (with employees); self-employed (without employees); employee; unpaid family worker; apprentice; other (please explain)?”.   Status in employment was coded into these six groups.

(d) Level of education:  Based on the question: “What is the highest level of education you have attained (completed)? Have not attended any school; not completed primary school; primary school; secondary (three years); completed upper secondary; tertiary (non-university); university; university (doctorate only)”.  The classification is linked to ISCED-1997.  The question was addressed to persons aged 15 years and over.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

There are only minor differences compared with the previous census.  The 2001 Census included the topic on place of work, which was not included in the 1992 Census. Conscripts for military service are not included in the economically active or inactive, but are shown as a separate category not classifiable by activity status.

The 2001 Census used optical data capture. Automatic coding was used for the geographic coding (municipality/community within the country and country, if abroad) and computer assisted coding for occupations and economic activity.

9. Publication of the census results:

The final data on total and economically active population have not been published yet, but it is planned to publish them in different volumes during 2003-2004.

 

The relevant tables for the Community Programme of Population and Housing Censuses have been prepared and will be sent to the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat).

 

The census results are also available in the form of unpublished tables as well as in electronic form.